The Jigsaw Puzzle of Life

Life is a giant jigsaw puzzle and each day we are given a fresh piece of the mystery.

These individual pieces come in oddly shapes and they often do not seem to fit in with one another. As a result, we feel disheartened and unsure of our place in the bigger picture of things. To our delight sometimes, we would discover that several of the tiles interlock snugly together to reveal a glimpse of the whole. And in those moments, we think to ourselves that we have it all figured out.

As our collection grows, we come into focus what our life is turning out to be. We do not always like what we see and feel uncertain of the right action to take. We long for a life of order and meaning, but life seems to flow on, not caring for our deeply entrenched desires.

The previous collectors of the puzzle explain to us that the secret to the game is to carry on living each day fully and treasure every piece in the same manner; for our life is only complete when we have assembled all the pieces.

What do you think of this approach?

Amor Fati

Our fate is a glorious one, brothers and sisters. Life perpetually offers its abundance to our evolution in combination with the tenderness of our companions and the diversity of this natural world.

Is this fatalism? Is everything then left to destiny?
My experience cautions me, “No.”

We sculpt our own destiny by choosing how much effort we put forward each and every moment, in connecting with life where it expresses and unfolds itself. At times, we falter in our will to do what is necessary and the richness of our life dwindle. If you long to live a full and honest life, then rise up to meet life’s callings and respond with resolution!

Amor fati – choose your fate, love your fate

You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.

 - Marcus Aurelius

Your Song by Tolba Phanem (African Poet)

When a woman of a certain African tribe knows she is pregnant, goes to the jungle with other women, and together they pray and meditate until you get to “The song of the child.”

When a child is born, the community gets together and they sing their song. Thus, when the child begins his education, people get together and he sings his song. When you become an adult, they get together again and sing. When it comes to your wedding, the person hears his song. Finally, when your soul is going from this world, family and friends are approaching and, like his birth, sing their song to accompany it in the “journey”.

In this African tribe, there is another occasion when men sing the song. If at some point the person commits a crime or aberrant social act, take you to the center of town and the people of the community form a circle around her. Then they sing “your song.” The tribe recognizes that the correction for antisocial behavior is not punishment, is the love and memory of his true identity. When we recognize our own song, since we have no desire or need to hurt anyone.

Your friends know “your song”. And sing when you forget it. Those who love you can not be fooled by mistakes you have committed, or dark images you show to others. They remember your beauty as you feel ugly, your total when you’re broke, your innocence when you feel guilty and your purpose when you’re confused. 

The stream of thinking has enormous momentum that can easily drag you along with it. Every thought pretends that it matters so much. It wants to draw your attention in completely. Here is a new spiritual practice for you: don’t take your thoughts too seriously.

- Eckhart Tolle

Interview with Richard Bach

INTERVIEWER: “Do you believe in a New Age? A time when man will live in total harmony with himself, others and the environment?”

RICHARD: “We’re already there. We’re already living in total harmony with ourselves, with others and the environment. The appearance that we are not, the belief that we’re mortals clad in physical bodies, trapped on a dying planet in the prison of space-time, that’s a stage with which we are not only in harmony, but which we have created and chosen for the dramas of our dreams of lifetimes. The planet can explode, and not a single life will in truth be lost. But what a thrill for us, this theater in which disasters seem so real, and we can change outcomes by action!”

Serpent of Light: Beyond 2012 by Drunvalo Melchizedek

God is within you and all around you. – St. Thomas, Gospel of the Christ

• The truth is still the truth no matter how much man distorts it.
• Mankind long ago lived not from the mind, but the heart. It was dreaming that created the world, but now it is thinking that is shaping our way of life.
  • Mankind has moved away from the heart of the world to the logic of the mind.
  • And yet, modern man has created, with its great science, which it is certain is the ultimate “truth,” a world on the brink of total destruction in less than two hundred years and perhaps only a few years left to exist if something drastic is not done. Whereas ancient man, with its silly ceremonies, managed to sustain itself for millions of years. Perhaps if we wish to survive at all, we should consider this ancient wisdom, at least to understand, even with our logical mind, how it is possible that ceremony actually can create a world in balance.
• It is not the mind that is so brilliant, but the light of the world that comes from the heart.
  • Creation always beings in the heart, and then it is transferred to the mind.
• Love is the answer to every question – even the questions of the mind.
• Life may appear as a mysterious journey, but from within the heart it is child’s play.
• …there is only One Consciousness and anything can be known and experienced. There are no secrets in the One Universe.
• Ascension is not necessarily leaving the Earth, as some suggest – it is a change in consciousness, or a change in how one interprets the One Reality.
• The idea of failure or more work is only the part of your dream that still believes in separation.

Beauty before me
Beauty behind me
Beauty on my left
Beauty on my right
Beauty above me
Beauty below me
Beauty is love
Love is God.
– Prayer of Cradle Flower of the Taos Pueblo

• After all, any scientist knows that our only proof that the stars and the planets actually exist is based upon the electrical impulses within our brain and body, and our five senses. But sensing does not prove that anything exists; it actually proves nothing.
• Hongi – Maori greeting of touching their foreheads and noses together and breathing together.
• Inside the human heart is a special place where all of creation is conceived.
  • Inside your heart is a tiny place where all knowledge and wisdom resides. Whatever you need on all levels of your existence is there for you.
• Like a seed, your future is only beginning to emerge out of the darkness, but someday you will look back and realize that all the fear and distress was only a dream created from the confusion of the ending of one cycle and the beginning of another.

The Blind Man and the Lantern

A blind man left his village and followed the winding path through the forest. He was on his way to see his friend in the neighboring hamlet. After his arrival, the two friends spent many happy hours together. At last, it was time for the blind man to return to his village.

“Here,” his friend said, “it is already nightfall. Take this lantern with you.”

“Lantern? What good is a lantern to a blind man?” he asked.

“It is to avoid accidents. It will help other travelers on the narrow path see you coming.”

With this thought in mind, the blind man took the lantern; thanked his friend, and went on his way. While plodding along the meandering path, he enjoyed the cool, fragrant mist which enveloped both him and the sound of chirping crickets. However, imagine his surprise when nearly home, he suddenly collided with a huge man.

“Fool! Why don’t you watch where you’re going?” the big man shouted.

“Why didn’t you see my lantern?” asked the blind man.

“Lantern? Your light had already gone out!”

Compassion is the ultimate flowering of consciousness. It is passion released of all darkness, it is passion freed from all bondage, it is passion purified of all poison.

Passion becomes compassion. Passion is the seed, compassion is the flowering of it.

But compassion is not kindness, kindness is not compassion. Kindness is an ego-attitude, it strengthens your ego. When you are kind to somebody, you feel the upper hand.

When you are kind to somebody there is a deep insult – you are humiliating the other, you are feeling happy in his humiliation. That’s why kindness can never be forgiven.

Whomsoever you have been kind to will remain somehow somewhere angry with you, is bound to take revenge. Because kindness is only on the surface as compassion, but deep in the depth it has nothing to do with compassion. It has other ulterior motives…

– Osho, Zen: The Path of Paradox, Vol. 2, ch. 3

Poem by Rumi

There is a certain cloud,
impregnated with a
thousand lightnings.
There is my body —
in it an ocean formed of His glory.
All the creation,
All the universes,
All the galaxies,
Are lost in it.