The practice of listening is one of the most mysterious, luminous, and challenging art forms on Earth. Mark Nepo More Quotes by Mark Nepo More Quotes From Mark Nepo The resource of life is everywhere, even in the smallest of things and we're never very far from it. Mark Nepo smallest resources life-is Listening reminds me how precious it is to be here at all. And so, listening is the first step to peace, both inner peace and the compassion that connects people. Mark Nepo inner-peace compassion people The point of experience is not to escape life but to live it. Mark Nepo At the heart of each spiritual tradition is the question of how to be in the world without losing what matters, and whether living an awakened life is of any use if we don't bring what matters to bear on the world. Mark Nepo what-matters spiritual heart Each soul on earth is complete unto itself. Mark Nepo soul earth I think happiness is overrated, but joy is the key to the thousands of possible moods we can feel. And when we can rest in that joy, then peace is the moment of openness that holds all feeling. Mark Nepo keys joy thinking We need experience to release what matters. Mark Nepo what-matters matter needs Whether you find it through mediation or sighing over tea or just turning all your devices off for five minutes, listening is an ancient lifeline by which we are awakened time and again. Once reawakened, we more easily find our way to each other, and so help each other live. Mark Nepo listening tea way The real challenge is to remember to see clearly when everything's flying around us and we're wrapped up in our [emotional] wounds and traumas. Mark Nepo flying emotional real In the way that I experience life, the physical world is really just the tip of the iceberg of reality. Whether it's trees or stones or water or animals or stars, everything has an ineffable interior quality. Mark Nepo stars animal reality Living is the original art. As a young man I wanted to be a poet and I learned along the way that I already was a poet. Mark Nepo men way art We are love. But in an everyday setting we have to make choices. We have limits. We can love everyone and we can't love everyone. Mark Nepo everyday limits choices As nature erodes the earth into magnificent forms, life through endless experience opens us further and further to the essence of what matters. Each time I've been opened further, the way I experience life and receive things has changed. Mark Nepo what-matters essence earth To listen also means to stay in relationship, the central challenge of our time, and this requires us to constantly minimize whatever stands between us and life. Mark Nepo our-time challenges mean I was raised Jewish by atheistic-agnostic parents. During this journey, I had people from all walks and all faiths try to help. A Jewish priest who I was friends with wanted to lay hands on me - I didn't ask questions about how - I just said when and where and how often do you want to do it? I didn't argue. Mark Nepo journey hands people I had over twenty years ago damaged the cilia in my ears. This has taught me many things. One thing I learned, paradoxically, is that there is much to be heard in silence. Mark Nepo twenties silence years By our very nature, we are a human paradox. We are a human being. The being is infinite and the human is very finite. We walk around like lightening in a bottle. Mark Nepo paradox infinite bottles
