TEA AND ZEN - THREADS

STARLINGS IN WINTER

Chunky and noisy,but with stars in their black feathers,they spring from the telephone wireand instantlythey are acrobatsin the freezing wind.And now, in the theater of air,they swing over buildings,dipping and rising;they float like one stippled starthat opens,becomes for a moment fragmented,then closes again;and you watchand you trybut you simply can't imaginehow they do itwith no articulated instruction, no pause,only the silent confirmationthat they are this notable thing,this wheel of many parts, that can rise and spinover and over again,full of gorgeous life.Ah, world, what lessons you prepare for us,even in the leafless winter,even in the ashy city.I am thinking nowof grief, and of getting past it;I feel my bootstrying to leave the ground,I feel my heartpumping hard. I wantto think again of dangerous and noble things.I want to be light and frolicsome.I want to be improbable beautiful and afraid of nothing,as though I had wings. 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

A MOMENT OF HAPPINESS

A moment of happiness,you and I sitting on the verandah,apparently two, but one in soul, you and I.We feel the flowing water of life here,you and I, with the garden’s beautyand the birds singing.The stars will be watching us,and we will show themwhat it is to be a thin crescent moon.You and I unselfed, will be together,indifferent to idle speculation, you and I.The parrots of heaven will be cracking sugaras we laugh together, you and I.In one form upon this earth,and in another form in a timeless sweet land.Kulliyat-e Shams, 2114 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 CONTEMPLATION AND BLESSING

We are the very source of love we seek, we have the power to create and experience love, peace, and equanimity from within.By recognizing this truth we can shift our focus from the external to the internal, finding a sense of completeness and contentment that transcends all evidence to the contrary. Remember that we need not be seekers of happiness, but come to accept that we are, in this moment, the very embodiment of Love and our work is to surrender our suffering and travail to that truth, to become aware of it from within.The love peace and equanimity we so yearn for are not external treasures to be found but internal realities to be accepted. The journey to discovering ourselves is not a quest for something new, but a deepening of our awareness of the boundless love that lays within. Nigel Lott teaandzen.orgMay you find it now. 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 REMEMBRANCE

Sit, take a moment and remember love, remember your divine nature, accept it, surrender to it, and share it with all……..for-ever and a day. Nigel 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

POEM-Just sit there.

Justsit there right nowDon’t do a thing. Just rest.For yourseparation from Godis the hardest work in this world.Let me bring you trays of food and somethingthat you like todrink.You can use my soft wordsas a cushionfor yourhead.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 - Keeping Watch

KEEPING WATCHIn the morningWhen I began to wake,It happened again—That feelingThat you, Beloved,Had stood over me all nightKeeping watch,That feelingThat as soon as I began to stirYou put Your lips on my foreheadAnd lit a Holy LampInside my heartHafiz. 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

Imagine just for this moment if you truly knew the depth of your potential, your worth, and the incredible power within you. Many of us live confined by doubt, limited by fear, and shaped by the expectations of others. We become versions of ourselves that fit within these constraints, forgetting the vastness of who we really are.If you knew who you truly are—a being capable of immense love, creativity, and resilience—your life would look different. You wouldn’t settle for less than you deserve, nor would you let fear guide your choices. You would approach challenges with confidence, knowing that you have within you everything needed to overcome them.So often, we look outside ourselves for validation or permission to be great. But the truth is, all that power lies within. If you could see yourself without the veil of insecurity, you’d be astonished at the strength, beauty, and brilliance that’s been there all along.Understanding your true self isn’t just about realizing your talents and abilities; it’s about recognizing the value and significance of your presence in the world. You’re more than your struggles and circumstances. You’re a unique expression of life, with a purpose that no one else can fulfill.Oh, if you only knew who you really are—you’d start living boldly, dreaming fearlessly, and embracing the limitless possibilities waiting for you, for there is no birth, no death, there is only this moment we call NOW, an endless continuum of infinite LOVE and 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

SOUL SPARK-Narrow is the Gate.

The path to uncovering the eternal truth of a love beyond measure, that lays at the heart of us is not straightforward, for we are told narrow is the gate. It requires the courage to confront our fears, the compassion to heal our wounds, and the perseverance to navigate life’s complexities. Yet, each step toward inner peace and boundless love brings us closer to realizing our true nature and fulfilling our highest possible potential, dissolved in the light.The path to what is truly meaningful demands discipline, sacrifice, and unwavering conviction, and can only be taken by Faith. The wide gate is inviting, offering comfort and indulgence with little resistance, but it leads to emptiness. The narrow gate, however, is challenging and seldom chosen. It requires perseverance, humility, and a deep sense of purpose.Few venture through it, not because the destination is unworthy, but because the journey is demanding. It asks for more than just belief—it asks for action, courage, and the strength to remain steadfast even when the world offers easier paths.The narrow gate symbolizes the journey of transformation, a road less traveled that requires walking away from what’s convenient or popular. It’s a personal calling, guiding those willing to take it toward a life of unimaginable peace and love, there really are no words to describe, the core essence of absolute reality, of absolute BEING.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

While love is undeniably the creative force of the universe, it is woven together with other elements: transformation, consciousness, interconnection, balance and mystery. Together, they form the vast, intricate tapestry of existence, where love is both the thread and the design.All things are interconnected in that seamless web of existence. This oneness points to a universal harmony, where every particle, wave, and being is an expression of a single, unified reality. Nigel Lott teaandzen.orgMay 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

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