TEA AND ZEN - THREADS

THE MORNING POEM

No one can keep us from carrying GodWherever we go.No one can rob His NameFrom our heart as we try to relinquish our fearsAnd at last stand — Victorious.We do not have to leave him in the mosqueOr church alone at night;We do not have to be jealous of tales of saintsOr glorious masts, those intoxicated soulsWho can make outrageous love with the Friend.We do not have to be envious of our spirits’ abilityWhich can sometimes touch God in a dream.Our yearning eyes, our warm-needing bodies,Can all be drenched in contentmentAnd Light.No one anywhere can keep usFrom carrying the Beloved wherever we go.No one can rob His precious NameFrom the rhythm of my heart —Steps and breath.KEEP THE FAITH PEOPLE, KEEP THE FAITH.Read By 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

Did you too see it, drifting, all night, on the black river?Did you see it in the morning, rising into the silvery air –An armful of white blossoms,A perfect commotion of silk and linen as it leanedinto the bondage of its wings; a snowbank, a bank of lilies,Biting the air with its black beak?Did you hear it, fluting and whistlingA shrill dark music – like the rain pelting the trees – like a waterfallKnifing down the black ledges?And did you see it, finally, just under the clouds –A white cross Streaming across the sky, its feetLike black leaves, its wings Like the stretching light of the river?And did you feel it, in your heart, how it pertained to everything?And have you too finally figured out what beauty is for?And have you changed your life? 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

A NEW YEARS MEDITATION

Sit in stillness, in the quiet embrace of the present moment. Close your eyes, and with each breath, let yourself fall deeper into the silence, where the noise of the world fades into nothingness. In this sacred space, there is no past, no future— only the eternal Now.Feel the breath of the Divine flowing through you, as ancient as the stars, as timeless as the sacred forces that weave the fabric of the universe. Breathe in, not just air, but the essence of life itself— the very breath of God, the energy that sustains and nourishes all things. Exhale, letting go of all illusions, of all attachments to the ego, to the fleeting world of form.Within you, a deep well of peace stirs, an ocean of stillness that has always been, beneath the surface of the mind. This peace is not of the earth, nor bound by time. It is the peace of the eternal, the peace of the soul’s true nature. It is the silence of the divine presence that dwells within and around you.Now, as you rest in this infinite peace, feel the current of divine love coursing through your veins, like a river of light flowing from the heart of the universe. This love is not something you can grasp with the mind, nor something that comes from another. It is the essence of your being— the very fabric of your soul. It is the oneness of all creation, the mystical force that connects everything, from the smallest grain of sand to the farthest star.Know this: You are not separate. You are not alone. You are an expression of the Divine, a spark of the eternal flame, born from the heart of the universe. In this moment, you are at peace, for you are part of that which is beyond all duality— beyond thought, beyond form.Let your heart be filled with joy, not the joy of the mind, but the bliss of divine union. This joy is not an emotion, but a state of being— the recognition that all is One, and in that Oneness, there is nothing but love, nothing but peace. It is the joy of returning home, to your true self, to the Divine within.Feel the mystical presence of the Divine surrounding you, inside you, as the sacred flow of life moves through you. You are both the seeker and the sought, the knower and the known. You are the Divine, playing in the form of a human, awakening to the truth of your nature.In this silence, in this sacred space, let your soul whisper its truth: I am that I am. I am the peace that moves through the world. I am the joy that flows in the heart of the universe.Know that this peace, this joy, this mystical truth is always with you, for it is your true essence. You are the Divine, and the Divine is you.When you are ready, return to the world, but carry the remembrance of this sacred connection within. You walk now with the presence of the Divine, for you are never separate, never apart. You are at peace, you are joy, you are the living expression of the Divine Mysteries. 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

Happy New Year

May peace fill your heart and love become your guide, now and always, throughout this new year and beyond.As we step into this new year, may you be surrounded by serenity and warmth. May your heart remain open to the beauty of love in every form. May kindness, joy, and understanding flow freely within you, and may you be a beacon of peace and love to everyone you meet.Wishing you a year of growth, grace, and the deep, enduring presence of love and peace in your life.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

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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

WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENS WHEN YOU DIE?

