TEA AND ZEN - THREADS

THE MORNING POEM

WaitingThe song I came to singremains unsung to this day.I have spent my days in stringingand in unstringing my instrument.The time has not come true,the words have not been rightly set;only there is the agonyof wishing in my heart…..I have not seen his face,nor have I listened to his voice;only I have heard his gentle footstepsfrom the road before my house…..But the lamp has not been litand I cannot ask him into my house;I live in the hope of meeting with him;but this meeting is not yet. 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

TRUE WISDOM

"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 beyond the grasp of the conscious mind.""In coming to the true wisdom of the heart we offer no resistance to circumstance, surrendering to it all with the utmost humility, we come before love, before God, wherein all questions are answered beautifully, and without reservation. Nigel Lott, teaandzen.orgThe profound statement, “In coming to the true wisdom of the heart we offer no resistance to circumstance, surrendering to it all with the utmost humility, we come before love, before God, wherein all questions are answered beautifully, and without reservation,” captures the essence of spiritual wisdom. It suggests that the path to true understanding and peace is not through forceful striving or intellectual pursuit, but through surrender, acceptance, and a deep humility toward the unfolding of life.At the core of this wisdom is the idea of resistance—the notion that much of human suffering arises from our unwillingness to accept life as it is. When we resist circumstances, we fight against reality, creating inner turmoil. True wisdom, however, lies in releasing this resistance and allowing ourselves to be fully present with whatever comes our way. By surrendering, we stop struggling to control our surroundings, and instead, we trust in the flow of life…..indeed not an easy task.This surrender is not passive or weak. It requires humility—a willingness to acknowledge that we do not have all the answers, and that there is a larger, divine force at play. In this space of humility, we let go of the ego’s need to be in charge and make peace with the unfolding mystery of life. When we relinquish our need for control, we allow ourselves to experience a deeper connection to love and God……a force that transcends logic and reason.In this space of surrender, all questions—whether about purpose, meaning, or the nature of existence…..are answered in their own way, effortlessly and beautifully. Love becomes the ultimate guide, offering clarity that is not intellectual but experiential. In coming before love or God, we experience an inner peace that needs no explanation or justification.Ultimately, this wisdom teaches that peace, clarity, and understanding are found not in resistance or in seeking endless answers, but in surrendering with grace and humility. By coming before love and allowing it to guide us, we discover that all our questions dissolve into the serenity of a heart fully at peace with the world as it is. 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

Sing songs that none have sung,Think thoughts that ne’er in brain have rung,Walk in paths that none have trod,Weep tears as none have shed for God,Give peace to all to whom none other gave,Claim him your own who’s everywhere disclaimed.Love all with love that none have felt, and braveThe battle of life with strength unchained. 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

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