What if religion was each other?
If our practice was our life?
If prayer was our words?
What if the temple was the Earth?
If forests were our church?
If holy water--the rivers, lakes and oceans?
What if meditation was our relationships?
If the Teacher was life?
If wisdom was self-knowledge?
If love was the center of our being?
~Ganga White
No call to action or need to comment. Just take a moment to ponder each line, and what it means to you. Of course, if you want to share your thoughts, you are most welcome to comment, but no pressure!
May we all have a good Monday and lovely week.
I think I'll have to come back later and read it again, because I'm still trying to open my eyes. :) (It was a busy weekend.)
ReplyDeleteHappy Monday.
Hey! It's nice you even stopped by. :) I had to really ponder on some of the lines, too. I hope your busy weekend was still a fun one!
DeleteThis is beautiful. Thanks for sharing, Lara.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting, Nicole! I'm glad you liked it. :)
DeleteYou know, I grew up in a scientific family, and, indeed, in the old Czechoslovakia, it was even a bit dangerous to be openly religious, a nobleman and defy Communistic dogma at the same time, but my grandfather used to always say, "No need for churches, if you must, god is in the forests, in the mountains, in the air we breathe and in the kind soul of every person." He was the most intelligent man I've ever known, read and spoke and even wrote his journals in countless languages. I don't know if he did, but I wouldn't be surprised if he studied the wonderful principles of Buddhism and other Eastern philosophies. I've never heard of Ganga White, but will go look him up. :D
ReplyDeleteI'd forgotten that in the 90's I had a yoga video with Ganga White. It was a good video, and I've never seen him anywhere else. Maybe in Yoga Journal. I don't know, but what I loved about this quote was how he used imagery to point out what it might be like if we lived our practice (yoga, mindfulness, whatever). Instead of it being a daily time out, it would be a time-in. It just really hit me as powerful. :)
DeleteIt is.
ReplyDeleteHi, Sabra! Thanks for stopping by! I've wondered how you are. I haven't "seen" you around for a while. Is that because I haven't been on Facebook much?
DeleteI'm happy you have found that ability to be present. I catch glimpses now and then, and know it's definitely something to strive for!