Taking the one seat describes two related aspects of spiritual work. Outwardly, it means selecting one practice and teacher among all the possibilities, and inwardly, it means having the determination to stick with that practice through whatever difficulties and doubts arise until you have come to true clarity and understanding.

Weigh the true advantages of forgiveness and resentment to the heart. Then choose.

It is the basic principle of spiritual life that we learn the deepest things in unknown territory. Often it is when we feel most confused inwardly and are in the midst of our greatest difficulties that something new will open. We awaken most easily to the mystery of life through our weakest side. The areas of our greatest strength, where we are the most competent and clearest, tend to keep us away from the mystery.

Within each of us there is a silence as vast as the universe. We long for it. We can return to it.

We must especially learn the art of directing mindfulness into the closed areas of our life.

We do not have to improve ourselves; we just have to let go of what blocks our heart.

The heart is like a garden. It can grow compassion or fear, resentment or love. What seeds will you plant there?