Riley: So what do you think happens when we die?Erin: Speaking for myself?Riley: Speaking for yourself.Erin: Myself…“My self.” That’s the problem, that’s the whole problem with the whole thing. That word. Self. That’s not the word. That’s not right, that isn’t. That isn’t…How did I forget that?When did I forget that?The body stops a cell at a time, but the brain keeps firing those neurons. Little lightning bolts, like fireworks inside, and I thought I’d despair or feel afraid, but I don’t feel any of that. None of it. Because I’m too busy. I’m too busy in this moment remembering…Of course.I remember that every atom in my body was forged in a star. This matter, this body is mostly just empty space after all. And solid matter, it’s just energy vibrating very slowly, and there is no “me.”There never was…The electrons of my body mingle and dance with the electrons of the ground below me and the air I’m no longer breathing. And I remember: There is no point where any of that ends and I begin.I remember I am energy, not memory — not self. My name, my personality, my choices — all came after me. I was before them, and I will be after, and everything else is pictures picked up along the way. Fleeting little dreamlets printed on the tissue of my dying brain.And I am the lightning that jumps between. I am the energy firing the neurons, and I’m returning — just by remembering, I’m returning home.It’s like a drop of water falling back into the ocean of which it’s always been a part. All things, a part. All of us, a part. You, me, and my little girl, and my mother, and my father, everyone who’s ever been, every plant, every animal, every atom, every star, every galaxy, all of it.More galaxies in the universe than grains of sand on the beach. And that’s what we’re talking about when we say “god.” The One. The Cosmos and its infinite dreams.We are the cosmos dreaming of itself. It’s simply a dream that I think is my life, every time. But I’ll forget this. I always do. I always forget my dreams.But now, in a split second, in the moment I remember, the instant I remember, I comprehend everything at once. There is no time. There is no death.Life is a dream. It’s a wish made again. And again. And again, and again, and again, and again, and on into eternity…And I am all of it. I am everything. I am all.I am that I am. Erin 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 ART OF LOVING GOD

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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 WISDOM OF THE HEART

This is yet another in the series of quotes that have emerged over the years, some stretching back decades. This time, however, they are accompanied by a written reflection, a window into the workings of my mind. Yet, I must say, these words did not spring initially from thought, not by a long shot; they flowed from a deeper realm….one that resides within the heart and soul, a place way beyond the grasp of the conscious mind."“In embracing the true wisdom of the heart, we offer no resistance to circumstance, surrendering fully with the utmost humility. In this surrender, we come before love, before God, where all questions are answered with the utmost grace, and without reservation. Nigel Lott teaandzen.orgThese words point to a profound spiritual truth: true wisdom is not born of the intellect, but of the heart. When we surrender to life’s circumstances without resistance, we allow the flow of divine grace to enter our being. This act of surrender is not one of weakness, but of strength and trust. It is through humility….yielding to the present moment….that we encounter love in its purest form, the presence of God.In the quiet of surrender, we find answers to the deepest questions of the soul. No longer bound by the need for control or certainty, we open ourselves to a wisdom far beyond the mind’s capacity. Here, in the embrace of grace, we discover that love itself holds the answers, guiding us with a gentle, unwavering certainty.To surrender is not to give up, but to give over…..to give over to the divine flow, to the intelligence of the heart. In this sacred act, all is revealed, and peace follows. In the stillness of the heart, we are never lost; we are always found. Nigel Lott teaandzen.orgMeditation Sans Frontieres 501 (C) 3 Non Profit, Registered Charity Tax Ein 81-3411835 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

