TEA AND ZEN - THREADS

INTEGRITY

At the root of much of our pain and suffering lies a profound spiritual truth: we are out of alignment with the deepest wisdom of our own hearts. Most of us, much of the time, are disconnected from the sacred truth that resides within us. We say "yes" to people, places, and things that we long to say "no" to, driven by a deep-seated fear that, if we speak our truth, we might lose something precious—something that we believe gives us love, validation, or a sense of belonging. But the paradox is this: the love we are seeking externally is already woven into the very fabric of our being. It is not out there. It is here, within us, waiting to be recognized, waiting to be embraced.Can you imagine a world where, in each moment, we can pause, check in with our hearts, and honor the quiet wisdom found there? Where we can stand in the fullness of our truth—spoken with love, tenderness, and reverence for ourselves and others? What a world that would be.When we fail to honor the truth of our hearts, when we defer to the expectations of others or the demands of the world, we abandon ourselves. We betray the sacred contract we have with our own soul. It takes courage to say "no." In saying "no," we risk rejection, the possibility that the love or connection we have known will slip away. But here lies the essential truth: it is our sacred responsibility to be in integrity with our heart's deepest knowing. It is our divine duty to align with our soul's truth, no matter how daunting that may feel.This is where the soul’s alchemy occurs. In the act of surrendering, of trusting that our truth is the path to liberation, we transcend the fears that bind us. We let go of the illusion of survival through external validation and step into the eternal, unshakable love that has always been within us. By choosing to honor our heart’s truth, we not only set ourselves free, but we also invite the other to do the same. When we live authentically, we give others permission to live authentically too. It’s a sacred exchange—an offering of love that is pure, unguarded, and rooted in truth.So, let us be in alignment with the truth of our hearts—not the truth of others, not the truth of a societal ideal, but the divine truth that calls to us from the depths of our being. This truth is not always easy to face, but it is the gateway to our freedom. It is the gateway to peace. Ask your heart, "Is this in alignment with my truth?" And listen. The love you’ve been seeking is already within you. You are the love you’ve been waiting for.Can we begin now? Can we, in each moment, choose to live in alignment with the divine truth within us? Because when we do, we step into a life of profound healing, freedom, and unconditional love—a life that mirrors the boundless love that is already within us.Nigel Lott teaandzen.org Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe
In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel  TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY                                                                                                                                                                  DONATE

THE MORNING POEM

In desperate hope, I go and search for her in all the corners of my room.I find her not.My house is small and what once has gone from it can never be regained, but infinite.is thy mention, my Lord, and seeking her, I have come to thy door.I stand under the golden canopy of thine evening sky, and I lift my eager eyes to thy face.I have come to the brink of eternity, from which nothing can vanish, no hope, no happiness, novision of a face seen through tears.Oh, dip my emptied life into that ocean, plunge it into the deepest fullness.Let me for once feel that lost sweet touch in the allness of the universe.Rabindranath Tagore Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe
In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel  TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY                                                                                                                                                                  DONATE

AN INVITATION and CONTEMPLATION

Here is a simple invitation….though perhaps profound in its complexity,in its pursuit,I invite you to spend the rest of your life being in Love.And I ask you,have you ever had anything better to do?In all honesty,has anything else ever truly mattered?Nigel Lott teaandzen.org Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe
In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel  TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY                                                                                                                                                                  DONATE

NO GOODBYES

Goodbyes are only for thosewho love with their eyes.Because for those who love withheart and soul there is no such thingas separation.Rumi (1207–1273) Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe
In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel  TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY                                                                                                                                                                  DONATE

THIS MOMENT

This moment this Love comes to rest in me,many beings in one being.In one wheat grain a thousand sheaf stacks.Inside the needle's eye a turning night of stars.-RumiNigel Lott teaandzen.org Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe
In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel  TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY                                                                                                                                                                  DONATE

AN ASPECT OF GRIEF

Grief is often seen as something to be avoided….something painful, something dark. Yet, if we look beyond its surface, we find that grief is not an enemy, but a sacred release. It is the soul's way of shedding old wounds, ancient pain, the illusion that we were ever separate from love. The truth is, we were never apart from the Sacred. Grief, in its alchemy, reconnects us to the eternal oneness we have always been a part of, even when we’ve forgotten.Yes, grief is painful, but it is not merely sorrow; it is a profound healing force. If you wish to be free from anger, allow your grief. If you long to transcend fear, surrender to your grief. Beneath these emotions, grief often lies hidden, a deep current of longing and release. When we open ourselves to grief, we dissolve the illusion of separateness. We are drawn back, in time, into the embrace of the Beloved, into the arms of our true nature. Some threads of grief will linger, for its depth is boundless, but each moment of surrender is a reunion, a return to the Sacred, to the love that is both our origin and our destination.There is a spiritual transcendence in grief….an opening that comes as the pain begins to ease. It is a sacred moment, when the soul surrenders to its deepest longing and reunites with the One, with the eternal truth that underpins all things.And one more thought: when you cry, do not hold back. Do not sniff the tears back in. Let them flow freely, for there is a holiness in your tears. They carry the imprint of your soul’s journey, the release of that which no longer serves you. The mucus, the tears…..these are not simply bodily fluids; they are part of the soul’s purification. Gently release them. Do not draw them back into your body. Let them go, as they carry the old pain, the old stories, into the great river of love.Finally, do not leave yourself alone in your grief. In those tender moments, remember: you are never truly alone. We are always surrounded by the unseen support of the Sacred, and by the love of those who walk with us, whether in this world or the next. Allow yourself to feel safe in your grief. Let it be held by those who love you, and by the vast, unseen arms that embrace all who suffer.I share this with you this morning, as these thoughts have been stirring in my heart. It’s a reminder: It is not only okay to cry….it is sacred. Think of grief as a letting go, a surrender back into the arms of Love.Nigel Lott teaandzen.org Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe
In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel  TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY                                                                                                                                                                  DONATE

