Inspiration from the Dalai Lama: In Every Moment
July 19, 2009
Right now, and in every now-moment, you are either closing or opening.
You are either stressfully waiting for something… more money, security, affection; or you are living from your deep heart, opening as the entire moment, and giving what you most deeply desire to give, without waiting.
If you are waiting for anything in order to live and love without holding back, then you suffer.
*
Every moment is the most important moment of your life.
No future time is better than now to let down your guard and love.
Everything you do right now ripples outward and affects everyone.
Your posture can shine your heart, or transmit anxiety.
Your breath can radiate love, or muddy the room in depression.
Your glance can awaken joy.
Your words can inspire freedom.
Your every act can open hearts and minds.
Opening from heart to all, you live as a gift to all.
In every moment, you are either opening or closing.
Right now, you are choosing to open and give fully, or you are waiting.
How does your choice feel?
Related posts:
- Inspiration from the Dalai Lama: The Art of Happiness
- Faith, Patience, and Your Moment in the Sun
- Inspiration from the Tao Te Ching: Harmony
- Inspiration from Dr. Seuss: The Waiting Place
- Inspiration from Edgar Allan Poe: Alone
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I love it! I especially love this part:
“In every moment, you are either opening or closing.”
A powerful reminder that with every single decision…even seemingly minor ones…we choose to either open our hearts and minds more fully; becoming more loving, more compassionate, and more giving, or we are choosing to become more closed and more uncaring. With every single breath, we can choose to bring more love into the world, making it a better place for us all, or we can choose to bring more fear into the world, making it worse for everyone.
Jay Schryer´s last blog ..True Confession
Thanks, Jay! The part that really got me on this one was, “Your breath can radiate love, or muddy the room in depression.”
It’s so true… my breath is different if I’m depressed or if I’m filled with joy and positive thoughts. The energy that leaves my body and radiates from me is different. So, if I give in to depression, it doesn’t just ruin my day, it sends out negative vibes for everyone else.
Every moment matters… even little choices make a difference. YOU chose to be my first commenter today, and with that, you made my day!
I love this! Such a great post about living in the moment. Every moment is the most important moment. I love that! I’ve never thought about it like that. It really is true and I’m so, so, so happy you shared this today. It’s really great and totally up my alley!
Positively Present´s last blog ..don’t let the bad ruin the good
What a simple but amazingly powerful post today! Thank you.
Seriously, this one really touched deep inside as I read it. Funny enough, I started reading slower at the end because I wanted to keep savoring it; I didn’t want it to end. Shows how closed I can be, huh?
If you are waiting for anything in order to live and love without holding back, then you suffer.
(Sometimes we don’t realize the different levels of “to suffer”. Anticipation has its place but “waiting for” does truly speak of suffering; kind of like the appreciation for each moment is lost because it’s overshadowed by it.)
Everything you do right now ripples outward and affects everyone.
(Wow, so true. Even something like sitting on the couch instead of being up/moving does have a range of effects, from short- to long-term.)
Your breath can radiate love, or muddy the room in depression.
(This one spoke to me also. Whether the breath is being used to vocalize or not, it does have its own power to radiate love or muddy the room. This is going to be running through my mind often, I can just tell.
Suzanne´s last blog ..To Me, From Me
Hi, Dani! Well I am so, so so happy you liked it. I can’t remember where I ran into this, but I wrote it down right away because it absolutely changed my view of every little thing… I mean, even each breath I take! That’s HUGE! That makes every fiber of my being feel empowered, like I can make my life better from my very core.
Thanks for stopping by, Dani!
Hey, Suzanne! I did something similar when I first read it. I started skimming through it in a bit of a mindless hurry. But as the words started to sink in, I slowed down. Then I went back and read it again… slowly, mindfully. Now it stays in my mind. Like I was telling Dani, it makes me feel like I have the power to constantly choose the better path… the one that will lead to the sort of life I truly want, and that will benefit those around me.
Always great to see you here!
Hi Lisis,
As someone who has struggled with breathing this past week due to my infection, the breath is something we take for granted. The mere fact we can breathe is such a blessing. For without it, we would not be here.
When I was gasping for air this past week, each moment looked like it would last forever. So it truly is a matter of perception. All that matters is NOW.
Nadia – Happy Lotus´s last blog ..Happy News (July 19, 2009)
Absolutely right, Nadia. Most of us take our breath for granted (until we find ourselves desperately gasping for it as you did). I remember that feeling well from my childhood asthma attacks… feeling that very real possibility that each breath could be my last.
I was just writing about how we take life for granted. I wonder if it’s possible to break that habit?
I’m SO glad you are feeling better now!!!!
World rejoices, ushers in confidence with some people.
I see those ppl and wonder what gift they’ve got – to impact each one of us – in a positive way.
From the life of Mother Therasa:
One day, Mother Teresa was asking a baker for some bread to feed the hungry children in her orphanage. The baker was furious with her request, not only did he turn her down, he spat at her. In response to his outrageous actions, Mother Teresa calmly reached deep into her pocket, took out her handkerchief, wiped the spat off and said “That was for me, now what about some bread for my poor children.” The baker was touched by Mother Teresa’s love and greatness, complied and thereafter provided bread for the children in the orphanage.
