Anthony de Mello quotes - page 5

This is what Wisdom means: To be changed without the slightest effort on your part, to be transformed, believe it or not, merely by waking to the reality that is not words, that lies beyond the reach of words. If you are fortunate enough to be Awakened thus, you will know why the finest language is the one that is not spoken, the finest action is the one that is not done and the finest change is the one that is not willed. (Anthony de Mello)
I'm going to write a book someday and the title will be I'm an Ass, You're an Ass. That's the most liberating, wonderful thing in the world, when you openly admit you're an ass. It's wonderful. When people tell me, You're wrong I say, What can you expect of an ass? View quote
Anthony de Mello
Understand the obstructions you are putting in the way of love, freedom, and happiness and they will drop. Turn on the light of awareness and the darkness will disappear. Happiness is not something you acquire; love is not something you produce; love is not something you have; love is something that has you. View quote
Anthony de Mello
What, concretely, is Enlightenment ?" "Seeing Reality as it is," said the Master. "Doesn't everyone see Reality as it is?" "Oh, no! Most people see it as they think it is." "What's the difference?" "The difference between thinking you are drowning in a stormy sea and knowing you cannot drown because there isn't any water in sight for miles around. View quote
Anthony de Mello
A Jesuit once wrote a note to Father Arrupe, his superior general, asking him about the relative value of communism, socialism and capitalism. Father Arrupe gave him a lovely reply. He said, "A system is about as good or as bad as the people who use it." People with golden hearts would make capitalism or communism or socialism work beautifully. View quote
Anthony de Mello
People kill for money or for power. But the most ruthless murderers are those who kill for their ideas. View quote
Anthony de Mello
What can I do to see Reality as it is?" The master smiled and said, "I have good news and bad news for you, my friend." "What's the bad news?" "There's nothing you can do to see it is a gift." "And what's the good news?" "There's nothing you can do to see it is a gift. View quote
Anthony de Mello
Any time you are with anyone or think of anyone you must say to yourself: I am dying and this person too is dying, attempting the while to experience the truth of the words you are saying. If every one of you agrees to practice this, bitterness will die out, harmony will arise. View quote
Anthony de Mello
The genius of a composer is found in the notes of his music; but analyzing the notes will not reveal his genius. The poet's greatness is contained in his words; yet the study of his words will not disclose his inspiration. God reveals himself in creation; but scrutinize creation as minutely as you wish, you will not find God, any more than you will find the soul through careful examination of your body. View quote
Anthony de Mello
The important thing is not to know who "I" is or what "I" is. You'll never succeed. There are no words for it. The important thing is to drop the labels. View quote
Anthony de Mello
A disciple, in his reverence for the Master, looked upon him as God incarnate. "Tell me, O Master," he said, "why you have come into this world." "To teach fools like you to stop wasting their time worshiping Masters. (Anthony de Mello)
The Master persistently warned against the attempt to encompass Reality in a concept or a name. A scholar in mysticism once asked, "When you speak of BEING, sir, is it eternal, transcendent being you speak of, or transient, contingent being?" The Master closed his eyes in thought. Then he opened them, put on his most disarming expression, and said, "Yes!" View quote
Anthony de Mello
Life only makes sense when you perceive it as mystery and it makes no sense to the conceptualizing mind. View quote
Anthony de Mello
The atheist makes the mistake of denying that of which nothing may be said... and the theist makes the mistake of affirming it. View quote
Anthony de Mello
Which of you knows the fragrance of a rose? View quote
Anthony de Mello
There is something whereby each broken thing is bound again and every stain made clean. View quote
Anthony de Mello
To teach fools like you to stop wasting their time worshiping Masters. View quote
Anthony de Mello
Nobody can be said to have attained the pinnacle of Truth until a thousand sincere people have denounced him for blasphemy. View quote
Anthony de Mello
Eternal means timeless - no time. The human mind cannot understand that. The human mind can understand time and can deny time. What is timeless is beyond our comprehension. View quote
Anthony de Mello
I have good news and bad news for you, my friend. View quote
Anthony de Mello
Wisdom comes to those who learn nothing, unlearn everything. That transformation is the consequence not of something done, but of something dropped. (Anthony de Mello)
The day you follow someone you cease to follow Truth. View quote
Anthony de Mello
Most people see it as they believe it is. View quote
Anthony de Mello
History, after all, is the record of appearances, not Reality; of doctrines, not of Silence. View quote
Anthony de Mello
When your excessive eagerness to teach has left you. View quote
Anthony de Mello