Friday, January 8, 2010
First day!
Today marks the 1st day that i was at Truffs. It is a special day indeed, as it is the beginning of this blog. I am truly inspired by the movie "Julie & Julia", hence am following suit to record down the ups, downs and all of my experience making truffles. If a book deal or better yet, movie script follows after, all the better!
So, we rolled a batch of 66% chocolate. i need to note where the beans are from. it was therapeutic and I am gotta practice rolling them into beautiful round truffles. Here are the technical/culinary? details: First we roll the just-cut rectangular ganache (inner filling of truffle) into round balls, then roll/coat them with the first coating cocoa powder. These work-in-progress truffles are then chilled for a while, before they are dipped into freshly-tempered (read: melted to right temperature) chocolate, and rapidly rolled into the second/final coating of cocoa powder. Rolling aint that easy, my friend. Its a delicate fine art: we can't roll them too quickly, otherwise, they turn irregularly (ie ugly) shaped, nor could we press them too hard or recklessly, otherwise ugly cracks will form and disfigure these little fellows.
Truffles, truffles, truffles, what a glorious name. it rolls luxuriously off the tongue doesn't it? Right now, i am enjoying being surrounded by everything chocolate , even the walls of the shop is a dark chocolate shade. Fingers crossed that this feeling stays long before saturation sets in. I'll be officially starting and going solo in a week's time, Throw some of ur good luck over this way!
Till my next visit to the truffles shop, Au Revior ~
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Since Indra was a child, she didn't like evenings and nights. She likes it best when it is bright and sunny, the mark of a brand new day, lotsa time to do lotsa stuff.
It does seem obscure that after 30 years, Indra could now appreciate the cool dark nights. when night fall comes, Indra appreciates that its signals the time to rest for all living creatures, when everyone could rest, contemplate, have some time to ourselves. A quiet time for us to slow our hurried minds, to give thanks and to rest up for the next new day...
Indra likes it too, when it rains at night, for rains brings a certain calm and coolness, that aids sleep for living creatures, and serves to remind us that our Mother Nature cares for us so tenderly and meticulously that she gives us rainfalls and nightfalls to lure us to bed....
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Cultivating Mindfulness
The antidote to living on automatic mode is to cultivate mindfulness. Mindfulness means being
aware of what we are thinking, feeling, saying and doing each and every moment. It also means being mindful of our ethical values and of the kind heart, so that we can live according to them in our daily lives. By cultivating this awareness, we will no longer be spaced out, merely reacting to things, and then wondering why we are so confused and exhausted at
the end of the day. If we are mindful, we will notice that we have a kind heart and will be more aware of enriching it and letting our actions flow from it.
We might also become more aware when we are upset, irritated, angry, or are on the verge of scolding somebody. If we realise that, we can come back to our breath, come back to our kind heart, instead of throwing our negative energy out to the world.
Being Mindful of Living in an Interdependent World
When we cultivate mindfulness, we also become more mindful of how we interact with our environment. We realise that we live in an interdependent world, and if we pollute our
environment, we are affecting ourselves, our children and other living beings. Because we are mindful of being kind, we will curtail the ways in which we pollute the environment. For instance, we will carpool when going to work or school, instead of using up gasoline in a car by ourselves. We will recycle the things we use: paper, cans, plastic containers, bottles, glass jars and newspapers. We know that if we throw these away in the garbage, we are destroying our planet and are affecting other beings in a negative way. Thus, we will re-use our plastic bags and paper bags when we go to the supermarket. In addition, we will not leave our airconditioners or heaters on when we are not at home, and will not use products, such as styrofoam whose production releases many pollutants into the air.
If the Buddha was still alive today, he would probably establish vows that said we have to recycle and stop wasting resources. Many of our monastic vows arose because lay people complained to the Buddha about what monks or nuns did. Each time this happened, the Buddha would establish a precept in order to curb the detrimental behaviour. If the
Buddha was still alive today, people would complain to him: “So many Buddhists throw out their tin cans, glass jars and newspapers! They use disposable cups, chopsticks and plates, which not only produce more garbage but also cause the destruction of many trees. They do not seem to care about the environment and the living beings in it!” I would feel pretty
embarrassed if I was doing that and someone complained to the Buddha about my behaviour,
wouldn’t you? That’s why I think the Buddha would definitely set down vows saying that we have to recycle and to curtail consumption.
