Stillness & Presence

“Be still, and know that I am God.”

“When a thought suddenly strikes you, keep it back, do not utter it at once, but nourish it; for it will condense through being retained in silence, and gain strength like steam under counter-pressure.”

“And he who lives a hundred years, ignorant and unrestrained, a life of one day is better if a man is wise and reflecting.”

“Therefore don't be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day's own evil is sufficient.”

“They certainly accepted the "pray", but refused to acknowledge that this was also coupled with "and work" - "work on yourself".”

“Let it be still, and it will gradually become clear.”

“Yet you don't know what your life will be like tomorrow. For what is your life? For you are a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”

“His thought is quiet, quiet are his word and deed, when he has obtained freedom by true knowledge, when he has thus become a quiet man.”

“Watch and pray, therefore, that you do not let your clear outlook be dimmed by vanity and conceit, the most dangerous snares for these earthmen!”

“Behold, now is the acceptable time. Behold, now is the day of salvation.”

“Prayer must be the unfolding of your spirit at the feet of God in veneration, praise and gratitude for everything He grants you out of His great Love.”

“Earnestness is the path of immortality (Nirvana), thoughtlessness the path of death. Those who are in earnest do not die, those who are thoughtless are as if dead already.”

“So teach us to count our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

“Surely you have often noticed how wonderful and refreshing is the mere quiet presence of every person from whose eyes there emanates now and then a childlike glow!”

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might.”

“Rouse thyself by thyself, examine thyself by thyself, thus self-protected and attentive wilt thou live happily.”

“Every single hour of the present must become a real experience for a human being, sorrow as well as joy!”

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

“This returning to their root is what we call the state of stillness.”

“Let your eyes look straight ahead. Fix your gaze directly before you. Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established.”

“If he does not live in the present he cannot mature, for maturing depends on experiencing only!”

“The wise who control their body, who control their tongue, the wise who control their mind, are indeed well controlled.”

“Search me, God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.”

“Empty yourselves of thoughts, and set free within you the urge for what is noble and good.”

“Beware of the anger of the tongue, and control thy tongue! Leave the sins of the tongue, and practise virtue with thy tongue!”

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, LORD, my rock, and my redeemer.”

“Man should not forget that when praying he need only obtain the strength to enable him to bring into being himself what he is praying for!”

“Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful.”

“The fervour with which he prays determines the power, i.e. the vitality and effectiveness of the prayer.”

“He who is earnest and meditative, obtains ample joy.”

“The (state of) vacancy should be brought to the utmost degree, and that of stillness guarded with unwearying vigour.”

“Wherever you are, be there totally.”

“Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.”

“A prayer which is seriously and deeply felt will be attracted to and itself attract those of similar nature, and come into contact with a power-centre of a kind identical to the main theme of the prayer.”

“Continue steadfastly in prayer, watching in it with thanksgiving.”

“Without knowledge there is no meditation, without meditation there is no knowledge: he who has knowledge and meditation is near unto Nirvana.”

“The man who in a really fervent prayer seeks help for something, obtains connection through his attitude with that sphere from which help can be proffered.”

“What I tell you, I tell all: Watch!”

“The disciples of Gotama are always well awake, and their mind day and night always delights in meditation.”

“Do not think of prayer as pleading, but as worship – worship and veneration!”

“Watch and pray, that you don't enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

“Without going outside his door, one understands (all that takes place) under the sky; without looking out from his window, one sees the Tao of Heaven.”

“You will be saved in returning and rest. Your strength will be in quietness and in confidence.”

“The best foundation for a prayer which may be expected to have effect lies in those moments of spontaneous thankfulness arising out of great happiness or of deepest pain resulting from heartfelt grief.”

“If a man's thoughts are not dissipated, if his mind is not perplexed, if he has ceased to think of good or evil, then there is no fear for him while he is watchful.”

“Stand in awe, and don't sin. Search your own heart on your bed, and be still.”

“Only the present is what counts for you, for it is the present which really “is” for a human spirit.”

“I will also meditate on all your work, and consider your doings.”

“If an earnest person has roused himself, if he is not forgetful, if his deeds are pure, if he acts with consideration, if he restrains himself, and lives according to law,--then his glory will increase.”

“Bear in mind that a prayer is not synonymous with a request! Otherwise there would be no prayer of thanksgiving, which contains no request! To pray does not mean to beg!”

“I remember the days of old. I meditate on all your doings. I contemplate the work of your hands.”

“In joy or need, an ardent intuitive perceiving without words remains far more valuable than a thousand spoken prayers, even if this intuitive perceiving lasts only a fraction of a second.”

“Those who are ever watchful, who study day and night, and who strive after Nirvana, their passions will come to an end.”

“But you, when you pray, enter into your inner room, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”

“Much speech to swift exhaustion lead we see; Your inner being guard, and keep it free.”

“The hour of rest should lead you to hold quiet self-communion in your thinking and intuitive perceiving, to review your earth-life up to the present, especially always the past working days of the last week, and to draw practical applications from them for your future.”

“Early in the morning, while it was still dark, he rose up and went out, and departed into a deserted place, and prayed there.”

“A Bhikshu (mendicant) who delights in reflection, who looks with fear on thoughtlessness, cannot fall away (from his perfect state)--he is close upon Nirvana.”

“Consider that prayer is not the same as petition! Otherwise there would certainly be no prayer of thanksgiving, which contains no petition. To pray is not to beg.”

“When I remember you on my bed, and think about you in the night watches.”