In space there are countless constellations, suns and planets; we see only the suns because they give light; the planets remain invisible, for they are small and dark. There are also numberless earths circling around their suns.
Giordano BrunoRead
It is unity that doth enchant me. By her power I am free though thrall, happy in sorrow, rich in poverty, and quick even in death.
Interpretation
Unity brings freedom and a sense of well-being despite life's challenges.
In this quote, Giordano Bruno reflects on the transformative power of unity, suggesting that it possesses a magical quality that liberates individuals from their struggles. He emphasizes that through this unity, one can find happiness amidst sorrow, richness in poverty, and vitality even in death, illustrating the profound strength and comfort that interconnectedness can provide in the face of adversity.
In practice
In a speech about community engagement, one could say, 'As Giordano Bruno said, 'It is unity that doth enchant me,' reminding us that together we can overcome any challenge.
In space there are countless constellations, suns and planets; we see only the suns because they give light; the planets remain invisible, for they are small and dark. There are also numberless earths circling around their suns.
I who am in the night will move into the day.
There is in the universe neither center nor circumference.
Desire urges me on, while fear bridals me.
Since I have spread my wings to purpose high,_x000D_ The more beneath my feet the clouds I see,_x000D_ The more I give the winds my pinions free,_x000D_ Spurning the earth and soaring to the sky.
The universe is then one, infinite, immobile. ... It is not capable of comprehension and therefore is endless and limitless, and to that extent infinite and indeterminable, and consequently immobile.
It is much easier to try one's hand at many things than to concentrate one's powers on one thing.
Who can calculate the wounds inflicted, their depth and pain, by harsh and mean words spoken in anger? How pitiful a sight is a man who is strong in many ways but who loses all control of himself when some little thing, usually of no significant consequence, disturbs his equanimity.
When you learn about the teaching and the practice of another tradition, you always have a chance to understand your own teaching and practice.
Think of a flabby person covered with layers of fat. That is what your mind can become - flabby, covered with layers of fat till it becomes too dull and lazy to think, to observe, to explore, to discover ... not wanting to be disturbed or questioned into wakefulness.
All too often people come to meditation in the hope of extraordinary results, like visions, lights, or some supernatural miracle. When no such thing occurs, they feel extremely disappointed. But the real miracle of meditation is more ordinary and much more useful. . . .
It is good to follow one's own bent, so long as it leads upward.
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