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OMG, i was just browsing through my old entries to see what i had uploaded before, and boy, was I surprised to see that i had actually started this blog since 2003. on and off though, i stopped blogging ( i noticed some gaps during low periods - prob. i can't bear to write anything to personally sad on such a public forum). i am say i am quite glad to have kept on writing through these years.
its kinda reminded me, how a workacholic i was, going back to the office on weekends n public holidays, and working constantly on the weekend. no wonder my life was quite miserable then. *Chuckles* And also how constantly i was battling with my penchant for eating unhealthy foods late at night, clothes etc...
I miss some of those simpler days too..... nonetheless, i feel i am a much better person today, and thank you Buddha Maitreya for tat.
PS: so actually, i kinda am doing a "eat,pray,love" thingy here ya , LOL
PPS: This is reall quite a pleasant re-discovery of myself...
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A Kind Heart:
We would be much wiser to look inside ourselves and apply the antidotes tointolerance, pride and attachment. The true criterion of whether we are a religious or spiritual person is
whether we have a kind heart towards others and a wise approach to life. These qualities are internal and cannot be seen with our eyes. They are gained by honestly looking at our own thoughts, words and actions, discriminating which ones to encourage and which ones to abandon, and then engaging in the practices to develop compassion and wisdom in order to transform ourselves.
Real practice is changing our mind, not just changing our behaviour so that we appear holy, blessed and others say: “Wow, what a fantastic person!” We have already spent our lives
putting on various acts in an effort to convince ourselves and others that we are indeed what, in fact, we aren’t at all. We hardly need to create another facade, this time of a super-holy person. What we do need to do is change our mind, our way of viewing, interpreting
and reacting to the world around and within us.
Be Honest with Your Ourselves
The first step in doing this is being honest with ourselves. Taking an accurate look at our life, weare unafraid and unashamed to acknowledge,“Everything is not completely right in my life. No matter how good the situation around me is, no matter how much money or how many friends or how great a reputation I have, still I’m not satisfied.Also, I have very little control over my moods and emotions, and can’t prevent getting sick, ageing and eventually dying.”
Then we check up why and how we are in this predicament. What are the causes of it? By looking
at our own life, we come to understand that our experiences are closely linked with our mind. When we interpret a situation in one way and get angry about it, we are unhappy and make the people around us miserable; when we view the same situation from another perspective, it no longer appears intolerable and we act wisely with a peaceful mind. When we are proud, it’s no wonder that others act haughtily to us. On the other hand, a person with an altruistic attitude automatically attracts friends. Our experiences are based on our own attitudes and
actions.
Internal Motivation is What Matters
Instead, if everyday we centre ourselves by remembering the value of being a human being, if
we recall our beautiful human potential and have a deep and sincere longing to make it blossom, then we’ll endeavour to be true to ourselves and to others by transforming our motivations, and consequently, transforming our actions.
In addition to remembering the value and purpose of life, if we contemplate the transience of
our existence and the objects and people that we are attached to, then we’ll want to practise in a pure way. Sincere and pure practice that leads to so many beneficial results is done by applying the antidotes that Buddha prescribed when afflictive attitudes arise in our minds: when anger comes, we practice patience and tolerance; for attachment, we recall transience; when jealousy arises, we counter it with sincere rejoicing in others’ qualities and happiness;
for pride, we remember that just as no water can stay on a pointed mountain peak, no qualities can develop in a mind inflated by pride; for closemindedness, we let ourselves listen and reflect on a new view.
Looking holy and important on the outside brings no real happiness either now or in the future. However, if we have a kind heart and a pure motivation free of selfish, ulterior motives, a real practitioner we are indeed. Then our lives become meaningful, joyful and beneficial for others.
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| Date: | 2007-11-25 00:06 |
| Subject: | Quotes |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: |  content |
~ ~ The value of our lives, is in poportion to the amount of love we invest in them ~ ~
~ ~ If we live as though our only care is someone else's smile, If we put a little kindness in everthing we do, Our lives would be much richer, and the Lives we touch would too ~ ~
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| Date: | 2007-11-11 22:55 |
| Subject: | 2008 Resolutions |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: |  contemplative |
Here's my list !
1) Monitor my goals like a hawk. on a bi-weekly basis!
2) Take driving refresher course so i can drive like a pro!
