The Universe Is Smiling: "Travel"

Q: What is today's wisdom?
A: Travel your world with a smile :)

"It is better to travel well than to arrive."
- Buddha
"Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Universe Is Smiling: "Protection"

Monika's weekly inner voice drawings:
Q: What is today's wisdom?

A: Even if we don't know it, we are protected. It may take some faith to trust that.
"On life's journey faith is nourishment, virtuous deeds are a shelter, wisdom is the light by day and right mindfulness is the protection by night. If a man lives a pure life, nothing can destroy him."
- The Buddha

The Casual Observer: Finding the Buddha

Dear Visitors,

I am back from a three week stay in Cologne, Germany, and I am also back for regular postings of  drawings and observations. Let's start with this one image of a 12th century Maria, photographed at an exhibition at the Kolumba. I was struck how the shadow of the figure resembled a silhouette of a meditating Buddha. The Buddha is everywhere :)

"If your mind is empty, it is always ready for anything; it is open to everything."
- Shunrya Suzuki
"Cultivation of tolerance for other faiths will impart to us a truer understanding of our own."
- Mahatma Gandhi

The Universe Is Smiling: "You make your own world"

Monika's weekly inner voice drawings:

Q: What is today's wisdom?

A: "Our thoughts make our world. Let's have positive thoughts!"

"Change your thoughts, and you change the world."

- Norman Vincent Peale

"We are what we think. All that we are arises with out thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world."

- Buddha

"What's the use of a fine house if you haven't got a tolerable planet to put it on?"

- Henry David Thoreau    

The Universe Is Smiling: "Perception"

Monika's weekly inner voice drawings:

Q: What is today's wisdom?

A: "Between distraction and reflection, open the doors of perception!"

"If the doors of perception were cleansed everything would appear to men as it is, infinite."

- William Blake

"As social beings we live with our eyes upon our reflection, but have no assurance of the tranquility of the waters in which we see it."

- Charles Horton Cooley

"All that we are is the result of what we have thought."

- Buddha  

The Universe Is Smiling: Simple Philosophy

Monika's weekly inner voice drawings:

Q: What is today's wisdom?

A: "Be where you are; otherwise you will miss your life."

- Buddha

"I have a simple philosophy: Fill what is empty. Empty what's full. Scratch where it itches."

- Alice Longworth Roosevelt    

The Universe Is Smiling: STOP!

Monika's weekly inner voice drawings:

Q: What is today's wisdom?

 A: "Anger is a great force. If you control it, it can be transmuted into a power which can move the whole world."

- William Shenstone

"Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the only one that gets burned.

- Buddha

"If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will escape hundred days of sorrow."

- Chinese Proverb    

The Universe Is Smiling: Together - Each friend represents a world in us

Monika's weekly inner voice drawings:

Q: What is today's wisdom?

A: "Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born."

- Anais Nin

"We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts we make the world."

- Buddha    

The Universe Is Smiling: Enjoy Being You!

Monika's weekly inner voice drawings:

Q: What is today's wisdom?

A: "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."

- Dr. Seuss

"You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection."

- Buddha    

The Universe Is Smiling: Realization

Monika's weekly inner voice drawings:

This morning I was on the phone with a friend of mine, who is on a semi-retreat in Bodhgaya where the Buddha is believed to have attained enlightenment. While my friend described the quietude and meditative energy around him, I started this drawing, opening myself to the flow of positive energy and asking the question:

Q: What is the message from Bodhgaya?

A:"When at last, in a single flash, you attain full realization, you will only be realizing the Buddha-nature which has been with you all the time."
- Huang-Po 
"You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and affection."

- Buddha 

The Universe Is Smiling: Concentrate the Mind on the Present Moment

Monika's weekly inner voice drawings:

Q: What is today's wisdom?

A: "Do not dwell in the past,

Do not dream of the future,

Concentrate the mind on the present moment."

- The Buddha 

The Universe Is Smiling: "I am Awake"

Monika's weekly inner voice drawings:

Q: What is today's message on this auspicious day of Chokhor Duchen, the first time the Buddha taught after attaining enlightenment?

A: One of his students asked Buddha, "Are you the messiah?"
"No", answered the Buddha.
"Then are you a healer?"
"No", Buddha replied.
"Then are you a teacher?" the student persisted.
"No, I am not a teacher."
"Then what are you?" asked the student, exasperated.
"I am awake", Buddha replied.

 

The Universe is Smiling: Companionship

Monika's weekly inner voice drawings:

Q: What is today's wisdom?
A: "If you find a prudent companion, a wise associate who leads a good life, having overcome all troubles, travel with that one, uplifted and aware." - Buddha