3

Every moment of being alive
is a moment of telling ourselves stories
about ourselves, each other, and our world.

When we’re conscious,
we know that the story
we’re telling ourselves about reality right now
is just one possible story.

We are clear that other stories are possible.
When we know other stories are possible,
we are never limited to this moment’s
assessments or conclusions.

Gather several people together
to tell their stories about anything,
and we quickly discover that
even the past is unpredictable.

When we’re conscious,
we feel enormous freedom
to declare no story as the final story.

We know that the dogma of one true story
is the root of victimhood and violence.

The more conscious we are,
the more interested we are
in the poetry of science,
and the truth of poetry.

© 2007 Jack Ricchiuto

Order Conscious Becoming here.

78

Integrity and social responsibility
are matters of consciousness,
not compliance.

Do not put faith in large volumes of rules,
don’t stay up all night waiting for new legislation.
Embrace your conscious nature.

Understand what it means
to be a cause in your world.

© 2007 Jack Ricchiuto

Order Conscious Becoming here.

77

When we’re paying attention,
we see wisdom in the youthful
and youthfulness in the wise.

We see power in the feminine
and nurturing in the masculine.

We see the long term in the short term,
and short term in the long term.

We see the tangible in the intangible,
and the intangible in the tangible.

What the nightly news calls true
is just one face
on a planet of billions of faces.

© 2007 Jack Ricchiuto

Preview and pre-order Conscious Becoming here.

He says:

Like most Buddhist texts, there is a certain degree of paradoxical language, but it comes across with depth. Conscious Becoming is exquisitely accessible – proving Ricchiuto’s worth as a communicator as well as a Zen student and showcases his ability to transcend paradox in life without becoming confusing. In all, this is a worthwhile read… one that you wish leaders across Northeast Ohio were required to read before representing the rest of us…

CoolCleveland.com - Reads Conscious Becoming

74
The more unaware we are,
the more obsessed we are with time.

When we’re in conflict with reality,
we’re never happy with the
amount of time we think we have.

We are adversaries to
things that take too much time,
advocates to things
we don’t have enough time for.

When we see reality clearly,
we know that the only time we have
is the time we commit to.

When we’re in harmony with reality,
we’re clear that we cannot manage time,
only timing.

© 2007 Jack Ricchiuto

Preview and order Conscious Becoming here.

73
Loud voices
and large actions
can come from the most unaware.

Quiet voices
and small actions
can come from the most conscious.

© 2007 Jack Ricchiuto

Preview and order Conscious Becoming here.