THANK YOU

I am filled with deep gratitude for each of you who have supported this journey of growth and healing. Your continued engagement with this podcast and blog has been a true blessing, not only to me but to so many others whose lives have been touched by our interactions.Your dedication to listening, learning, and growing with me has helped build a vibrant community centered around healing and transformation. It’s your presence, your energy, and your openness that make this work possible.Beyond the podcast, I want to express my heartfelt appreciation for your ongoing support of the charity and nonprofit initiatives that work to bring healing to those in need. Whether through donations, volunteering, or simply spreading the word, you have made a real difference in the lives of many. Because of you, we can continue to offer vital resources to individuals who may not otherwise have access to them.Thank you for believing in this mission, for nurturing this community, and for being part of something that’s greater than any one of us. Together, we are creating a ripple of love, compassion, and transformation that will continue to touch lives and inspire change for years to come.With love and deep gratitude,Nigel Lott teaandzen.org Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe
In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel  TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY                                                                                                                                                                  DONATE

LOVE DOES NOT HURT

Love does not hurt. Love is the healing. It is the balm that soothes the wounds of separation, the light that dispels the darkness of ignorance. When you realize this, you are home. You are whole. You are Love.Nigel Lott teaandzen.org Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe
In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel  TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY                                                                                                                                                                  DONATE

THE HEART OF EXISTENCE

At the heart of existence, beyond the realm of time and form, there is a profound truth: we are all One. All that we see, touch, and feel, all is woven from the same sacred thread. This thread is Love…..pure, unconditional, and eternal. It is the creative force of the universe, the soul of all things.When we carry pain…..whether it is the weight of old wounds, unspoken grief, or the ache of longing….it is easy to think that in releasing it, means casting it onto others, often the people our hearts are most open to, for it is those we most love that mirror the deepest aspect of pain within. We project our hurt onto those around us, believing that by dumping the burden, we will be freed. But here lies a deeper, spiritual truth: to harm another, to pass on our pain, is to harm the very web of life itself. In reality, there is no “other,” no separation between us and the world we inhabit.Every soul is a reflection of the sacred, every life form is an extension of the same Love that flows through our own being. To inflict suffering upon another is to wound ourselves, for we are not apart from one another, but part of the same sacred whole. When we project our pain outward, we are simply adding to the collective sorrow that binds us all together in this human journey.True healing does not come from casting away our suffering, but from surrendering it to the sacred Light of Love that resides within. It comes from looking inward, facing the shadows of our pain, and offering them up to the eternal Love that is always present, always embracing. In this surrender, we dissolve the illusion of separation and reconnect with the Source from which we all come.When we heal ourselves in this way, we do not simply relieve our own suffering; we contribute to the healing of the world. As we heal our hearts, the hearts of those around us are healed. The collective pain of humanity lightens, and the sacred flow of Love, unimpeded, restores the world.In the end, the more we align ourselves with the force of Love, the more we realize that we never need to cast our pain outward. The pain, when surrendered in grace, transforms into the very light that can heal all things…..within us, and in the world. And this, dear soul, is the way of Love: to heal ourselves is to heal the world.Tea and Zen - Meditation Sans Frontieres 501 (C) 3 Non Profit Registered Charity Tax EIN 81-3411835Nigel Lott teaandzen.org Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe
In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel  TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY                                                                                                                                                                  DONATE

THE MORNING POEM

Little by little,You will turn into stars.Even then, my dear,You will only beA crawling infant,Still skinning your knees on God.Little by little,You will turn intoThe whole sweet, amorous UniverseIn heatOn a wild spring night,And become so freeIn a wonderful, secretAnd pour LoveThat flowsFrom a conscious,One-pointedInfinite need for Light.Even then, my dear,The Beloved will have fulfilledJust a fraction,Just a fraction!Of a promiseHe wrote upon your heart.When your soul beginsTo Ever bloom and laughAnd spin in Eternal Ecstasy -O little by little,You will turn into God.teaandzen.org Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe
In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel  TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY                                                                                                                                                                  DONATE