As a child, I used to worry about Heaven

Where can I find Heaven I would ask

In the sky, my family would say

As I grew I studied religions, looking for where Heaven might be

What I learned is:  All Religions are fascinating, they include aspects that are utterly beautiful

We always need to respect their beliefs

When I was seventeen I discovered how Siddhartha sat in the shade of the Bodhi Tree/calmed his mind so he could reach a state of mental bliss.

Quieting the mind.  What an interesting idea.

So I practiced.  It was hard.

I found I didn’t have lots of time to just sit and calm my mind, and sit and sit

My life became full—too full to sit in the shade of a tree and try to achieve quiet

There were children to take care of, house, yard, farm, paying job, ‘things’ to do

But throughout all that activity,

I gradually understood, that calming the mind can come in many diverse and different ways

It comes from living simply

Recognizing what warms my heart

What softly lifts my soul

I learned to approach my daily tasks with belief in being UPLIFTED as one works

Not feeling burdened.

To watch for those teeny, tiny things that settled softly all around me (us)

Solitude right there in the– every day of the– every day

Solitude in teeny tiny moments

Bringing me to an understanding

That for me, quiet contemplation of the day,

Is, for me, Heaven here on Earth.

From my heart to your world,

Linda