3) Learn cooking from my Mummy so i can cook yummy food
4) Get rid of my Schroders investments (tsk tsk tsk - long overdue)so that i can get my money to work for me
5) Invest in stocks so that i can get my money to work for me
6) Be able to practice Yoga on my own so that i can teach others too !
7) (to be continued...)
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| Date: | 2007-11-09 00:29 |
| Subject: | ah ha... |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: |  ah ha |
Enneagram Type One (the Reformer)
with
Enneagram Type Six (the Loyalist)
What Each Type Brings to the Relationship
Enneagram Ones and Sixes are alike in many ways and they are often misidentified with each other. Both types are extremely hard workers, conscientious, serious minded, and have a strong sense of duty and honor. They both care deeply about truth and commitment, and both have a desire to serve others and improve the world. Both have a guiding sense of purpose, often lead by deeply held beliefs and ideals. Of course, they also bring other qualities that are especially their own. Ones bring a sense of reason and mental clarity, the ability to think clearly under pressure and to come to firm decisions quickly. They are more sure of themselves and their opinions than Sixes tend to be, so Ones often serve as the leader in a One-Six relationship, making the final decision and taking responsibility for it. Ones also bring a concern for order and consistency, for logic and elegance that is sometime lacking in Sixes. They may also bring a distinct idealism that has little to do with personal loyalty or hero worship (as it may in a Six).
On the other hand, Sixes bring warmth, more emotional responsiveness and availability, generosity, and playfulness that can be endearing and which can make Ones think twice about their certitudes and positions. Sixes also have the ability to connect with people in a more direct and human way than Ones tend to do. These qualities are attractive to the other and they can make this couple a dynamic and yet highly stable team, provided their fundamental beliefs are in alignment. They take responsibility in relationships, sharing burdens and chores equally. They also feel that they can count on the other: they are steadfast, loyal, and faithful to each other, wanting to build a solid foundation together. Because both can count on the other, this gives both room to relax—something they both need to do more often.
Potential Trouble Spots or Issues
As stress increases, Ones become more critical and judgmental of everyone including themselves and their partner. They tend to be a clear case of all work and no play, making them fairly joyless and difficult to be around even in the average Levels. Ones begin to feel that others are not trying hard enough, are not serious enough, or not mature and meticulous enough—or certainly not as much as Ones are themselves. This creates resentment and accusations and fairly constant bickering which can be extremely wearing on Sixes more than it is on Ones. As they become more stressed, Sixes become increasingly emotionally reactive, worrying and insecure, looking to their partner to be a bulwark of stability and fairness. What Sixes find instead are Ones who are critical, faultfinding, and rejecting—driving Sixes deeper into their feelings of anxiety and insecurity. This often makes Sixes begin to doubt the future of the relationship, feeling that it is likely doomed, which can often become a self-fulfilling prophesy.
If tensions continue, Sixes will be increasingly defensive and evasive; they will also tend to work harder and to stay away from home more frequently so that they can avoid spending time with the One. Sixes will also find it difficult to talk directly about their feelings or fears, and so little gets adequately aired out. As Sixes become more inconsistent and unreliable, these reactions fuel the One's resentment and disappointment in them. Stalwart Sixes begin to not show up or do even the minimum of what is expected of them, driving Ones into fits of frustration and apoplexy. Moreover, Ones find the anxieties and defensiveness of Sixes frustrating and they begin be angry and condescending toward them. Ones will become increasingly cold and critical until Sixes lash out at them, blaming them for their predicament. Anger, resentment, accusations, and name-calling can be part of the picture as the relationship deteriorates.
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Sun in Aries, Moon in Capricorn
You were born with the Sun in Aries and the Moon in Capricorn. This gives you an extremely ambitious nature and a tremendous reserve of energy for realizing your goals.
Your greatest wish is to become a leader and have power over others. When it is time for action, you plunge right in, because you are thoroughly prepared. Yet all this elaborate preparation does not guarantee that you will complete the projects. Even when surrounded by crowds of people, your independence and firmness of mind put you in a state of solitude.
Within yourself you retain freshness and originality. But in your image before the world, much of your spark remains submerged. You are somewhat reserved, a bit egotistical, and at times obsessed with petty matters. If you can balance these two sets of traits, your personality will be completely integrated.
To others, you are often a complete paradox. Occasionally you may display a flash of impulse and a disregard for convention. At other times you are extremely inflexible and cautious. Puzzled by your behavior, people remain at a careful distance in order not to offend you.
