Don’t confuse the teacher with the lesson, the ritual with the ecstasy, the transmitter of the symbol with the symbol itself.
That deep silence has a melody of its own, a sweetness unknown amid the harsh discords of the world’s sounds.
When salt mixes with water, it takes the form of water. In the same way samadhi or trance means the mind merging with the cosmic soul or God.
God can be realised through all paths. All religions are true. The important thing is to reach the roof. You can reach it by stone stairs or by wooden stairs or by bamboo steps or by a rope. You can also climb up by a bamboo pole.
Compassion is fellow feeling or sorrow for the sufferings of another. Compassion opens the door for freedom and expands the heart. It melts the hardened and makes people as soft as butter.
Likewise the spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words. And he who searches the hearts of men knows the mind of the spirit, because the spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