FOREVER SACRED

This is yet another in the series of quotes that have emerged over the years, some stretching back decades. This time, however, they are accompanied by a written reflection, a window into the workings of my mind. Yet, I must say, these words did not spring initially from thought, not by a long shot; they flowed from a deeper realm….one that resides within the heart and soul, a place way beyond the grasp of the conscious mind.“Whatever is held sacred in our heart once is forever held there, once sacred forever sacred master that you are of your own soul." Nigel LottThese words echo the timeless truth that the heart, the seat of our deepest intentions and spiritual truths, is a vessel for the sacred. Whatever we choose to honor, to revere, to love deeply, becomes a permanent part of our being. The sacredness we hold within us is not fleeting—it is eternal.To understand this mystical notion, we must first recognize the profound power of the heart. In many spiritual traditions, the spiritual heart (just below the sternum) is a center of energy and consciousness. It is the gateway to the soul’s deepest desires, the place where we commune with the divine. What we choose to hold sacred in our heart becomes a living force within us, shaping not only our thoughts and actions but our very essence.When we sanctify something….whether it is love, wisdom, truth, beauty, or a higher calling….we are not simply putting it on a pedestal outside of ourselves. We are inviting it to take root within us, to transform us from the inside out. The sacred, once welcomed into the heart, cannot be undone or forgotten. It becomes imprinted on the soul, woven into the fabric of who we are.This is why we are reminded that "once sacred, forever sacred." The reverence we hold for something, whether it is a memory, a divine truth, or an ideal, continues to radiate within us long after the initial experience. The sacred does not fade….it is eternal in its imprint. Every thought, every emotion, every action stemming from that sacredness carries its energy forward, even through the most challenging times, although our awareness of that inner truth may fade during those moments.In this light, we are invited to recognize our own sovereignty, for we are "masters of our own soul." We alone choose what we hold sacred. Through our choices, we cultivate the divine presence within us. The heart is not a passive receiver; it is an active creator of the sacred. By embracing that which is holy and pure, we become not only recipients of spiritual grace but co-creators with the divine.Thus, the invitation is clear: to honor what is sacred within, to keep our hearts open to the mysteries of the divine, and to recognize that in every moment, we are the masters of the sacred space that dwells within us. What we hold sacred in our heart today shapes the essence of who we become tomorrow. So let us choose wisely, and may the sacred always be honored in the deepest chambers of our soul. Nigel Lott teaandzen.orgMeditation Sans Frontieres 501 (C) 3 non Profit Charity Tax Ein 81-3411835 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

IN SERVING THE HEART OF ANOTHER WE EMBRACE THE ONE LOVE THAT CONNECTS US ALL.

"In serving the heart of another, we serve the heart within us and, the one love that connects us all...simply nothing therefore is left undone." Nigel LottIn the quiet acts of kindness, compassion, and love we offer to others, we discover something profound about our own humanity. The simple truth is that in serving the heart of another, we serve the heart within us, and ultimately, the one love that connects us all. This interconnectedness, often called the "oneness of being," teaches us that every act of love reverberates back to the giver, creating a continuous flow of connection that transcends time, space, and individual differences.When we truly, with all heart, reach out to help, listen, or offer our support, we are not just fulfilling the needs of another person. We are engaging in a deep, universal exchange of energy. In this moment of connection, we are reminded that the love we extend is not separate from us….it is an expression of the love that exists in all of us. By uplifting another, we raise our own spirits, nourishing the very essence that binds us to one another.This understanding invites us to see our actions as part of a larger, divine pattern. It’s a reminder that when we give, we do not lose; rather, we create a cycle of giving and receiving that is endless. In truth, nothing is left undone because each act of service ripples outward, leaving a lasting imprint on the world.At its core, this perspective calls us to live with intention, compassion, and empathy. It teaches us that by tending to the hearts of others, we are also by the process of osmosis nurturing our own, and in the process, fulfilling the ultimate purpose of love: unity and connection…..in the cultivation of creation itself.In serving another, we realize that we are always, in essence, serving ourselves….contributing to the harmonious whole of the world. Thus, nothing, indeed, is left undone. 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