like bees return to the hive

Learn self-conquest, preserve thus for a time,

and you will perceive very clearly the advantage which you gain from it.

As soon as you apply yourself to contemplation,

you will at once feel your senses gather themselves together:

they seem like bees which return to the hive

and there shut themselves up to work at the making of honey.

~ Saint Teresa of Avila

Complete concentration is complete relaxation.

 The ability to work on a job with total concentration, 
and then put it out of your mind when necessary,
 is a skill which can be cultivated. 
Through practice, 

 
we can learn to drop whatever we are doing

 and turn our attention to a more urgent need.
 When you are absorbed in a favorite book 

and your partner interrupts you, 
set the book aside and give your complete attention

 to what he or she is saying.
 If part of your mind is on the conversation

 and part on what you have been reading, 
there will be division and tension in the mind. 

 

When we practice this one-pointedness during the day,
 it will greatly help our meditation.
 The mind will much more quickly become recollected. 

~  Eknath Easwaran

.

.

the warrior conquers the realms within

Most men in power have not the strength or wisdom

to be satisfied with the way

things are.

The sane know contentment, for beauty is their lover,

and beauty is never absent from the world.

The farther away light is from one's touch

the more one naturally speaks of the 

need for change.

Yes, overthrow any government inside

that makes you weep.

The child blames the external and focuses his energies there;

the warrior conquers the realms within

and becomes

gifted.

Only the inspired should make decisions

that affect the lives of many,

never a man who has not held God in his arms

and become the servant of 

unity.

~ St. Teresa of Avila

(1515-1582)

from Love Poems from God - Twelve Sacred Voices from East and West

translated by Daniel Ladinsky

all these insane borders we protect

A woman's body, like the earth, has seasons;

when the mountain stream flows,

when the holy thaws,

when I am most fragile and in need,

it was then, it seemed,

God came closest.

God, like a medic on a field, is tending our souls.

Our horns get locked with desires, but don't hold yourself

too accountable; for all desires are really innocent. 

That is what the compassion in His eyes tell me.

Why this great war between the countries -- the countries --

inside of us?

What are all these insane borders we protect?

What are all these different names for the same church of love

we kneel in together? For it is true, together we live; and only

at that shrine where all are welcome will God sing

loud enough to be heard.

Our horns got locked with the earth and sky in some odd

marriage ritual; so what, don't worry. We should be proud of

ourselves for everything we helped create in this

magic world.

And God is always there, if you feel wounded. He kneels

over this earth like a divine medic,

and His love thaws the holy in us.

~ St. Teresa of Avila

from Love Poems From God: Twelve Sacred Voices from the East and West

version by Daniel Ladinsky
art by Steve Shinn

learn self-conquest

Learn self-conquest, 

persevere thus for a time, 

and you will perceive very clearly
 the advantage which you gain from it. 

As soon as you apply yourself to contemplation, 

you will at once feel your senses gather themselves together: 

they seem like bees which return to the hive and there 

shut themselves up to work at the making of honey. 

~ Saint Teresa of Avila

in this state of prayer

So let's get on with it, my friends!

Let's do the work quickly and spin the silken cocoon,

relinquishing our self-centeredness and personal willfulness

and giving up our attachment to worldly things.

Let's practice humility, prayer, purification, surrender, 

and all the other good works we're familiar with.  

We have learned exactly what to do. Let's do it!

Let it die. Let the silkworm die. This is the natural outcome 

once it has done what it was created to do. 

Then we will see God and see ourselves nestled inside his greatness 

like the silkworm in her cocoon.

Remember that when I say we "see God," I mean in the sense

in which he allows himself to be seen in this kind of union.

Everything I've been saying leads up to what becomes of the silkworm.

The soul in this state of prayer dies to the world and emerges a little white butterfly.

Oh, the greatness of God!

How magnificent that the soul, having been hidden in the greatness of God

and so closely joined with him, is so transformed.

This union, I believe, is very short. 

I don't think it ever lasts longer than a half an hour.

I'm telling you: the soul doesn't recognize herself anymore.

Think of the difference between an unsightly worm and a white butterfly.

That's how different the soul is after her transformation of union.

The soul cannot imagine how she could deserve such a blessing.

She finds herself overflowing with a desire to praise the Lord.

She longs for annihilation.  She would gladly die a thousand

deaths for him.

She is completely willing to suffer any trials presented to her.

Her desire for renunciation and solitude grows deeper.

All she wishes is that every sentient being could know God.

It torments her to see her Beloved dishonored in any way. 

~ Saint Teresa of Avila

from The Interior Castle

translation by Mirabai Starr

 

I loved what I could love

I had a natural passion for fine clothes, excellent food, and

lively conversation about all matters that concern the heart

still alive. And a passion about my own looks.

Vanities: they do not exist.

Have you ever walked across a stream stepping on

rocks so not to spoil a pair of shoes?

All we can touch, swallow, or say

aids in our crossing to God

and helps unveil the soul.

Life smooths us, rounds, perfects, as does the river the stone,

and there is no place our Beloved is not flowing

through the current's force you

may not always like.

Our passions help to lift us.

I loved what I could love until I held Him,

for then - all things - every world

disappeared.

~Saint Teresa of Avila

 art from the Van Gogh Museum Amsterdam

 

trying to reconcile

On the one hand I felt the call of God; on the other, I continued to follow the world. 

All the things of God gave me great pleasure, but I was held captive by those of the world. 

I might have been said to be trying to reconcile these two extremes, 

to bring contraries together: the spiritual life on the one hand and worldly satisfactions, 

pleasures, and pastimes on the other. 

~ Saint Teresa of Avila

I loved what I could love

I had a natural passion for fine clothes, excellent food, and

lively conversation about all matters that concern

the heart still alive.  And even a passion 

about my own 

looks.

Vanities: they do not exist.

Have you ever walked across a stream stepping on

rocks so not to spoil a pair of shoes?

All we can touch, swallow, or say

aids in our crossing to God

and helps unveil the 

soul.

Life smooths us, rounds, perfects, as does the river the stone,

and there is no place our Beloved is not flowing

though the current's force you

may not always

like.

Our passions help to lift us.

I loved what I could love until I held Him,

for then - all things - every world

disappeared.

~ Saint Teresa of Avila