posted January 23, 2008 07:27 PM         

"What a distressing contrast there is between the radiant intelligence of the child and the feeble mentality of the average adult."

-- Sigmund Freud

Why is this so?

Young children possess what Zen calls ‘beginner’s mind.’ They are awed and fascinated with the wonder of the world, open to discovering and experiencing new things. Anything is possible. Life is a great adventure.

For almost all of us, the systems that ‘educate’ us to be adults stifle our natural joy and curiosity. We lose touch with our innate appreciation of life. We forget how to dream.

The blessing is that with attention, patience and love, we can reawaken our sense of wonder. We can again dance with life.

"The mind WILL be free, or it will be dead."

-- Grace Llewellyn