"To be grateful is to recognize the Love of God in everything He has given us - and He has given us everything. Every breath we draw is a gift of His love, every moment of existence is a grace, for it brings with it immense graces from Him. 
Gratitude therefore takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder and to praise of the goodness of God. For the grateful person knows that God is good, not by hearsay but by experience. And that is what makes all the difference." ~ Thomas Merton
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Faith teaches me, lovingly, that everything always and all ways is for me. This is a benevolent Universe.
Love, Diederik

"A woman's heart should be so close to God that a man should have to chase Him to find her." ~ C.S.Lewis

​A heart (mercifully gender free) can only be found through Knowing the Truth, Knowing the unchangeable Oneness. Namaste.
Love, Diederik

"Why Abstain?
Why
Abstain from love
When like the beautiful snow goose
Someday your soul
Will leave this summer
Camp?
Why
Abstain from happiness
When like a skilled lion
Your heart is
Nearing
And
Will someday see
The divine prey is
Always
Near!" ~ Hafiz

Love, Diederik

“All happiness or unhappiness solely depends upon the quality of the object to which we are attached by love.” ~ Spinoza

​Hmm, I would think that the ‘quality of the object’ is purely determined by the quality of my love. If the love which guides my attraction is actually just ego preference the ‘quality of any object’ will never satisfy. If, however, that Love comes from the essence of my being any object is of infinite quality. “How holy is the smallest grain of sand, when it is recognized as being part of the completed picture of God's Son!" (ACIM)
Love, Diederik

“The attempt to develop a sense of humor and to see things in a humorous light is some kind of a trick learned while mastering the art of living.” ~ Viktor Frankl
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It is actually natural to develop a sense of humor about virtually any situation once I recognize (Know again, literally) that everything is always for me, is always a gift. Now, having a sense of humor does not mean that I laugh at every situation but it does mean that I look for the light no matter what is being offered.
Love, Diederik

“Love goes very far beyond the physical person of the beloved. It finds its deepest meaning in his spiritual being, his inner self. Whether or not he is actually present, whether or not he is still alive at all, ceases somehow to be of importance.” ~ Viktor Frankl
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Namaste. “Love finds its deepest meaning in his spiritual being.” Now, watch how the ego rushes in and urges me to take this purely spiritual experience and tries to convince me that this experience can, no must, become physical, must find a physical expression. Love and sex are not mutually exclusive, nor are Love and working in the garden, nor are Love and doing the dishes mutually exclusive. Everything I do with the body is either and extension of Love or a cry for Love.
Love, Diederik

“The real world is beyond the mind's ken; we see it through the net of our desires, divided into pleasure and pain, right and wrong, inner and outer. To see the universe as it is, you must step beyond the net. It is not hard to do so, for the net is full of holes.” ~ Nisargadatta
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What I think I see is chosen by my beliefs. My beliefs generate my desires. The purpose of desire is to be disillusioned. Each new desire ‘fulfilled’ gives rise to additional desires. See through the false message of desire and I am free.
Love, Diederik

"To work in the world is hard, to refrain from all unnecessary work is even harder." ~ Nisargadatta
 
What would ‘unnecessary work’ be? Could it be any type of endeavour which has as its purpose to confirm my identity, protect my mistaken beliefs or to validate my existence? Could it be that the Self smiles at such efforts and waits for me to take a ‘day off’? Or, better yet, retire?
Love, Diederik