TEA AND ZEN - THREADS

INDEPENDENCE DAY

I am musing on this July 4th about celebration, celebrating Independence, Independence Day.And how that translates to me is a deep desire a prayer if you like that all life, all sentient beings become free, become independent of their suffering.For we are One Love.And our resistance to that is all the suffering that any of us go through, in any particular lifetime, or put it another way we find that when we surrender to that one love within and without all suffering ceases. For this reason; therefore on this Independence Day, July 4th, 2024, may all love become you. 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

SOUL SPARK

"When you truly realize that you have everything you need, and always have-deep within, then you will want for nothing more." Nigel LottThere is a hunger in every human heart, which nothing can satisfy or appease— a hunger for something more true than ordinary human beings wit of, a hunger for the real, a hunger for the sublime. It is the nostalgia of the soul, of the spirit-soul of man. The source of this longing is the home-sickness brought about by the soul-memory of our spiritual abode, whence we came and towards which we are now on our return journey.Men unconsciously, intuitively, unknown to the brain-mind, see the vision sublime on the mountaintops of the mystic East; and oh! this yearning homesickness for the indescrib-able, for the immortal, for the deathless, for that which brings unutterable peace and the path to a love which is frontierless in its reaches!Every human heart feels this, and it is the saving power in men, the thing which gives them hope and aspiration, which raises their souls with the recognition of the glory that once was theirs. Light for the mind, love for the heart, understanding for the intellect: all three must be satisfied in every man before he has real peace.There is a path, a sublime pathway of wisdom and illumination which begins, for each human being, in any one incarnation on this earth in the present life, and thereafter leads inward, for it is the pathway of con- sciousness and spiritual realization leading ever inward, more inward, still more inward, toward the mystic East, which is the heart of the universe, and it is the core of you — the rising sun of spiritually divine consciousness within you. Golden Precepts of Esotericism. G. de Purucker 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

CHANGE IS GONNA COME

Open your heart, embrace the truth resonating within, and journey ever deeper into the limitless expanse of love's infinite possibilities.In this journey, may we discover ourselves, each other, (to the point were we realize there is no other only ONE of us) and the boundless grace flowing through every breath. Through love, we uncover the eternal truth of our interconnectedness, weaving the tapestry of life with threads of love, compassion, and understanding.Let us embrace this truth and live it now, for in doing so, we honor the essence of life itself—the eternal dance of love in motion, turning darkness into light. 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 BREATH #1

The vagus nerve provides a pathway to inner peace and well-being. By tapping into the calming effects of breathing, we activate this remarkable neural pathway and nurture a deeper sense of calm, clarity, and connection in our lives. In every breath—inhale and exhale alike—lies an opportunity for each of us to reconnect with ourselves, find peace amid chaos, and embrace the richness of our human experience. Take a moment to pause, breathe deeply, and rediscover the profound wisdom that resides within you. 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

SOUL SPARK

Despite our having individual identities or forms, we are all part of a larger whole, much like how a river flows into the ocean, merging and becoming one with it, any perceived separation is but illusion. That despite apparent separateness or duality in individuals or relationships, there is ultimately a singular essence or energy that connects and unifies them …..in this case, LOVE being that unifying force. Nigel Lott teaandzen.orgWhen you listen to the words of this poem, listen with all of your spiritual heart, just below the sternum, were all truth and unity dwells. 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

SOUL SPARKS

To recognize the omnipresence of Love opens up infinite possibilities, every moment becomes precious, each breath a testament to the divine presence surrounding us. Love, a universal force, transcends all boundaries and has the power to transform suffering into liberation. Embrace also the boundless love within; let it guide you to self-realization and illumination. Surrender to its power, knowing it encompasses all that ever was or will be.Music ‘Lay Down With Me’ By Hannah Lindgren 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

