Book 2, Paragraph 2

Whatever it is, this being of mine is made of flesh, breath and mind.

We know that everything about the flesh -- 

this marvelous network of nerves, veins, bone and muscle -- 

is impermanent: its joys and sufferings, its strengths and weaknesses, 

its skills and ineptitudes. 

Likewise the breath is now shallow, now deep, now steady, now troubled.

And air, like food and drink, moving in and out of the body, 

secures us to the entire, glorious, ever-changing world.

Likewise the mind runs here and there, chasing this and that,

hankering after books, conversation, entertainments, enthrallment; 

disquiet with regret for the past and suspicion for the future.

Seeing this, I lighten up about my own inconstancy, 

my tendency to be moved by appetites and ideas,

by indignations righteous and otherwise,

jerking on the strings of impulse and aspiration.

At the same time, I remember gladly that this thrice inconstant being of mine 

can also stop, rest, find stillness and deep peace. 

Body, breath and mind: any can become anchor to the others.

The contentment and clarity of these moments grows sweeter as I grow older.

Book 2, Paragraph 1

I will say to myself first thing in the morning:

Today I will likely meet people who are meddling, ungrateful,

aggressive, treacherous, malicious, unsocial.

But then consider that these are all forms of suffering, 

afflictions that arise in consequence of ignorance.

Let me take care of myself, then, and remember that 

what is truly good for me is just my own right action.

And let me remember that the one who offends me is, after all, a human like me,

a brother or sister, really, if not by blood then by our common humanity: 

our vulnerable bodies, our restless but inquiring minds, our need for dignity.

Consider that another person's ill will, even directed at me,

may cause me difficulty or harm, but cannot make me suffer 

that same smallness of heart unless I shrink my own heart in return; 

unless I let their aggression infect me with aggression of my own.

Therefore, let me not react to mistreatment with hate or anger, or even resentment.

Let me keep my own heart soft and 

find ways to bring the offender and myself back into dialogue and cooperation, 

like two feet walking, like two hands making bread, 

like the upper and lower teeth chewing and enjoying the bread.