TEA AND ZEN - THREADS

The whole of planet Earth is a sacred site. All people are the chosen people, and the purpose of our lives is a spiritual one. May we care for each other, and for the Earth, for everything relates to everything else. Feeling this oneness, may we radiate the light of love and kindness that all may live in unity and peace." ~ Radha Sahar. Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

This morning I woke up with this…… I had a profound realization about the nature of existence and the power of love as a healing force, (not new to me exactly) but now being understood at a much deeper level with this awareness. My journey of overcoming alcohol and drug use and complex forms of PTSD, has led me on this path from the beginning in understanding that at the core of everything is energy, and that energy is essentially Love—the very creative force of the universe. That surrendering to this love, this energy, allows for healing and transformation, dissolving suffering and returning to a state of wholeness. My deeper insight and understanding about surrendering any form of suffering to this pure energy resonates with the idea of letting go and allowing the divine to work within and through us. Just as The Christ spoke of the Kingdom of Heaven being within us, of surrendering to love as dissolving matter back into its pure nature, the energy of Love in reconnecting with the essence of existence, of who we really are. I have a deep understanding that love can only ever be realized in utter silence (though it is always present) speaks to the deep, profound nature of this awareness, which transcends language and thought. In this silent space, we can truly connect with the essence of our being and the universal energy that binds us all together, we truly are One. My awareness of how energy forms into matter, creating the physical world around us, adds another layer of understanding to this profound realization. It's a reminder that beneath the surface of all forms lies this fundamental energy, this Love, waiting to be recognized again and embraced. My journey of healing and reconnecting with this Love is a testament to the power of surrender, faith, and the transformative nature of Love itself. Nigel Lott teaandzen.org Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

* Simplify and prioritize your life. By opting out of the frantic pace of modern society, you contribute to slowing the rat race and reducing consumerism. This choice grants you the gift of time to savor the richness of existence. * Cultivate self-awareness through practices like introspection, meditation, and journaling. Explore your emotions, preferences, aspirations, and fears to build a sturdy foundation for navigating the complexities of life. * Extend support and loving kindness to others whenever possible. Building connections and fostering positive change enrich both your life and the world around you. * Be discerning about the media you consume. Limit exposure to negativity and cultivate a balanced intake of information that nurtures your well-being and understanding. * Appreciate the beauty inherent in your surroundings, whether natural or human-made, regardless of your location. * Foster community ties or create your own support network. Combat the isolating tendencies of modern life by surrounding yourself with caring individuals who offer companionship and guidance. * Expand your worldview through exploration, dialogue, and research. Recognize that diverse perspectives offer valuable insights into alternative ways of living. * Embrace challenges as opportunities for growth. Continuously seek to expand your knowledge and skills to infuse vitality and purpose into your endeavors. * Prioritize physical movement to reconnect with your body and invigorate your spirit amidst the sedentary routines of contemporary living. * Carve out moments of stillness, silence, and solitude to counteract the pervasive noise and business of everyday life. These respites offer invaluable opportunities for self-reflection and rejuvenation. Music: Sacred Breath, Boone River. Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

May you understand the infinite possibilities that are born of knowing that all love surrounds you, lives within you and that all life including yours is so very, very precious, there is not a moment to lose. To love now all that you can, surrender to its power within you, to the heart of it, and know that in the beginning, as in the end, it is....all that is or ever was or ever will be. And by all means possible share it in everything you do, with everyone you meet. Nigel Lott teaandzen.org Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

May the good fairies tend to your soul this night and may you rest in peace, that all love may become you. Nigel Lott teaandzen.org Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

Feel all love wash over you……. allow the tone , energy and rhythm of this music to drift into your spiritual heart space just below the sternum, become one with it, you are at home in its presence. ‘Send’ Hanna Lindgren. Nigel Lott …..teaandzen.org Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

