Quotes from JOAN BORYSENKO

The serenity prayer of Reinhold Niebuhr is a classic. Say it with all your heart and let its wisdom penetrate your mind: God give me the courage to change the things I can, the serenity to accept the things I can't and the wisdom to know the difference.

Mother Meera is a contemporary Hindu saint who teaches that if we want anything we have to ask for it with our whole heart in a way that "your heart can be empty and God can fill it." To pray in this way it is necessary to remember that God has already given you the kingdom.

Once we have lightened the hold of the ego over us, the intention to fulfill our life's purpose becomes less a matter of personal identity and more a strong commitment to make the world a better place.

May there be peace on earth, May the hearts of all people be open to themselves and to each other, May all people awaken to the light of their own true nature, May all creation be blessed and be a blessing to All That Is.

Yoga is a Sanskrit word meaning "union," the union of our mind with Divine Mind.

Peace be with you. The darkest day of the year has dawned, and the Great Medicine Wheel has shifted from the West to the North.

May there be peace on earth and goodwill towards all.

When you express feelings, are you stating what is or are you blaming someone? If expressing your feelings generally makes you or other people feel worse—doing harm—try thinking about feelings as teachers, rather than as judges about how the world is treating you.

We become whole, healed, by making the invisible visible and bringing the darkness to light.

Awareness of breath is the cornerstone for developing control of the bodymind.

Shift to belly breathing as often as you can, repeating "Letting go of small mind" on the inbreath and "I am one with Big Mind" on the outbreath.

Awareness of the little ways that we tend to be dishonest with ourselves leads to great strides in applying honesty and integrity to all our interactions.

Synchronicities are such a delight—little messages from the Universe that we're on the right track!

All Souls' Day is celebrated in many countries as a day both for remembering the dead and for celebrating the liberating aspects of death.

It takes no more time to be mindful than mindless, and mindfulness is the way that you will taste freedom. Commit to doing one activity mindfully every day for the next month, in addition to the other daily practices.

May there be peace on earth, may the hearts of all beings be open, may all be reborn in forgiveness, may all creation reflect the Glory of God.

cup extra-virgin olive oil (the best you can afford) ½ cup white balsamic vinegar 1 tsp. good-quality mustard ½ tsp. Truvia Salt and pepper to taste Put all the ingredients in a recycled glass jar and shake until blended. You can vary this endlessly by adding minced garlic, fresh or dried herbs, paprika, or whatever rings your bell. The secret is the fine fragrant oil, the white balsamic, and the ratio between them (3:2). Remember that ratio for a perfect vinaigrette every time.

A joke a day may not keep the doctor away, but there is good scientific evidence that laughter actually brings forth the relaxation response.

Seed Thought In Native American tradition, there is an affliction called two-heartedness. A person is two-hearted when they know they have a certain gift and want to use it, but don't bring forth their creativity because they get in their own way by making excuses, thinking that they really don't have the talent, procrastinating, giving in to fear or otherwise failing to follow their heart. A person is also two-hearted when they lie to themselves about their true motivation.

It takes courage to re-own our lost parts, but authentic spirituality requires that we make the shadow visible and that we make that which is divided whole.

Seed Thought "Love thy neighbor as thyself" is an unqualified statement. It doesn't say love your good neighbors and your best friends. To love our neighbor is to extend the wish for enlightenment to everyone, including those we might hold in judgment or think of as our enemies.

If judgmental thoughts about others occur during the day, take a minute to send lovingkindness blessings first to yourself, and then to them.

Seed Thought Meditation is a form of mental martial arts. If we resist thoughts they will overpower us. But if we just step lightly out of their way, letting them come and go like birds flying overhead, we can use their energy to further focus our minds.

As you watch television, read the newspaper or magazines, or encounter suffering in any form, send lovingkindness blessings. The world doesn't need any more anger or indignation, but it could certainly use more love.