One morning,
the sweet osmanthus blooms all at once,
Its delicate fragrance filling the town.
The soft rustle of fallen leaves
as they scurry along the ground.
The cheerful chatter of little birds.
The sweet, toasty aroma of freshly baked bread.
A lively moment, filled with happiness.
Autumn glows in all its beauty.
Open your heart,
and let it bask in the sunshine
beneath the high, clear sky.
Gently take the clutter out of your heart,
set your goals aside, too,
and leave them there for a while.
Empty your heart completely.
quietly, peacefully,
let your mind rest without a single thought.
I have to try harder. I have to grow. I have to contribute!
Lay those thoughts out in the sunshine to dry.
This can’t be happening! It’s the worst! It’s too much! What a hassle!
Those complaints can go out in the sunshine, too.
Because it has already been decided
that everything is moving toward the good.
You don’t have to give so much of your attention
to the things that make life feel dark.
Instead,
do what you truly want to do.
After all, that is what you were born for.
Within each of us
lives an inner light,
a powerful light
that can dispel even the darkness.
When you awaken to your own divinity
and express that divine nature,
your light begins to shine outward, too.
God lives
within each of us.
Inspiration doesn’t rain down from above.
It rises from within.
Heaven is not somewhere above our heads.
It is within us.
The radiant autumn sunlight is so powerful,
as if it were gently drawing out
the divine nature within us.
A heart that has basked in the sunshine
smells as sweet as sun-warmed sheets,
tastes as sweet as sun-dried fruit,
and is as nourishing as sun-dried plums.
With a heart like that,
receive the love all around you,
the love of nature, the love of the Earth,
the love of humanity, the love of God…
Let your heart receive it all.
Today, too,
may you live in good health,
peacefully and at your own pace.
And with that wish,
may each and every one of us
find happiness in our own way.
