David Given Schwarm

Married, Father, United

Tag: Prayer

  • VI The Lovers

    innocence, trust, exhileration and joy

    harmony of opposites.

    Have you offered them emotional honesty and genuine access to the feelings you have for them?

  • St. Ignatius the God-bearer

    As a pilot calls on winds and a storm-tossed mariner looks homeward,

    so the times call on you to win your way to God.

    As God’s athlete, be sober;

    the stake is immortality and eternal life.

  • CASE 95: Rinzai Draws a Line

    Rinzai asked the temple steward, “Where have you come from?”

    The temple steward said, “From selling brown rice in the province.”

    Rinzai said, “Did you sell all of it?”

    The manager said, “Yes, I sold all of it.”

    Rinzai drew a line with his staff and said, “Have you sold all of this too?”

    The manager shouted, “Kaatz!”

    Rinzai immediately struck him.

    Later, the cook monk came to Rinzai, who told him about this incident.

    The monk said, “The steward didn’t understand Your Reverence’s intention.”

    Rinzai said, “How about you?”

    The monk made a deep bow.

    Rinzai struck him likewise.

  • Two of Cups

  • St. Barsanuphius




    Blessed is he who always has before his eyes that “the earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof”,

    and keeps in mind that God is powerful to arrange for His servants as is pleasing to
    Him.



  • CASE 94: Tôzan Unwell

    Tôzan was unwell.

    A monk asked, “Your Reverence is unwell. Is there anyone who does not
    become ill?”

    Tôzan said, “There is.”

    The monk said, “Does the one who does not get ill take care of Your Reverence?”

    Tôzan said, “The old monk is properly taking care of that one.”

    The monk said, “How about when your Reverence takes care of that one?”

    Tôzan said, “Then the old monk does not see that there is illness.”

  • St. Gregory the Great

    For to despise the present age,

    not to love transitory things,

    unreservedly to stretch out the mind in humility to God and our neighbor,

    to preserve patience against offered insults and,

    with patience guarded,

    to repel the pain of malice from the heart,

    to give one’s property to the poor,

    not to covet that of others,

    to esteem the friend in God,

    on God’s account to love even those who are hostile,

    to mourn at the affliction of a neighbor,

    not to exult in the death of one who is an enemy,

    this is the new creature whom the Master of the nations seeks with watchful eye
    amid the other disciples, saying: “If, then, any be in Christ a new creature, the old things are passed away. Behold all things are made new”

  • CASE 93: Roso Does Not Understand

    Roso asked Nansen, “‘People do not recognize the Mani-jewel. I picked it up myself in
    the Tathagata treasury.’ What is this treasury?”

    Nansen said, “Old Master O exchanges questions and answers with you. That’s it.”

    Shiso said, “How about when there is no exchange of questions and answers?”

    Nansen said, “That’s also the treasury.”

    Shiso said, “What is the jewel?”

    Nansen said, “Reverend Shiso!”

    Shiso said, “Yes!”

    Nansen said, “Get out. You don’t understand my words.”

  • XX The Aeon

    our actions set up a chain of cause-and-effect for which we are solely responsible.

    We judge ourselves frankly, forgive, and leave the past behind.

    time itself has enormous power

    directing our lives in accordance with what we have already learned.

    examining your wealth of experience

  • Two of Disks

    Constant change is natural, normal and positive.