You know that light you saw? Imagine it as a constant beam, with no flicker. Imagine the beings who might be that awake.

Listen empty. When your critical mind disappears, other people’s speech takes on the pristine clarity of pre-language.

Sound and the ear have complementary natures; they reflect each other. Sound is hand, ear is glove.

When you practice this over several days you learn to ride easy in the saddle. Your absorption in sound works like a trusty mule beneath you and a path of music emerges, one note after another.

and the sense that what you are doing is useful because it is connective. Give yourself the authority to do it, to focus your energies on keeping perfect time with a little matter-music.

The problem is how to be open enough and safe enough at the same time.

Not having the right stuff is the American nightmare. When we seem to lack our quota of power or ability we get scared, and from this fear comes self-anger.

don’t feel like it. Anything that requires uninterrupted consciousness seems like work. When we are actually practicing consciousness, like meditation or music, it feels like good work that does itself.

There is a wonderful movie called Call to Glory about the work of Sufi teacher Samuel Lewis, who taught joy by experiencing it with his students.