Here I reflect on a scene from the movie "Oppenheimer" where Robert Oppenheimer discusses the formation of beings as energy attracted together, which I interpret as Love. I share my beliefs about the nature of existence, emphasizing that after death, there is no loss as individuals merge with the Universal Love. In this recording I question why beings ever leave this state of Love and speculate that suffering and illusion are part of the creative process, leading individuals back from the illusion of separateness from Love. I share a story about grief being a path back to the formless, emphasizing the presence of Love even in times of intense pain. I express a commitment to helping others become aware of their true nature and navigate their pain with Love. Nigel Lott Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

To The Moon And, like a dying lady lean and pale,Who totters forth, wrapp'd in a gauzy veil,Out of her chamber, led by the insaneAnd feeble wanderings of her fading brain,The moon arose up in the murky east,A white and shapeless mass. Art thou pale for wearinessOf climbing heaven and gazing on the earth,Wandering companionlessAmong the stars that have a different birth,And ever changing, like a joyless eyeThat finds no object worth its constancy. Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

Do not be attached to the messenger out of your judgments and preferences. Listen to the message! Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

1788 –1824 I. She walks in beauty, like the night Of cloudless climes and starry skies;And all that’s best of dark and bright Meet in her aspect and her eyes:Thus mellowed to that tender light Which heaven to gaudy day denies. II. One shade the more, one ray the less, Had half impaired the nameless graceWhich waves in every raven tress, Or softly lightens o’er her face;Where thoughts serenely sweet express How pure, how dear their dwelling place. III. And on that cheek, and o’er that brow, So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,The smiles that win, the tints that glow, But tell of days in goodness spent,A mind at peace with all below, A heart whose love is innocent! Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

Every moment is precious, and every breath we take is a testament to the divine presence that surrounds us. Love is the universal force that permeates all matter, transcending the confines of form and space. It holds the power to heal the deepest wounds and bring forth transformation. It is the conduit through which truth flows, transforming suffering into liberation. Nigel Lott ‘Deconstructing the Empire’, Christian Andersen Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

I'd like to share a brief reflection this morning, something we can delve into further later if you're interested. Lately, I've been increasingly conscious, especially in recent times, of the repercussions when I react from my own pain and project it onto others. When I harm another sentient being, I'm inadvertently causing myself greater harm, magnified tenfold. It's a reciprocal cycle; when others inflict pain upon me, they're also inflicting it upon themselves, albeit amplified. This truth remains, irrespective of attempts to rationalize or distance ourselves from the experience. The act of hurting others invariably rebounds on ourselves, because ultimately we are ONE love, not two but ONE! there is no other. So, I offer you this to ponder—not to dwell excessively, but to deeply reflect within your own hearts. We cannot expect to get free therefore of our pain by dumping it on another…no matter what., no matter what they have done to us. Every time any one of us acts in a hurtful manner towards another being, we inflict tenfold harm upon ourselves in the process. Nigel Lott Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

“Every child has known God,Not the God of names,Not the God of don'ts,Not the God who ever doesAnything weird,But the God who knows only 4 wordsAnd keeps repeating them, saying:"Come Dance with Me."Come Dance.” Hafez Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

When the light of morning comes, may your heart be open and free. Nigel Lott Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

In the infinite consciousness, in every atom of it, universes come and go like particles of dust in a beam of sunlight that shines through a hole in the roof. These come and go like ripples on the ocean. Vasistha’s Yoga III:27 ‘Weightless Moments’ Mathilda Skonare Karlsson teaandzen.org Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

