When you are caught in the mind, your past defines you. When you are present, you are beyond definition. Leonard Jacobson More Quotes by Leonard Jacobson More Quotes From Leonard Jacobson We are on a journey of becoming that which we already are. That is the impossible paradox of our lives. Leonard Jacobson onenessbecomingjourney You get lost because you think there is somewhere to go. If you give up believing in a goal or a destination, then you cannot get lost. In the present moment, there is no destination. Leonard Jacobson giving-uplifebelieve There is nothing wrong with anger. Anger is a beautiful emotion, as valid and rich as joy or laughter. But you have been taught to repress your anger. Your anger has been condemned. If anger is unexpressed, it will slowly poison you. The key is to know how to express your anger. Do not throw it out onto any one. No one is responsible for your anger. Simply express your anger. Beat up a cushion. Go for a run. Express your anger to a tree. Dance your anger. Enjoy it. Leonard Jacobson laughterrunningbeautiful When you become present, your mind is silent. There is no agenda. You are not holding onto anything. You are not seeking anything. You are just here with what is, and it is enough. Leonard Jacobson agendasholding-onmind How does silence find its way out of that noisy, chattering mind? That endless maze of thought, concept, opinion, belief? How does perfect silence and pure consciousness find its way out of that maze? Very simply: Bring yourself present with something that's HERE, in the moment. Then you'll be HERE again. Leonard Jacobson silenceperfectlive-in-the-moment It is a mistake to imagine that you can awaken in any kind of permanent way. There is only NOW and so you can only be awake now. Even the idea of permanence is an illusion. The question to ask is 'Am I awake and fully present NOW?' That question arises and is answered in perfect silence. Leonard Jacobson perfectmistakeideas The only moment ever available to you is the present moment. Everything else is memory or imagination. Leonard Jacobson momentsimaginationmemories Everything that happens is designed to awaken us. Everything. Leonard Jacobson happens As each one of us awakens, it is like a light going on, followed by another light, another light, and another light. The darkness of human unconsciousness is slowly, gradually and gently lit, until there comes a day when there is more light than dark, more consciousness than unconsciousness , more joy than pain, ...more truth than illusion. That would indeed be a day for celebration. Leonard Jacobson painlightdark It disguises it’s thoughts as your thoughts, it’s feelings with your feelings, you think it’s you. Leonard Jacobson disguisefeelingsthinking As you awaken, the present moment becomes your home. You still play in the world of time, but you're not identified with the story unfolding there. Leonard Jacobson storiesplayhome In Presence, there is no outcome. It is our involvement in the outcome that keeps us imprisoned in an imagined future. In Presence, there is only now. Leonard Jacobson involvementoutcomes If you really want to help, then help others to be more present. Help others to free themselves from the past. Help others to take responsibility for themselves. Help them to see how they are creating their own suffering. Every now and then, you will encounter innocent ones who are suffering through no fault of their own, particularly animals and children. Do not hesitate! Help them. Leonard Jacobson responsibilityanimalchildren The past is gone. The future never arrives. In truth, there is no life outside of this moment! Leonard Jacobson onenessgonepast It is not until you awaken and become fully present that you will realize that you have not been present. It is not until you awaken that you will realize you have been asleep, dreaming that you are awake. Leonard Jacobson awakeningdreamlife Me, me, me! Mine, mine, mine! I'm right, I'm right, I'm right. What's in it for me? How do I use this? How do I take advantage of it? This is the way of the ego. Own this within yourself and you will begin to release yourself from it. Leonard Jacobson egouseway Only when you can accept that you are alone, will you discover that you are not alone. Leonard Jacobson not-aloneacceptingacceptance You don't realize that if you stop looking backwards craving the love and acceptance which you didn't receive from your parents, then you might open your eyes to what is available for you now. But you won't let go. If only you could see that looking back into an incomplete and imperfect past, with regret, blame, guilt or resentment is keeping you from the treasures that await you here now. The past has gone. You cannot rectify something that is no longer with you. Leonard Jacobson regreteyeletting-go The underlying motivation that drives all addiction is our insistence on avoiding pain. However, the pain you are avoiding is based in the past, and has nothing to do with the present moment. Leonard Jacobson painmotivationpast If your commitment is to being present, then there will come a time when being present becomes your natural state. The present moment becomes your home. You will have short excursions into the world of the mind, but you never go so far into the mind that you get lost there. Leonard Jacobson mindhomecommitment
