“Right speech, harmlessness, restraint, according to the monk’s discipline. Moderation in food, at peace in remoteness and solitude, devotion to higher meditation.” -Buddha

“The root of all your jealousies is come from God who is beyond all comparison.” -Rumi

“To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul; in you I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame[…]” -Psalm

Putting myself to shame is easy.
Keep me from wrong action.
Putting myself to shame is easy.
Guard me from wrong thoughts.
   I know the way but am not taking it.
   I know the way but lack intention.
   I know the way but get distracted.
   I know the way but my heart falters.
Putting myself to shame is easy.
Guide me to right actions.
Putting myself to shame is easy.
Give me courage to travel on narrow ground.
Putting myself to shame is easy.
Replace my will with Thine.
   I know the way.
   Help me to walk it.
       Amen.

“Delightful are forests, where more worldly men find no joy. Being free of the pull of desire, saints, who seek no worldly pleasures, find delight in such places.” -Buddha

“Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression.” -Psalm

Hidden faults and those obvious.
Shame is the sign a man has a conscience.
In many ways I am unworthy of grace.

Please forgive my hidden faults and correct my inner ways.
Awaken the slumbering saint within me.
Please purify my will and intent.
Please use the portion You’ve given me to Your glory.
       Amen.

“It is good to see the holy ones, to live with them is always happiness.” -Buddha

“He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes who were too strong for me.” -Psalm

Where is the space and avenue I should seek?

I have experienced seeing and dwelling with the holy ones.
I have experienced Your hand rescuing me from dark waters.

These things I know: I recall them with fondness.

I know my ways are far from Yours
I understand my rebellious nature.
I know I have no right to ask anything of You.

Thank You for caring for me.
Please forgive my many wrong ways.

       I love You.
       Amen.

“If, by giving up lesser comforts a greater happiness is to be found, the wise should give up the lesser comforts in view of the greater happiness.” -Buddha

“Give me an answer! If not, give me justice, or else remind me of the means of joy.” -Rumi

“May my vindication come from you; may your eyes see what is right.” -Psalm

I feel lost
confused
desperate
sad
not knowing which way to go
not having faith in a way forward
not believing I have a means to Your grace
questioning what providence looks like
lacking true desires
bereft of ambition
       You
       seeing all
       lead me on a treacherous
       heartbreaking path
       (But I trust You to
        provide
        care
        protect
        love.)
Give me the strength to climb from this deep valley.
Give me clear vision to see my way forward.
Give me the audacity to listen and obey Your voice.

I know I fail.
Over and over I fail.
I’m sorry 
   for my lack of faith
   for my lack of obedience
   for disregarding Your call on so many occasions.
Please forgive my
   frailty
   pride
   wavering heart.

       I love You
       Amen.

“As a diamond bores a softer gem, so does the evil committed by a fool crush the doer.” -Buddha

“Your calling and experience return; the door of capability is open.” -Rumi

“You are my Lord; apart from You I have no good thing.” -Psalm

A shelter. Calling. Experience. Good Things.
   I am capable.
   Even with my wavering heart.
   You have instilled me with competence.
   But a low hanging fate.
   Grinding all my roughness.
   To be slick and shiny as oil.
   I stick now here.
   Unable to remain still.

Every obstacle can be transcended by the Maker Of All.

   Instill me with vigor.
   Light the path ahead.
   Release me from these constrictive cycles.
   Unmake my flaws and failings.
   Forgive my selfishness and pride.

I long for the day when true grace is the law of both Heaven and Earth.
       Amen.

“Prepare a refuge for yourself. Work hard, use good judgment. Free of flaws and passions, you shall enter the highest realms.” -Buddha

“The holy ones repent - the Lord’s hand shuts the doors of the results of this causation.” -Rumi

“He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong, and casts no slur on his fellow man.” -Psalm

Lord please forgive my rash actions taken from pride and disappointment.
Please guide me to right thoughts and actions.
Thank You for the loving people You’ve surrounded me with.
Teach me Your ways.

Pride, judgment, criticism.
Caustic and useful.
Redeem this sharp mind - it tends to cut those close to me.
Redeem my inflated pride - it leads to judging others.
Redeem my rash speech - an untamed serpent.

Please put this life to good use.
Thank You for Your love and kindness.
       Amen.

“Right speech, harmlessness, restraint according to the monk’s discipline. Moderation in food, at peace in remoteness and solitude, devotion to higher meditation. All this is the teaching of the Buddhas.” -Buddha

“Since, doubtless, action is a type of seeing, man’s no more than the pupil of the eye.” -Rumi

“Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?” -Psalm

This overwhelming sadness.
I can’t hold my head up.
Chains dangling from temples.
A brick yoke.
The air is heavy.

In the blazing summer sun, we long for the storm.
In the storm, we long for the shelter of stone.
Beneath the stone, we long for the summer sun.

Oh heart, must you never be content?

Father, help me to let go of pride and the desire for esteem.
Free me from childishness and hubris.
Lead me on to righteousness.
Please constrain my thoughts to light and truth.
       I love You.
       Amen. 

“Shun anger, let go of pride, break out of every shackle.” - Buddha

“A word that in an instant slips the tongue is like an arrow flying from the bow.” - Rumi

“…[he]who keeps his oath even when it hurts….” - Psalm

I keep returning to the “Anger” section of the Dhammapada.
Randomly flipped pages keep landing me there.
There are no coincidences.

I released the raging tiger of pride from its carefully kept cage.
Unshackled, still fierce though atrophied from stillness, it roared
and ripped
and shredded.
Tearing chunks of goodness away
from the life I was building.
Oh, pride.
You only bring regret, anger, sorrow and fear.
What do you take in return?

Heavenly Father, please forgive my pride.
Reconcile and redeem my pride to Your ways.
Transform it into something whole and useful to Your will.
       Thank You for caring for me.
       Amen. 

“He is not righteous who judges a situation impulsively. But whoever distinguishes between right and wrong, that one is righteous.” - Buddha

“Since the quality of being sought is opposite of seeking, revelation and divine lightning consume the prophet with fire.” - Rumi

“In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.” - Psalm

Impulse.
Avoidance.
Anger.
Despair.
Regret.
Awash in confusion, open your eyes.
A light shines brightly - it girds your way.
Take comfort.
Be at peace.
The heat burns away dross and leaves pure substance.

(Sometimes I feel there is no substance to my life.
  I turn away from the flame fearing there will be nothing left.
  I am fallible.)

Father,
You are so patient with me.
Reveal Your truth and speak into my life.
I am feeling lost and distraught.
Not knowing which way to turn.
Reveal Your light to me.
Strengthen me in Your love.
Please guide me in Your mercy.
I love You.
       Amen. 

“Whoever gives up this habit of finding fault with others’ offerings will know peace day and night.” - Buddha

“… the seer whose inner light is shining does not require the blind man’s stick of proof.” - Rumi

“But you are a shield around me, O Lord; you bestow glory on me and lift my head.” - Psalm

I am struggling to forgive some people.
And I’m sure they’re struggling to forgive me. 
   My inner flaws surface over and over.
   Calling forth to their brothers and sisters:
   the flaws in others.
   Together we ensure our mutual suffering.
This sack of rattling bones.
This mass of wounds and suffering.
The mud that poor men perish in.
   A lamp to my feet.
   A light to my path.
Speak into me, Most High God.
Be my glory and the lifter of my head.
Be my shield and shelter.
   Your ways are higher than my ways.
   You word is greater than my word.
   Your light is clearer and warmer than mine. 
       I will do what You ask me to do.
       I trust You.
       Amen.