*****************************Ascendant in Aries, Mars in the Fourth House
At the time of your birth the zodiacal sign of Aries was ascending in the horizon. Its ruler Mars is located in the fourth house.
Aries is the first sign of the zodiacal belt and its natives seem also desirous of being "first" in all activities with which they happen to be involved. The cardinality of the sign makes you extremely active and capable of displaying ambition, impulsiveness, courage, and boldness in order to satisfy your desire for prominence in the world.
The general course of your life will be filled with many 'ups' and 'downs' and changes conforming very much with the psychological nature of your temperament. Whether you triumph or not in life depends on your ability to develop your most positive inborn qualities and, simultaneously, exert some control over your less favorable characteristics, such as a lack of prudence, and a certain disregard for the feelings and opinions of others.
Aries gives a tendency for its natives to be inclined to politics and public work. You should be successful (or at least attempt to be so) in any work or activity that necessitates pioneering ideas and/or a militant disposition. You also appear to have an ardent attitude in any project that somehow or another involves new concepts or original work and in which you are given a position of leadership. One of your problems is that in your love for achievement in novel projects you tend to destroy old concepts and former contributions which would, perhaps, have been useful for your endeavors. Impulsive, critical, despising mean or dubious acts, you will create many excellent friendships but also important enemies. Your life is rich in passion and ardent love. In sexual matters you are quick, aggressive, and to the point. You also are a lover of pleasures, which you feel with a bright, open, and sparkling character.
Tbis indicates a life of activity, dynamism, many ups and downs and struggles, to which the native adopts an attitude of courage, initiative, and enterprise. Mars in the fourth house could bring some domestic troubles and surroundings which are not harmonious to the individual. Fate demands that you develop very strong and resistant attitudes to maintain the security and integrity of your family life. Oriented to the realization of material gratification, you have the pugnacity and forwardness of the animal which symbolizes this zodiacal sign - the ramYour disposition is frank, open and outspoken. Many of the events of your existence will be accelerated by your own impulsiveness, persistence and also by your fearless spirit to conquer and go forward. You strive to satisfy your ambition which consists of reforming and improving the world. In communicating with others you are usually very consistent; at times too sincere.
********************
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| You Belong in London | 
A little old fashioned, and a little modern.
A little traditional, and a little bit punk rock.
A unique soul like you needs a city that offers everything.
No wonder you and London will get along so well. |
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| Date: | 2007-10-22 04:12 |
| Subject: | Happy Weekend |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: |  i shld go back to sleep |
for some reasons, this weekend was a really fun one for me.
On sat, went to a dance practice/ audition thing, that makes me more determined to lose weight! (ah , bulky figures dun look nice on stage).
On Sun, went to the 5km Great Eastern run with TM and KAL. Was really really enjoyable. didn't expect that at all. Went to Prints to get a pretty Journal for Cherie ( i like my pick!) and then a yoga class later in the afternoon. Finally caught Huo YuanJia, and find myself quite captivated (unexpectedly).
So here goes my ramblings at 4am in the morning. I quite like having jetlag cuz it gives me time to do frivolous things in the morning (like reading linda goodman, timeout, etc). :)
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| Date: | 2007-09-16 01:10 |
| Subject: | |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: |  some rice wld be nice |
I am happy to share that i am positively, definitively sure that my serious bout of blueness that started on sunday night till Wed, was for sure, a bout of PMS.
Cos miraculously, i felt happy as a lark on Thurs.
till now,i can't quite believe how bad the pms was. i can dentify with pple who say that sometimes they just can't help but feel a heavy weight on their chest.
Am glad that i went to Yin Yoga on Wed. as i lie on the mat that evening, my mind cleared up quite a bit. I decided to go with the flow of life. and like L said, to simply let go of whatever uncertainities n what-ifs. i guess i will never ever be able to know whats the future and what lies ahead. so why not enjoy the journey for now? wake up and smell the roses.
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Good and Evil
And one of the elders of the city said, "Speak to us of Good and Evil."
And he answered:
Of the good in you I can speak, but not of the evil.
For what is evil but good tortured by its own hunger and thirst?
Verily when good is hungry it seeks food even in dark caves, and when it thirsts, it drinks even of dead waters.
You are good when you are one with yourself.
Yet when you are not one with yourself you are not evil.
