No Mud, No Lotus: The Art of Transforming Suffering

We may worry, for example, that we have cancer and that we’re going to die soon.

“Good morning, my pain, my sorrow, my fear. I see you. I am here. Don’t worry.”

Our thinking, perceiving, and worrying take away all the space inside us, and keep us from being in touch with what’s happening moment to moment.

If we continue to look deeply into the flower, we see many other things, like the earth and the minerals. Without them a flower cannot be. So it’s a fact that a flower is made only of nonflower elements.

We have eyes. We can see the beautiful sky above us, but we often don’t appreciate what we have.

transform our suffering into understanding, compassion, and joy for ourselves and for others.

When we see something we want to touch with our mindfulness—the blue sky, the hills, a tree, or a bird—we just stop, but while we do so, we continue breathing in and out mindfully.

I enjoy every step; every step makes me happy.

To stay in the present moment takes concentration. Worries and anxiety about the future are always there, ready to take us away. We can see them, acknowledge them, and use our concentration to return to the present moment.

with mindfulness you can touch the many conditions of happiness and joy that are already available. You are a real artist. You know how to create joy and happiness any time you want.