Whistling SwansDo you bow your head when you pray or do you lookup into that blue space?Take your choice, prayers fly from all directions.And don’t worry about what language you use,God no doubt understands them all.Even when the swans are flying north and makingsuch a ruckus of noise, God is surely listeningand understanding.Rumi said,  There is no proof of the soul.But isn’t the return of spring and how itsprings up in our hearts a pretty good hint?Yes, I know, God’s silence never breaks, but isthat really a problem?There are thousands of voices, after all.And furthermore, don’t you imagine (I just suggest it)that the swans know about as much as we do aboutthe whole business?So listen to them and watch them, singing as they fly.Take from it what you can.by Mary Oliver 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

SOUL SPARK

During moments when truth seems overwhelming and our desires clash with reality, our human inclination to impose judgments and preferences arises naturally. Love, however….the essence of the Great Way of Things….remains impartial, free from bias. It allows the absolute reality of truth to surface, ensuring that it is revealed in its entirety, now and forevermore…….that all destiny might prevail. 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

DANTES PRAYER

When the dark wood fell before meAnd all the paths were overgrownWhen the priests of pride say there is no other wayI tilled the sorrows of stoneI did not believe because I could not seeThough you came to me in the nightWhen the dawn seemed forever lostYou showed me your love in the light of the starsCast your eyes on the oceanCast your soul to the seaWhen the dark night seems endlessPlease remember meThen the mountain rose before meBy the deep well of desireFrom the fountain of forgivenessBeyond the ice and the fireCast your eyes on the oceanCast your soul to the seaWhen the dark night seems endlessPlease remember meThough we share this humble path, aloneHow fragile is the heartOh give these clay feet wings to flyTo touch the face of the starsBreathe life into this feeble heartLift this mortal veil of fearTake these crumbled hopes, etched with tearsWe'll rise above these earthly caresCast your eyes on the oceanCast your soul to the seaWhen the dark night seems endlessPlease remember meMAY ALL LOVE BECOME YOU, MAY ALL SORROWS CEASE! 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

UNDERSTANDING GRIEF

Grief is a profound and complex emotion that touches every human at some point in life. It manifests in the deep sense of loss we experience when something or someone we cherish is no longer with us. But grief is more than just sadness; it encompasses a fundamental belief that we have lost our connection to Love itself.When we speak of Love in this context, we refer to more than just romantic or familial bonds. It's about the deepest connection imaginable, where unity prevails and distinctions dissolve. Some may perceive this as a connection to God or the Divine; others simply recognize it as Love—the ultimate reality where we exist as One.In our journey through life, grief arises when we feel we've become fragmented, separated from that unity. It's a feeling deeply ingrained in our psyche, suggesting an inherent wound in humanity. This wound suggests that as we evolved into sentient beings, we began to perceive ourselves as distinct entities, separate from the whole.However, it's essential to challenge this perception. Despite our individual experiences and the illusion of separation, there is no true division. The belief in separation, though persistent throughout human history, is a construct of the mind rather than a reality. At our core, we remain interconnected with the fabric of existence.Grief, therefore, becomes a journey of reconciliation—a process where we learn to integrate our sense of loss with the understanding that Love, in its purest form, never truly departs. It is within us and around us, ever-present and eternal, infinite in nature—absolute reality.As we navigate the depths of grief, we come to realize that healing does not mean forgetting or replacing what we've lost. Instead, it involves embracing the truth that the essence of what we loved remains within us. It's a profound shift in perspective—an acknowledgment that even in our sorrow, we are still connected to the source of all Love and Unity.Ultimately, grief teaches us about the nature of love itself. It reminds us that Love transcends physical presence and temporal boundaries. It is the thread that weaves through our existence, binding us together in the tapestry of life.Finally, understanding grief requires us to look beyond the immediate pain of loss. It invites us to explore the deeper truths about our interconnectedness and the eternal nature of Love. By embracing this understanding, we can find solace and wisdom in our grief, knowing that Love, in its purest form, is always within reach, less than a blink of an eye away at any given moment. 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