The thoughts of Alan Watts.....

The “primary consciousness,” the basic mind which knows reality rather than ideas about it, does not know the future. It lives completely in the present, and perceives nothing more than what is at this moment. The ingenious brain, however, looks at that part of present experience called memory, and by studying it is able to make predictions. These predictions are, relatively, so accurate and reliable (e.g., “everyone will die”) that the future assumes a high degree of reality — so high that the present loses its value.

But the future is still not here, and cannot become a part of experienced reality until it is present. Since what we know of the future is made up of purely abstract and logical elements — inferences, guesses, deductions — it cannot be eaten, felt, smelled, seen, heard, or otherwise enjoyed. To pursue it is to pursue a constantly retreating phantom, and the faster you chase it, the faster it runs ahead. This is why all the affairs of civilization are rushed, why hardly anyone enjoys what he has, and is forever seeking more and more. Happiness, then, will consist, not of solid and substantial realities, but of such abstract and superficial things as promises, hopes, and assurances....

Ageless Wisdom

Only as a warrior can one withstand the path of knowledge. A warrior cannot complain or regret anything. His life is an endless challenge, and challenges cannot possibly be good or bad. Challenges are simply challenges. ~ Carlos Castaneda

Forever is composed of nows. ~ Emily Dickinson

In order to create there must be a dynamic force, and what force is more potent than love? ~ Igor Stravinsky

I’m a believer in belief. Faith is something that works – it causes people to do things, it has results. It’s an intangible, indefinable, very real thing. And it moves people, sometimes to atrocity. And sometimes to survival. ~ Tommy Lee Jones

I have always been resistant to doctrine, and any spirituality I had experienced thus far in my life had been much more abstract and not aligned with any recognized religion. For me, the most trustworthy vehicle for spirituality had always proven to be music. It cannot be manipulated, or politicized, and when it is, that becomes immediately obvious. ~ Eric Clapton

The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time. ~ James Taylor

The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time. ~ Mark Twain

In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on. ~ Robert Frost

Nothing is more intolerable than to have admit to yourself your own errors. ~ Ludwig van Beethoven

You are the sky. Everything else – it’s just the weather. ~ Pema Chödrön

Be curious, not judgmental. ~ Walt Whitman

Your visions will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes. ~Carl Jung

Only when human beings are able to perceive and acknowledge the Self in each other can there be real peace. ~ Mata Amritanandamayi

A loving person lives in a loving world. A hostile person lives in a hostile world: everyone you meet is your mirror. ~ Ken Keyes

The greatest deception men suffer is from their own opinions. ~Leonardo da Vinci

All ideologies are idiotic, whether religious or political, for it is conceptual thinking, the conceptual word, which has so unfortunately divided man. ~ Jiddu Krishnamurti

We are here to awaken from our illusion of separateness.” ~Thích Nhất Hạnh

All bad qualities centre round the ego. When the ego is gone, Realisation results by itself. There are neither good nor bad qualities in the Self. The Self is free from all qualities. Qualities pertain to the mind only. ~ Ramana Maharshi

When the mind is full of worldly desires, it is their very nature to confuse the mind. Withdraw the mind from outer things and turn it inwards. ~ Anandamayi Ma

It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell. ~ Gautama Buddha

Do not be afraid of your difficulties. Do not wish you could be in other circumstances than you are. For when you have made the best of an adversity, it becomes the stepping stone to a splendid opportunity. ~ Helena Petrovna Blavatsky

I have learned silence from the talkative, toleration from the intolerant, and kindness from the unkind; yet strange, I am ungrateful to these teachers. ~ Kahlil Gibran

The more I see, the less I know for sure. ~ John Lennon

Taliban-esque: Any behavior that imposes the beliefs of one person on everyone else. Conversations with the Taliban-esque are impossible. They aren’t even conversations. With them, it’s my way or no way. ~ Whoopie Goldberg

What the mind doesn’t understand, it worships or fears. ~ Alice Walker

We always have to choose to live our lives to the fullest. No one is better or worse than anyone else. We are different and beautiful. ~ Mattie Stepanek

The great gift of human beings is that we have the power of empathy, we can all sense a mysterious connection to each other. ~ Meryl Streep

If you want to see God, kill desires. Desires are in the mind. When you have a desire for something, don’t act on it and it will go away. If you desire to drink this cup of tea, don’t, and the desire for it will go away. ~ Neem Karoli Baba

Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them? ~Abraham Lincoln

If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration. ~ Nikola Tesla

True knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing. ~ Socrates

Without self knowledge, without understanding the working and functions of his machine, man cannot be free, he cannot govern himself and he will always remain a slave. ~ G.I. Gurdjieff

He has the most who is most content with the least. ~ Diogenes

Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power. If you realize that you have enough, you are truly rich. ~ Lao Tzu

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and everyone who humbles himself will be exalted. ~ Jesus of Nazareth