For a divided house is not a den of thieves; it is only a divided house.
And a ship without rudder may wander aimlessly among perilous isles yet sink not to the bottom.
You are good when you strive to give of yourself.
Yet you are not evil when you seek gain for yourself.
For when you strive for gain you are but a root that clings to the earth and sucks at her breast.
Surely the fruit cannot say to the root, "Be like me, ripe and full and ever giving of your abundance."
For to the fruit giving is a need, as receiving is a need to the root.
You are good when you are fully awake in your speech,
Yet you are not evil when you sleep while your tongue staggers without purpose.
And even stumbling speech may strengthen a weak tongue.
You are good when you walk to your goal firmly and with bold steps.
Yet you are not evil when you go thither limping.
Even those who limp go not backward.
But you who are strong and swift, see that you do not limp before the lame, deeming it kindness.
You are good in countless ways, and you are not evil when you are not good,
You are only loitering and sluggard.
Pity that the stags cannot teach swiftness to the turtles.
In your longing for your giant self lies your goodness: and that longing is in all of you.
But in some of you that longing is a torrent rushing with might to the sea, carrying the secrets of the hillsides and the songs of the forest.
And in others it is a flat stream that loses itself in angles and bends and lingers before it reaches the shore.
But let not him who longs much say to him who longs little, "Wherefore are you slow and halting?"
For the truly good ask not the naked, "Where is your garment?" nor the houseless, "What has befallen your house?"
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Children
And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said, "Speak to us of Children."
And he said:
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts.
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as he loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.
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Self-Knowledge
And a man said, "Speak to us of Self-Knowledge."
And he answered, saying:
Your hearts know in silence the secrets of the days and the nights.
But your ears thirst for the sound of your heart's knowledge.
You would know in words that which you have always know in thought.
You would touch with your fingers the naked body of your dreams.
And it is well you should.
The hidden well-spring of your soul must needs rise and run murmuring to the sea;
And the treasure of your infinite depths would be revealed to your eyes.
But let there be no scales to weigh your unknown treasure;
And seek not the depths of your knowledge with staff or sounding line.
For self is a sea boundless and measureless.
Say not, "I have found the truth," but rather, "I have found a truth."
Say not, "I have found the path of the soul." Say rather, "I have met the soul walking upon my path."
For the soul walks upon all paths.
The soul walks not upon a line, neither does it grow like a reed.
The soul unfolds itself, like a lotus of countless petals.
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Giving
Then said a rich man, "Speak to us of Giving."
And he answered:
You give but little when you give of your possessions.
It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.
For what are your possessions but things you keep and guard for fear you may need them tomorrow?
And tomorrow, what shall tomorrow bring to the overprudent dog burying bones in the trackless sand as he follows the pilgrims to the holy city?
And what is fear of need but need itself?
Is not dread of thirst when your well is full, thirst that is unquenchable?
There are those who give little of the much which they have - and they give it for recognition and their hidden desire makes their gifts unwholesome.
And there are those who have little and give it all.
These are the believers in life and the bounty of life, and their coffer is never empty.
There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward.
And there are those who give with pain, and that pain is their baptism.
And there are those who give and know not pain in giving, nor do they seek joy, nor give with mindfulness of virtue;
They give as in yonder valley the myrtle breathes its fragrance into space.
Though the hands of such as these God speaks, and from behind their eyes He smiles upon the earth.
It is well to give when asked, but it is better to give unasked, through understanding;
And to the open-handed the search for one who shall receive is joy greater than giving
And is there aught you would withhold?
All you have shall some day be given;
Therefore give now, that the season of giving may be yours and not your inheritors'.
You often say, "I would give, but only to the deserving."
The trees in your orchard say not so, nor the flocks in your pasture.
They give that they may live, for to withhold is to perish.
Surely he who is worthy to receive his days and his nights is worthy of all else from you.
And he who has deserved to drink from the ocean of life deserves to fill his cup from your little stream.
And what desert greater shall there be than that which lies in the courage and the confidence, nay the charity, of receiving?
And who are you that men should rend their bosom and unveil their pride, that you may see their worth naked and their pride unabashed?
See first that you yourself deserve to be a giver, and an instrument of giving.
For in truth it is life that gives unto life - while you, who deem yourself a giver, are but a witness.
And you receivers - and you are all receivers - assume no weight of gratitude, lest you lay a yoke upon yourself and upon him who gives.
