oracle

oracle :
from the latin
oraculum ~ divine announcement..
1. ancient greek
a) the place where, or medium by which,
deities were consulted;
b) a revelation or response of a medium
2. a) any person or agency believed to be
in communication with a deity;
b) any person of great knowlege and wisdom;
c) opinions or statements of any such oracle




the first counsel given over the gateway at delphi:
~ know thyself ~

lift up the self by the Self
let not the self droop down,
for the Self is the self's only friend
and the self is the Self's only foe.
~the gita

to study the Way is to study the self.
to study the self is to forget the self.
to forget the self is to be enlightened by all things of the universe.
to be enlightened by all things of the universe
is to cast off the body and mind
of the self as well as those of others.
even the traces of enlightenment are wiped out,
and life with traceless enlightenment goes on forever and ever.
~ dogen

the second phrase offered:
~ nothing in excess ~

simplify, simplify, simplify...

to be a philosopher is not merely to have subtle thoughts,
nor even to found a school,
but so to love wisdom as to live according to its dictates,
a life of simplicity, independence, magnanimity and trust.
it is to solve some of the problems of life,
not only theoretically, but practically.
~thoreau