I don’t know if greatness comes from within by birth – but I am hopeful we should train ourselves by all means.
Krishna… THAT is a beautiful story! I am so grateful that you shared it here with my readers. Now we get a double dose of inspiration. I believe we can train ourselves, that we can become the way we know we should be.
Thank you for sharing!
It’s uncanny. I don’t think I’ve ever read anything by the Dalai Lama where I don’t just go “Yes!”
These are some of the profoundest words I’ve come across on any blog, thanks for printing them. It’s so true – you’re opening or closing every moment. No suspension of life is possible.
Great words, great post, Lisis. Lots of great stuff here…
[Your glance can awaken joy].
The other day I was in a park and some young kids were somewhat mindlessly throwing a baseball back and forth. I was walking past on the grass and glanced at the boys. These kids were apparently warming-up for baseball practice. But, these kids were really great pitchers! As I walked past, I gave them a big smile and nod, you know, a glance to acknowledge them and their skill.
They gave me back the biggest, warmest smiles that I had seen in awhile! I don’t know who was more joyful, them or me.
Thanks for the words today, Lisis. Your glance has given me joy today.
@ Paul: You know, I thought I’d read just about everything the Dalai Lama ever said. I was stunned to find something so profound yet so simple that I had completely overlooked. I felt like I stumbled across a diamond when I found this.
Hey, Lorita! (That’s Costa Rican for little parrot.)
I love your story… I especially love that you noticed that moment as it was happening. I’ll bet those kids were thrilled that you paid attention to them and noticed what they were doing. Little things make such a big difference.
Thanks for this post — I do find that my attitude toward life depends a lot on whether in each moment I’m feeling like I have something to contribute, and it’s so helpful for me to bring my attention to the contribution I’m making with what I’m doing.
“There’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.” – Scott Adams
I find that the times I give things to people out of love and affection that radiates from within, I feel more alive than at any other time in my life. Every positive effect we imprint on the lives of others inevitably causes an equal change in our spirit.
Thanks for the inspiration, Lisis. As a first-time visitor to this site, I’m officially hooked now.
Tim | Inspiration Central´s last blog ..Napoleon Hill’s Top Principle of Success
@ Chris: That’s a great point. I also find that my attitude about everything depends in large part on how I’m feeling about myself… my role in life. When I feel like I am adding value and doing good things, my whole attitude is more positive. I guess what I need to do is make sure I’m always adding value!
@ Tim: Welcome to Q4B! I’m so glad you visited today and that you are officially hooked. I hope you will snoop around in the archives and find a thing or two of interest in there.
You are absolutely right in your comment… the more love we give, the more we receive. I’m looking forward to checking out your Inspiration Central!
Thanks for commenting!
It is simple and yet . . .
I notice the ripples. When I wear a jacket I absolutely love, it is a beautiful color green, I get responses from absolute strangers about how wonderful and colorful it is. We strangers connect and that is so lovely.
I shine, others shine. The jacket and I have proof, now to keep shining when I work, when I drop a pot of oil, when I am busy and a friend asks for help, when I get interrupted.
To keep shining in the little things of daily life, and knowing ‘the bigger sake of why I am doing what I am doing’, like mother Theresa, phew . . . but there is now so much encouragement out there, so I will, I will, I will . . .
Wilma Ham´s last blog ..Jesus would be proud of me, I can do miracles too.
[...] This post was Twitted by gracelook [...]
Awesome post – so glad I stumbled across your blog via zenhabits, really got a lot out of it! It’s so important we truly make every attempt we can to stay in the moment to appreciate what’s right in front of us.
G
@ Wilma: That’s a neat way to put it… your story of the green jacket is a great illustration because even simple, seemingly unimportant things we do affect those around us both positively and negatively. So, if we can help it, we should choose to have a positive impact.
Thanks for your comment, and it’s great to see you here again!
Well hey, G! I’m glad you came on over too! I hope you’ll make it a point to come back and visit again ’cause that’s one cool looking gravatar.
Welcome to Q4B, and thanks for leaving a comment so I know you stopped by!
hey leee-cease
“opening as the entire moment”
really liked that. made me smile. big.
awwwsome way to start the week
keep well lisis deluxe
alex – unleashreality
alex – unleash reality´s last blog ..Hate Me or Love Me: How to Do What You Want, Feel Great & Live More
Wow… I just got upgraded to lisis deluxe! Does that mean I can charge more for my services?
Hi Lisis,
What a lovely Post! The living in the moment philosophy couldnt have been more beautifully put. Especially teh last line “How does your choice feel?”- really hits in the right place and pushe you to reevaluate yourself and your current actions.
Zeenat{Positive Provocations}´s last blog ..Finding Your Happy Endings
That was what I thought too, Zeenat… it really forced me to stop and think, and feel, and decide.
I just love this passage!
[...] for wishing your life away, dreaming of a day when things can be different. Every day is that day. In every moment you have the opportunity to choose to make the most of your life. Life is too short to be wasted, [...]
I was very deeply touched by the incident relted by Krishna about mother Teresa and the baker.It brought tears in my eyes after reading it and I felt one of the highest and beautiful emotion run through me.Thanks a million for sharing such thoughts.