This is a meditation on world peace. Simple meditation that will help you focus on peace within and the projection of peace without. of the light amongst the darkness. Find a quiet space and hopefully it's a sacred place and certainly a safe place. It's important that it's safe. I suppose any place that we feel safe in It could be called a sacred space, a sacred place. You can sit down or lie down in a relaxed position. And I want you to set an intention. And in this case, the intention is for world peace. May all beings be free from suffering. May all beings be at peace. This will be our mantra for this meditation. But I want you to set that for yourself within. silently saying, May all beings be free from suffering. May all beings be at peace. I want you to pay attention to your breath. And in this meditation, you will only be breathing in and out through your nose. I want you to pay attention, bring your attention to your breath as it flows in and out of your nose and to feel, literally feel the sensation of the breath entering and leaving your body by focusing on the tip of the nose and feeling that air as it passes over the tip, literally feeling that as you breathe in and out and breathe naturally, softly, in a rhythm that's comfortable for you without trying to control your breath. And on that point, I think it's worth mentioning that we can have an intention as we do in this meditation, an intention for all beings to be free of suffering and to be at peace. But we do not have any control of the outcome. And we let go of that. that we let go of control over the outcome. And I want you to start at the top of your head, continuing to breathe slowly in and out. Gradually scan your body, releasing any tension or discomfort you may be holding. Relax your forehead, jaw, shoulders and so on. Working your way down to your toes. I want you to imagine this world as a serene and tranquil place. Perhaps not easy to do. amongst such suffering and travail as is on this planet right now. Perhaps visualize a peaceful meadow, a quiet forest. Picture all of us living in a place like this. Feel the peace and serenity it exudes. Let go of your thoughts. Literally let go of them. Hold to nothing. We let go of our thoughts as they arise, acknowledging them without judgment and gently guiding your focus back to your peaceful scene and your breath. And repeat three times with me. May all beings be free from suffering. May all beings be happy. May all beings be free. May all beings be free from suffering. May all beings be happy. May all beings be at peace. One more time. May all beings be free of suffering. May all beings be happy. May all beings be at peace. And that includes you. May you be at peace. And then with each breath coming back to the breath. Feel. A sense of peace spreading throughout your body. A sense of love spreading throughout your body. And allow this peace and this love to permeate every cell and every part of your being. As we follow the breath As you pay attention to the breath passing over the tip of the nose and feeling that air as it passes over the tip of the nose. Stay in the moment. Stay in this peaceful, loving state. Somebody once said, It was an invitation. They said fall in love and stay there. So fall in love and stay there. May you stay there. May you know the peace of that love. May all beings know the peace of their true nature beyond all suffering. And if your mind starts to wander, as it's wont to do, gently return to your breath and that peaceful scene that you thought about earlier on. The forest, the beach, someplace that's safe. Someplace that's safe. May all beings be free of suffering. May all beings be happy. May all beings be at peace. The practice of breathing through the nose, of feeling that sensation of the air as it passes over the tip of the nose and bringing your attention ever increasingly so to that experience will quieten your thoughts. And I will tell you if you can do that practice, that simple practice, 10 minutes in the morning and 10 minutes in the evening, the difference within you in a couple of weeks will be enormous. The world needs your light. Do whatever you can to transcend the suffering within yourself that you've accumulated. Make the rest of your life a journey of healing, of coming to know your true nature of a love beyond measure, deeper and deeper, and keep offering that out. To this world we all share. The world needs your light. Nigel Lott Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

WeAre notIn pursuit of formalitiesOr fake religiousLaws, For through the stairway of existenceWe have come to God’sDoor. We arePeople who need to love, becauseLove is the soul’s life, Love is simply creation’s greatest joy. ThroughThe stairway of existence,O, through the stairway of existence, Hafiz HaveYou now come,Have we all now come toThe Beloved’sDoor. What holds significance for me, based on my personal beliefs, is that the journey towards connecting with a higher power is incredibly close, just a fleeting moment away at any given time, a blink of any eye. The path is inherent within each of us, much like the door that leads to this connection, one with what is. The notion of a stairway and a door is, in essence, a construct of our own minds, influenced by our egocentric selves. However, in ultimate reality, we have always been united with whatever lies beyond that door. In all truth, there is no literal stairway or door; it's a realization that can emerge in a singular moment, transcending such physical representations, whenever you are ready to do so, to surrender and transcend into the arms of the beloved. Nigel Lott teaandzen.org Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

