James H. Austin quotes

“Emotions are not 'bad.' At the roots of our emotions are primal energies which can be put to fruitful use. Indeed...the energies of enlightenment arises from the very same natural origins as those which give rise to our everyday passions and emotions.”
-- James H. Austin

#Passion Quotes #Roots Quotes #Giving Quotes

“The Zen meditative approach has a simple, unstated premise: moods and attitudes shape—determine—what we think and perceive. If we feel happy, we tend to develop certain trains of thought. If we feel sad or angry, still others. But suppose, with training, we become nonattached to distractions and learn to dampen these wild, emotional swings on either side of equanimity. Then we can enter that serene awareness which is the natural soil for positive, spontaneous personal growth, often called spiritual growth.”
-- James H. Austin

Source : James H. Austin (1999). “Zen and the Brain: Toward an Understanding of Meditation and Consciousness”, p.13, MIT Press

#Happy Quotes #Spiritual Quotes #Attitude Quotes

“Chance favors those in motion.”
-- James H. Austin

#Basketball Quotes #Favors Quotes #Chance Quotes

“When can our brain's innate objectivity begin to flourish? Only when our inappropriate Self-centered subjectivity begins to dissolve.”
-- James H. Austin

Source : James H. Austin (2011). “Meditating Selflessly: Practical Neural Zen”, p.12, MIT Press

#Self Quotes #Objectivity Quotes #Brain Quotes

“The fundamental delusion of humanity is to suppose that I am here (pointing to himself) and you are out there.”
-- James H. Austin

#Humanity Quotes #Fundamentals Quotes #Delusion Quotes

“Zen values the simple, concrete, living facts of everyday direct personal experience.”
-- James H. Austin

Source : James H. Austin (1999). “Zen and the Brain: Toward an Understanding of Meditation and Consciousness”, p.12, MIT Press

#Simple Quotes #Everyday Quotes #Experience Quotes

“The early masters also introduced walking meditation and hard work to the monastery, for too much sitting could reach the point of diminishing returns.”
-- James H. Austin

Source : James H. Austin (1999). “Zen and the Brain: Toward an Understanding of Meditation and Consciousness”, p.9, MIT Press

#Work Quotes #Meditation Quotes #Sitting Quotes

“The message is that ultimate meaning is to be found in this present moment, infusing our everyday lives, here and now.”
-- James H. Austin

Source : James H. Austin (1999). “Zen and the Brain: Toward an Understanding of Meditation and Consciousness”, p.19, MIT Press

#Everyday Quotes #Messages Quotes #Moments Quotes

“Shun fear, it is the ague of the soul! a passion man created for himself--for sure that cramp of nature could not dwell in the warm realms of glory.”

“At the same time the Muslims are commanded to exercise self-restraint as much as possible. Force is a dangerous weapon. It may have to be used for self-defense or self-preservation, but we must always remember that self-restraint is pleasing in the eyes of Allah. Even when we are fighting, it should be for a principle not out of passion.”

“The more deeply I search for the roots of the global environmental crisis, the more I am convinced that it is an outer manifestation of an inner crisis that is, for lack of a better word, spiritual... what other word describes the collection of values and assumptions that determine our basic understanding of how we fit into the universe?”

“The main ingredient of the first quantum revolution, wave-particle duality, has led to inventions such as the transistor and the laser that are at the root of the information society.”

“Scared and sacred are spelled with the same letters. Awful proceeds from the same root word as awesome. Terrify and terrific. Every negative experience holds the seed of transformation.”

“Forget yourself and live for others, for It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Source : Thomas Chalmers (1848). “Select Works of Thomas Chalmers ...: Comprising His Miscellanies; Lectures on Romans; Astronomical, Commercial and Congregational Discourses”, p.153

“We must see what in the Israeli identity - in the Israeli - we can give to other people rather than speaking so often of taking, expanding territory.”

“The Lord has different names according to His different activities. For example, His name is Madhusüdana because He killed the demon of the name Madhu; His name is Govinda because He gives pleasure to the cows and to the senses”

“I love it when the Bible gives Emily Post-like tips that are both wise and easy to follow.”

“Life must have its sacred moments and its holy places. We need the infinite, the limitless, the uttermost -- all that can give the heart a deep and strengthening peace.”