There seemed to be endless obstacles - it seemed that the root cause of them all was fear.

Colour is, on the evidence of language alone, very bound up with the feelings.

I came to the conclusion then that "continual mindfulness". . . must mean, not a sergeantmajor-like drilling of thoughts, but a continual readiness to accept whatever came.

by taking notice of those feelings and images that seemed to be in my blood and bones rather than in my head, I had found myself able to behave, not less reasonably, but more so. Apparently it was as much a false extreme to try and live by reason alone, leaving the passions out of count, as to ignore reason and put passion in its place as the guiding force of life.

Perhaps if one really knew when one was happy one would know the things that were necessary in one's life.

I used to worry about what life was for - now being alive seems sufficient reason.

I want to feel myself part of things, of the great drift and swirl: not cut off, missing things, like being sent to bed early as a child, the blinds being drawn while the sun and cheerful voices came through the chink from the garden.