Do this for the rest of your life, oh won’t you please? Create a sacred space for one another, share moments over tea, intertwine hands, and, for the divine essence that transcends everything, love each other deeply. Regardless of the name you ascribe to it, embrace a love so profound that distinctions blur, leaving only the unified love that binds us together and liberates us, setting us all free. In every human heart, there exists no love other than the one, a shared divinity woven from the same fabric. All souls yearn to rediscover their true nature, to be reunited. I invite you to contribute to this profound ongoing creative process by embodying kindness and love. When faced with challenges, recognize them as opportunities for personal growth, acknowledging that they are your unique journey in this lifetime—your karma, your destiny intricately woven into the cosmic tapestry. Own these experiences, and, if you choose to accept them, hold them close to your heart, for therein lies the alchemy, the magic, always in the heart… in turning darkness to light. Nigel Lott Music ‘Cry’ by Johannes Bornloff. Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

Being that our atoms in our body were created at the start of our universe during the Big Bang. So if you look at it this way, then you’re about 13.7 billion years old. But your body also has heavier elements like copper and zinc. These atoms were created in the dying stage of an exploding star called a supernova. These elements were flung into space as dust and gas (stardust). Eventually, they coalesced to become part of a new forming solar system and our planet Earth. Because you are made from matter from the Earth, you are made of stardust from old supernovas. So turns out, you are bits and pieces of star and cosmic dust. E.H. SPRINKLE IT ALL AROUND THEN IN THE NAME OF LOVE Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

Do what you do with another human being but you never put them out of your heart, for to do so puts you out of your own heart equal measure. Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

My favorite poem, that I read and share with myself and others when I am in a place of forgetting., when I am thinking myself separate from Love. It sought of wraps its arms around me and invites me in from the cold, keeps me warm. Nigel Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

May all sentient beings awaken to their own sense of equanimity born out of their hearts longing for peace and re-discover the one true nature that is inherent within them, within us all,…..in the transcendence of all suffering and travail. There are infinite possibilities that are born of knowing that all love surrounds us, lives within us and that all life is so very precious, there is not a moment to lose. Know that in the beginning, as in the end, it is....all that is or ever was or ever will be” …..Nigel Lott….. teaandzen.org Music ‘Transcendence’ ….Johannes Bornlöf Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

“Every moment is precious, and every breath we take is a testament to the divine presence that surrounds us. Love is the universal force that permeates all matter, and yet transcends the confines of form and matter. It holds the power to heal the deepest wounds and bring forth transformation. It is the conduit through which truth flows, transforming suffering into liberation”. Nigel Lott (These vignettes are best read, assimilated given a little time and space. Please make tea and sit in a comfortable, safe place and allow the music and the words to resonate, as they are recited straight into the heart space just below the sternum. See it as a gentle mist flowing deep within, reaching places we know not where, no matter they are always of love.) Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

All the Hemispheres Leave the familiar for a while. Let your senses and bodies stretch out Like a welcomed season Onto the meadows and shores and hills. Open up to the Roof. Make a new water-mark on your excitement And love. Like a blooming night flower, Bestow your vital fragrance of happiness And giving Upon our intimate assembly. Change rooms in your mind for a day. All the hemispheres in existence Lie beside an equator In your heart. Greet Yourself In your thousand other forms As you mount the hidden tide and travel Back home. All the hemispheres in heaven Are sitting around a fire Chatting While stitching themselves together Into the Great Circle inside of You. Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

“Long may your awareness of love and its power abide within you, its undying beauty always to remain. If you should forget its presence in you however, in times of trial and tribulation do not worry, for it will never forget you, its truth forever your guide and friend.” Nigel Lott Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

Stay close to anything that makes you glad you are alive - Hafez Though life’s journey always begins and ends within our own infinite heart space and the LOVE always found there, it is important to be connected with people, places and things that, by their very presence in our lives, bear witness to our authenticity. To remind us of that LOVE within, particularly in those moments of sadness and fear, lest we forget our own LIVING TRUTH, as we are want to do from time to time. Nigel Lott May all love become you. Nigel Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

