7.27.26

Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.

― Viktor Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning 

7.20.26

The Wu Wei approach to conflict-solving can be seen in the practice of the Taoist martial art T'ai Chi Ch'üan, the basic idea of which is to wear the opponent out either by sending his energy back at him or by deflecting it away, in order to weaken his power, balance, and position-for-defense. Never is force opposed with force; instead, it is overcome with yielding.

–Benjamin Hoff, The Tao of Pooh

7.13.26

Just imagine the day that you stop making assumptions with your partner and eventually with everyone else in your life. Your way of communicating will change completely, and your relationships will no longer suffer from conflicts created by mistaken assumptions.

The way to keep yourself from making assumptions is to ask questions. Make sure the communication is clear. If you don’t understand, ask. Have the courage to ask questions until you are clear as you can be, and even then do not assume you know all there is to know about a given situation. Once you hear the answer, you will not have to make assumptions because you will know the truth.  

― Don Miguel Ruiz, The Four Agreements 

7.6.26

Truth is the perfect circle. Its center is everywhere; its circumference stretches into infinite space. The land on which we stand is sacred, no matter where we stand.

The Tao Te Ching says:

Without going out of my door 

I can know all things on earth.

Without looking out of my window 

I can know the ways of heaven.

― Lama Surya Das, Awakening to the Sacred

6.29.26

Ten times a day something happens to me like this - some strengthening throb of amazement - some good sweet empathic ping and swell. This is the first, the wildest and the wisest thing I know: that the soul exists and is built entirely out of attentiveness.

― Mary Oliver, 12 Things I Know

6.22.26

When we really see other people as they are without taking it personally, we can never be hurt by what they say or do. Even if others lie to you, it is okay. They are lying to you because they are afraid. They are afraid you will discover that they are not perfect. It is painful to take that social mask off. If others say one thing, but do another, you are lying to yourself if you don’t listen to their actions. But if you are truthful with yourself, you will save yourself a lot of emotional pain. Telling yourself the truth about it may hurt, but you don’t need to be attached to the pain. Healing is on the way, and it is just a matter of time before things will be better for you. 

― Don Miguel Ruiz, The Four Agreements 

6.15.26

We need the vision of interbeing—we belong to each other; we cannot cut reality into pieces. The well-being of 'this' is the well-being of 'that.' We cannot just be, we can only inter-be.

― Thich Nhat Hanh, Peace Is Every Step 

6.8.26

From the Taoist point of view, while the scholarly intellect may be useful for analyzing certain things, deeper and broader matters are beyond its limited reach. The Taoist writer Chuang-tse worded it this way:

A well frog cannot imagine the ocean, nor can a summer insect conceive of ice. How then can a scholar understand the Tao? He is restricted by his own learning.

–Benjamin Hoff, The Tao of Pooh