Pay Attention to Your Deepest Self

Carol Hegedus reminds us, “Our purpose is that which we most passionately are when we pay attention to our deepest selves.”

When Buddha rose from under the Bodhi tree, it is said a monk approached him in utter amazement at his luminosity and asked, “O Holy One, what are you?  You must be a God.”

Buddha, not thinking of himself as anything but present, answered, “No… not as a God,” and kept walking.

But the dazzled monk persisted, “Then you must be a Deva,” and Buddha stopped and said, “No… not a Deva,” and kept walking.

Still, the monk pursued him, “Then you must be Brahma himself!”

At this, Buddha simply uttered, “No.”

The monk, confused, implored, “Then what are you – Tell me, please – what are you?!”

Buddha could not repress his joy and replied, “I am awake.”

Cited from The Book of Awakening: Having the Life You Want by Being Present to the Life  By Mark Nepo