Today, we’ll explore a profound teaching from Lord Buddha that reminds us of our true, inherent nature. Buddha taught that human nature is fundamentally pure and egoless, much like the sky. The sky itself is clear and unchanging, even though clouds may come and go. These clouds, whether they are thoughts, emotions, or experiences, don’t alter the sky’s fundamental nature. Similarly, our minds are fundamentally pure, even though we may experience moments of confusion, pain, or distraction.”

Close your eyes, and take a few deep breaths. As you breathe in, feel the air fill your lungs, bringing in fresh energy. As you breathe out, let go of any tension or stress you may be holding onto. Allow your body to settle into a state of ease and relaxation.”

Visualizing the Sky: “Now, imagine the vast, open sky above you. Picture it as clear and blue, expansive and infinite. This sky represents your mind—pure, open, and free. Notice how the sky is not affected by the passing clouds; it remains unchanged, just as your true nature remains untouched by the fluctuations of your thoughts and emotions.”

Observing the Clouds: “As you sit in this space of clarity, imagine thoughts or emotions arising like clouds in the sky. Watch them without judgment, just as you would watch a cloud drift by. Some clouds may be dark and stormy, while others might be light and fluffy. Yet, none of them have the power to change the nature of the sky. In the same way, recognize that these passing thoughts and emotions do not define who you are. They come and go, but your true self remains pure and untouched.”

Returning to the Clear Sky: “Whenever a thought or emotion arises, gently bring your awareness back to the clear sky. Let the thought or emotion pass, like a cloud drifting away, and return to the vast openness of your mind. Allow yourself to rest in this space of clarity and peace.”

Integrating the Practice: “As we bring this meditation to a close, take a moment to notice how you feel. Remember that, like the sky, your mind is fundamentally pure and clear. This clarity is always available to you, no matter what clouds may pass through your awareness. With this understanding, carry the peace and purity of your true nature with you as you go about your day.”

“Your only assignment right now is to stay rooted in your light, while everything unfolds around you.”

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” Albert Einstein

“Imagine a garden filled with diverse plants and flowers. Each plant has its own unique needs—some thrive in the sun, others in the shade; some need more water, others less. If we judged every plant by its ability to grow in the same conditions, many would wither away. We would never taste their inner beauty. Similarly, our true nature flourishes in the right environment—where our strengths are recognized, and our individuality is celebrated. Mindfulness helps us cultivate the awareness to honor and nourish our true selves, allowing us to grow and bloom where we’re meant to.” – David Scott

“Just like a lotus, our true nature may be obscured by the mud of judgment and societal expectations. We might feel like the fish asked to climb a tree, but in mindfulness, we learn to rediscover our essence. By letting go of comparisons and embracing who we are, we can bloom into our true potential, rising above the mud and into the light of awareness.” – David Scott

“A fish cannot drown in water, A bird does not fall in air. In the fire of creation, God doesn’t vanish: The fire brightens. Each creature God made must live in its own true nature; How could I resist my nature, that lives for oneness with God?”

“The more we veer away from our true nature, the more unhappy we feel. When we align with our better self, we feel happy and content again.” – Donna Goddard, Circles of Separation

“A butterfly does not wonder how it can stop being a caterpillar. It simply feels some feeling from within that tells it: isolate yourself in this cocoon and grow within it. It trusts that feeling. When it comes out, it is radiant and beautiful. All the little bug did was follow its nature. You are no different.” – Vironika Tugaleva

“The outside world can only trigger or block your experience of your true nature. Each time something beautiful takes your breath away, that’s you experiencing yourself. Each time you fall in love with someone, that’s you experiencing yourself. Each time a child’s smile gives you unspeakable joy, that’s you experiencing yourself. Your true nature is beautiful. Life is the art of rediscovering yourself, again and again, in different forms, celebrating, rejoicing, welcoming. You are beautiful. You are life itself.” – Vironika Tugaleva

“Yoga is a method for restraining the natural turbulence of thoughts, which otherwise impartially prevent all men, of all lands, from glimpsing their true nature of Spirit.” – Paramahansa Yogananda

“Let my soul smile through my heart and my heart smile through my eyes, that I may scatter rich smiles in sad hearts.” – Paramahansa Yogananda

“A Person’s True Character Is Revealed by What He Does When No One Is Watching.” – ~Sigmund Miller

Focus, stop running through life as if your feet are tied together.

How many rabbits are you chasing? “When you chase two rabbits you catch none”

Native American tribal quote: ““Those who have one foot in the canoe, and one foot on the shore, are going to fall into the river.”

“Don’t carry your mistakes around with you. Instead, place them under your feet and use them as stepping stones to rise above them.”

“Don’t worry about a thing cause every little thing is gona be alright.” – Bob Marley

“Don’t strive to make your presence noticed, just your absence felt.”

“We will be known by the paths that we leave.”

“Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.” – James Baldwin

“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” – Benjamin Franklin

“There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots, the other, wings.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“If you surround yourself with people who are strong and positive, you are much more likely to see a world of opportunity and adventure.” – Jack Canfield

“Keep going and do not worry about your speed. You are always making progress even if it does not seem like it. Forward is forward, no matter how slow.”

“What good are wings without the courage to fly?” – Atticus Finch, To Kill A Mockingbird

“Feed your dreams and your fears will starve to death.” – David Scott

“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.”–Maya Angelou

When you look at a zebra, what do you see? Is it a black animal with white stripes or a white animal with black stripes. Our perspectives may be different, but it does not mean they are wrong?

“Just because you are right, does not mean, I am wrong. You just haven’t seen life from my side.” Anonymous

“The reality of life is that your perceptions – right or wrong – influence everything else you do. When you get a proper perspective of your perceptions, you may be surprised how many other things fall into place.” Roger Birkman

“If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” – Albert Einstien

Sometimes we have to just stand back and let life happen. Don’t hold together what must fall apart. The familiar fades away to create space for the new.

“Sometimes when things are falling apart they may actually be falling into place.”

Having a soft heart in a cruel word is courage, not weakness.

“Kind words are short and easy to say, but their echoes are truly endless” Mother Teresa

“I’d rather be disliked for who I am, than loved for who I’m not.”

There’s a saying that goes, ‘You should not open your umbrella until it actually starts raining.’ This reminds us that worrying about things that haven’t happened yet is like carrying an open umbrella on a sunny day—unnecessary and burdensome.

Worry doesn’t solve tomorrow’s problems, but it can rob us of today’s peace. When we allow ourselves to get lost in worry, small concerns can cast large shadows, distorting our perspective and weighing us down.”

Each worry you have is like a small stone that you pick up and put into your backpack. At first, each stone seems insignificant, almost weightless. But as you continue to gather these stones, your backpack becomes heavier and heavier, until it feels like a burden that’s hard to carry.

Now, think about how many of those stones represent worries about things that haven’t happened yet, or may never happen at all. Just like carrying an open umbrella when the sun is shining, you’re weighing yourself down with unnecessary concerns. Each time you choose to put down one of those stones, or not pick it up in the first place, you’re lightening your load and allowing yourself to walk more freely.

This meditation will help you recognize those stones of worry, so you can decide whether they truly belong in your backpack, or if it’s time to set them down and move forward with greater ease and peace.”

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” – Steve Jobs

“The deeper that the love is, the deeper the pain can be. Part of the package. Getting your heartbroken is scary. Getting dumped is scary. Getting rejected is scary. But nothing is scarier than the knowledge that you could have had great love and you did not take the chance.”

“I am not interested in fighting, hating, blaming, or being petty with whatever time I have left in my life. I want to live. I want to be happy. I want to be loved and I want peace.”