the clear deep source

 

 

 

 

 

 

To allow oneself to be carried away by a multitude of conflicting concerns,

 to surrender to too many demands, to commit oneself to too many projects,

 to want to help everyone with everything is to succumb to violence.

 

 The frenzy of the activist neutralizes his work for peace.

 It destroys the fruitfulness of his own work, 

because it kills the root of inner wisdom

 which makes work fruitful.

 

 

The time for contemplation is the spring that feeds our action, 
and our action will be as deep as the spring. 
We need time to allow the spirit to clear the obstacles 
– the clinging debris and mud – 
that keeps the spring from flowing freely from its clear, 
deep source. And we need time for the spring to 
overflow into insightful and compassionate action.

 

 

 

 
- Thomas Merton

from The Violence Of Modern Life

with thanks to Heron Dance Art Journal