121 Quotes by Stephen Levine

Once we can see the major shifts from liking to disliking, from opened to close, we will be able to acknowledge them before they gain momentum.

The body takes about seven years to replace all its cells. As we age original factory parts get harder to come by. We accept seconds and rebuilds. Some are even transplanted with recycled parts. We get less miles to the gallon, and eventually, after several towings, we must abandon the body by the side of the road. From there we must go the rest of the way alone with just our heart for guidance.

Because noting states of mind as they arise keep us present, it allows us to meet difficulties at their inception – before they become more real than we are.

Buddha left a road map, Jesus left a road map, Krishna left a road map, Rand McNally left a road map. But you still have to travel the road yourself.

You can call it wisdom, or sanity, or health, or enlightenment. I use the word God as a short-cut. I am comfortable with the word God because I don’t have the foggiest idea of what it means.

Forgiveness is mental floss! Build the capacity to forgive slowly – start with little unkind acts, otherwise you’ll sabotage yourself. When we forgive, we forgive the actor, not the action.

Open yourself to discomfort. Meet it with mercy, not fear. Recognize that when our pain most calls for our embrace, we are often the least present. Soften, enter, and explore, and continue softening to make room for your life.

In Chinese, the word for heart and mind is the same – Hsin. For when the heart is open and the mind is clear they are of one substance, of one essence.

Sometimes pain and illness are not meant to be removed. You can’t second-guess God. Rather than praying for it to go away, it’s often wiser to pray that you learn as much from it as you possibly can.