Ilchi Lee - Calligraphic Meditation for Everyday Happiness

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Copyright 2015 by Ilchi Lee

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

First hardcover edition: March 2015
Library of Congress Control Number: 2015930667
ISBN-13: 978-1-935127-77-2

Authors Preface

Early one quiet morning, I lift my brush. Flowing and dancing, the brush moves on its own, creating shapes and meanings. Whenever I put my mind into my brush like this, I feel the joy of creation, of escaping from some confining mold.

My life reveals itself freely moment by moment. I love this space and time for sending my spirit and energy flowing into the world.

Early this morning, I dream of a world where all are happy. I am grateful we all have good souls that long for the good of all. People who are making their bodies comfortable and controlling their breathing, listening to the good voice within, people gladly choosing the life that voice wants, giving their all to practice what they have chosen

I dedicate this book to those who exist in beauty as the light and hope of the world.

Some of the calligraphy in this book depict scenes and images that I wanted to express, while other show Chinese characters. The Korean word(s) for the Chinese characters and their meaning are written below them.

01
Weekly Meditation

A New Beginning

Last nights darkness, no matter how black, cannot stop todays sun from rising. Its a new beginning.

See the morning sun rising.

Todays new sun drives away last nights old darkness, bringing a new day.

More than anything else, it is a symbol of intense hope and renewal.

Since heaven and earth appeared, those who can begin their days with the reverent consciousness of the cosmos, which has continued without missing a single day, will never be brought low by one or two reverses.

Those who often watch the sun rise and set open their eyes to the cycle of life, though no one tells them of it, and obtain wisdom from that.

Like a farm boy learning naturally of life as he watches the fields beginning and ending the cycle of a year.

Take part in the cosmos boisterously welcoming the morning. When heaven and earth awaken, understand the quiet yet majestic sign of their awakening, and, arising with it, bow respectfully to the sacred morning.

Between sunrise and sunset, live the days majesty with greatness.

This day, today, is not a repetition of yesterday. Today is a sacred time in which I can create something new, a time that cannot be violated by the remorse, regrets, sadness, and frustration of yesterday.

Today is a new day.

02
Weekly Meditation

Happiness Is a Choice

Do not entrust your joy and happiness to others or your external environment. Happiness coming from the outside is like sugar water; you will soon feel thirst. Go to the spring within you that never runs dry. Bring your joy and happiness up from that spring.

The only way for us to check whether we have enough inner joy and happiness is to try using them. When you try using them, you will feel and know.

Try to smile consciously, even if you have nothing to be happy about. Then a calm, quiet joy will arise within.

Smile not because you are joyful, but because, by smiling, you create joy.

No matter how unfortunate the situation you face may be, if you choose happiness consciously, you will come to know the plentiful happiness already inside.

Recognize that joy and happiness exist within you, and continue to develop them infinitely by using them constantly.

If you think, I cant find happiness no matter how much I search for it, then borrow some happiness. Make it so that the god of happiness has no choice but to come and find you to collect on the happiness loan he gave you.

Try smiling quietly when you open your eyes in the morning. Or try saying out loud, Im happy. In that moment, the energy of happiness will gather around you. Remember that feeling and express it whenever you get the chance.

Whats important is believing and recognizing for yourself that infinite joy and happiness exist within you.

Choose joy and choose happiness immediately, moment by moment, without delay.

Try borrowing an advance on happiness immediately, right now. We can use without limit the card of happiness we have, for it has no expiration date and no credit limit.

03
Weekly Meditation

This Moment, Now

Nothing at all from the past can damage the novelty and sacredness of this moment, now. We can always realize this moment, now, and create something new.

Nothing exists but this moment, now.

The past has passed, no matter how beautiful it may have been.

The future has not yet come, no matter how wonderful it is expected to be. All is illusion, except for now.

And nothing exists in the now. In the now there is neither joy nor sadness, neither achievement nor failure.

Now is a time that cannot be divided into minutes or seconds.

Within a moment that cannot be measured by the concept of time, we can encounter our true selves.

Nothing I had up to a moment ago has any relationship with me in this moment, now.

Whoever we were, whatever circumstances we facedsuch things are not absolute.

Return to the seat of self-existent life without beginning and without end, obtain new strength, and start the life you want now.

If you awaken to this moment, now, then every moment is a new beginning, a new opportunity.

04
Weekly Meditation

Between Heaven and Earth

Below, the earth firmly supports me. Above, infinite space is open to me. Standing on two feet, I feel my body linking heaven and earth. Standing on these two feet, I walk the path of the human being below heaven and above the earth.

The only way for us to check whether we have enough inner joy and happiness is to try using them. When you try using them, you will feel and know.

Try to smile consciously, even if you have nothing to be happy about. Then a calm, quiet joy will arise within.

Smile not because you are joyful, but because, by smiling, you create joy.

No matter how unfortunate a situation you face, if you choose happiness consciously, you will come to know the plentiful happiness already inside. Recognize that joy and happiness exist within you, and continue to develop them infinitely by using them all the time.

If you think, I cant find happiness no matter how much I search for it, then borrow some happiness. Make it so that the god of happiness has no choice but to come and find you to collect on the happiness loan he gave you.

Try smiling quietly when you open your eyes in the morning. Or try saying out loud, Im happy. In that moment, the energy of happiness will gather around you. Remember that feeling and express it whenever you get the chance.