world poverty day

Today is world poverty day, as designated by the UN. Maybe give something to yourself, and to people around you. I give these words:

As you are, so is the world

-ramana maharishi

The sandal tree – as if to prove how sweet to conquer hate by love – perfumes the axe that lays it low.

-tagore

It is only because of your love – only your love – that poor people will forgive you the bread you give them.

-st. vincent de paul

Peace is our work… To everyone, I say: do not be afraid to take a chance on peace, to teach peace… peace will be the last word of history.

-john paul II

I keep my ideals because in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart…  I can feel the suffering of millions, and yet, if I look up into the heavens, I think that it will come right, that this cruelty too will end, and that peace and tranquility will return again.

-anne frank

The future must enter into you long before it happens.

-rainer maria rilke

I tell you, if one wants to be active, one must not be afraid of failures, one must not be afraid of making mistakes.  Many people think they will become good by doing no harm; that’s a lie… it leads to stagnation, to mediocrity.

-vincent van gogh

I still believe that standing up for the truth of god is the greatest thing in the world.  This is the end of life. The end of life is not to be happy… The end of life is to do the will of god – come what may.

-martin luther king, jr

The Sufis advise us to speak only after our words have managed to pass through three gates.

At the first gate, we ask ourselves, Are these words true?

At the second gate, Are they necessary?

At the last gate we ask, Are they kind?

-eknath easwaren

Photo: On a beach in New Zealand