I vow to offer joy to one person in the morning

   and to help to relieve the grief of one

   person in the afternoon.

I vow to live simply and sanely, content with just a

   few possessions.

and to keep my body healthy.

I vow to let go of all worries and anxiety

    in order to be light and free.

                         -Thich Nhat  Hanh

 

 

I have appreciated the pure wisdom and Spirit that shines through the words of Thich Nhat Hanh

for many years.  He has a simple and direct way of  opening me to see things through a different

window. 

I look at his list of morning vows and realize how different this is from my own ... my vows tend to linger more towards specific things to be done, or others to be avoided ... all in a more Santa Claus good-bad list sort of manner. It seems there are so many things to be accomplished, and so many things to let go of .... it is those items that fill my list prayers as  look toward each day. 

But, look at this simple list of his ... bringing joy to one person, relieving the grief of another....

living simply and sanely; light and free.  Those are such genuine gifts to take into every day,

bringing my presence in this world to a place of growing service!!

This kind of spiritual focus can help to refine my Spirit and grow me towards a path of enlightenment, and place where I can be all those I encounter.

I believe I have found a new morning prayer!

 

 

 

Everyone has a spirit that can be refined, a body that

can be trained in some manner, a suitable path to

follow.  You are here for no other purpose than to realize

your inner divinity and manifest your innate enlightenment.

Foster peace in your own life and apply the Art

of peace to all you encounter.

                                           - Morihei  Ueshiba