Rather rise together with the giver on his gifts as on wings;
For to be overmindful of your debt, is to doubt his generosity who has the free-hearted earth for mother, and God for father.
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Work
Then a ploughman said, "Speak to us of Work."
And he answered, saying:
You work that you may keep pace with the earth and the soul of the earth.
For to be idle is to become a stranger unto the seasons, and to step out of life's procession, that marches in majesty and proud submission towards the infinite.
When you work you are a flute through whose heart the whispering of the hours turns to music.
Which of you would be a reed, dumb and silent, when all else sings together in unison?
Always you have been told that work is a curse and labour a misfortune.
But I say to you that when you work you fulfil a part of earth's furthest dream, assigned to you when that dream was born,
And in keeping yourself with labour you are in truth loving life,
And to love life through labour is to be intimate with life's inmost secret.
But if you in your pain call birth an affliction and the support of the flesh a curse written upon your brow, then I answer that naught but the sweat of your brow shall wash away that which is written.
You have been told also life is darkness, and in your weariness you echo what was said by the weary.
And I say that life is indeed darkness save when there is urge,
And all urge is blind save when there is knowledge,
And all knowledge is vain save when there is work,
And all work is empty save when there is love;
And when you work with love you bind yourself to yourself, and to one another, and to God.
And what is it to work with love?
It is to weave the cloth with threads drawn from your heart, even as if your beloved were to wear that cloth.
It is to build a house with affection, even as if your beloved were to dwell in that house.
It is to sow seeds with tenderness and reap the harvest with joy, even as if your beloved were to eat the fruit.
It is to charge all things you fashion with a breath of your own spirit,
And to know that all the blessed dead are standing about you and watching.
Often have I heard you say, as if speaking in sleep, "he who works in marble, and finds the shape of his own soul in the stone, is a nobler than he who ploughs the soil.
And he who seizes the rainbow to lay it on a cloth in the likeness of man, is more than he who makes the sandals for our feet."
But I say, not in sleep but in the over-wakefulness of noontide, that the wind speaks not more sweetly to the giant oaks than to the least of all the blades of grass;
And he alone is great who turns the voice of the wind into a song made sweeter by his own loving.
Work is love made visible.
And if you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work and sit at the gate of the temple and take alms of those who work with joy.
For if you bake bread with indifference, you bake a bitter bread that feeds but half man's hunger.
And if you grudge the crushing of the grapes, your grudge distils a poison in the wine.
And if you sing though as angels, and love not the singing, you muffle man's ears to the voices of the day and the voices of the night.
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Marriage
Then Almitra spoke again and said, "And what of Marriage, master?"
And he answered saying:
You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when white wings of death scatter your days.
Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.
Love one another but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.
Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together, yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.
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Religion
And an old priest said, "Speak to us of Religion."
And he said:
Have I spoken this day of aught else?
Is not religion all deeds and all reflection,
And that which is neither deed nor reflection, but a wonder and a surprise ever springing in the soul, even while the hands hew the stone or tend the loom?
Who can separate his faith from his actions, or his belief from his occupations?
Who can spread his hours before him, saying, "This for God and this for myself; This for my soul, and this other for my body?"
All your hours are wings that beat through space from self to self.
He who wears his morality but as his best garment were better naked.
The wind and the sun will tear no holes in his skin.
And he who defines his conduct by ethics imprisons his song-bird in a cage.
The freest song comes not through bars and wires.
And he to whom worshipping is a window, to open but also to shut, has not yet visited the house of his soul whose windows are from dawn to dawn.
Your daily life is your temple and your religion.
Whenever you enter into it take with you your all.
Take the plough and the forge and the mallet and the lute,
The things you have fashioned in necessity or for delight.
For in revery you cannot rise above your achievements nor fall lower than your failures.
And take with you all men:
For in adoration you cannot fly higher than their hopes nor humble yourself lower than their despair.
And if you would know God be not therefore a solver of riddles.
Rather look about you and you shall see Him playing with your children.
And look into space; you shall see Him walking in the cloud, outstretching His arms in the lightning and descending in rain.
You shall see Him smiling in flowers, then rising and waving His hands in trees.
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in_dra's journal
surprised
in need of a break
curious how this is turning ou
nightworks needed by 1130pm
getting sleepy
diligently blogging away still
feeling so these few days
blogging away