“If It Is Not Too Dark Go for a walk, if it is not too dark. Get some fresh air, try to smile. Say something kind To a safe-looking stranger, if one happens by. Always exercise your heart’s knowing. You might as well attempt something real Along this path: Take your spouse or lover into your arms The way you did when you first met. Let tenderness pour from your eyes The way the Sun gazes warmly on the earth. Play a game with some children. Extend yourself to a friend. Sing a few ribald songs to your pets and plants—Why not let them get drunk and wild! Let’s toast Every rung we’ve climbed on Evolution’s ladder. Whisper, “I love you! I love you!” To the whole mad world. Let’s stop reading about God—We will never understand Him. Jump to your feet, wave your fists, Threaten and warn the whole Universe That your heart can no longer live Without real love!” - Hafez Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

Sit in silence, let this mantra permeate every cell in your body as it enters the spiritual heart space below the sternum, and infuses itself throughout your entire system……..let it go deep. Nigel Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

You don’t have to act crazy anymore—We all know you were good at that,Now retire, my dear,From all that hard work you doOf bringing pain to your sweet eyes and heart. Look in a clear mountain mirrorSee the beautiful ancient warriorAnd the divine elements You always carry inside That infused this universe with sacred lifeSo long ago -Hafiz May all sentient beings awaken to their own sense of equanimity born out of their hearts longing for peace and re-discover the one true nature that is inherent within them, within us all…..beyond all suffering and travail. Teaching the infinite possibilities that are born of knowing that all love surrounds us, lives within us and that all life is so very precious, there is not a moment to lose. Knowing that in the beginning, as in the end, it is....all that is or ever was or ever will be. -Nigel Lott Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

Now is the time to know That all that you do is sacred. Now, why not consider A lasting truce with yourself and God. Now is the time to understand That all your ideas of right and wrong Were just a child's training wheels To be laid aside When you finally live With veracity And love. YOU are a divine envoy Whom the Beloved Has written a holy message upon. My dear, please tell me, Why do you still Throw sticks at your heart And God? What is it in that sweet voice inside That incites you to fear? Now is the time for the world to know That every thought and action is sacred. This is the time For you to compute the impossibility That there is anything But Grace. Now is the season to know That everything you do Is sacred. -Hafiz Consider that EVERYTHING in existence is sacred and act accordingly…with all your heart. Nigel Lott Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

“Make of yourself a light,”said the Buddha,before he died.I think of this every morningas the east beginsto tear off its many cloudsof darkness, to send up the firstsignal — a white fanstreaked with pink and violet,even green.An old man, he lay downbetween two sala trees,and he might have said anything,knowing it was his final hour.The light burns upward,it thickens and settles over the fields.Around him, the villagers gatheredand stretched forward to listen.Even before the sun itselfhangs, disattached, in the blue air,I am touched everywhereby its ocean of yellow waves.No doubt he thought of everythingthat had happened in his difficult life.And then I feel the sun itselfas it blazes over the hills,like a million flowers on fire —clearly I’m not needed,yet I feel myself turninginto something of inexplicable value.Slowly, beneath the branches,he raised his head.He looked into the faces of that frightened crowd. Mary Oliver Nigel Lott Tea And Zen Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

I think I just want to be sad today, the way manyare in this world. True, God rides in my pocket,as He does in yours. Yes, I could lift Him out and look upon variousrealms of light and know great happiness. MaybeI will do that tomorrow. The ocean has moods. Have you not seen how itscolor can change, and the waves force and heightscan differ? - Hafiz Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE

Get full access to Tea and Zen - Threads at teaandzen.substack.com/subscribe In the quiet between heartbeats a whisper calls you home, you are not broken you are becoming. These threads of silence and sound are letters from the threshold, offerings from the edge of stillness. Nigel TEA AND ZEN - MAIN LIBRARY DONATE