[Hasan al Basri]

Ujb is a nefarious kind of vanity in which a person rejoices in the blessings he has, but forgets the sources of these blessings. The fact that someone has talent and is able to develop into a higher skill and craft and achieve remarkable things does nothing to diminish the obvious--that it is from Allah. Realizing that Allah is the source of all blessings prevents vanity from entering the heart.

[Purification of the Heart]

[Shaykh Abul Abbas al Mursi]

It is said that "Prayer is the contemplation of the facts of life from the highest point of view." When we look at our experience through Divine eyes, we can see the essence of goodness in all experiences, and letting go is no longer a trial to be feared, but to be embraced as an opportunity to be fulfilled in with something wonderful.

[Cohen, The Dragon Doesn't Live Here Anymore]

[Abdullah Yusuf Ali]

It is not the person or the experience that counts, it is the spirit that is precious, and spirit is present in all experiences. People and events are like teacups-----vessels-----through which God gives us love and loving lessons. Though teacups may fade, crack, or be lost, the God that gave them to us in the first place is always present, with an endless supply of new vessels in His Divine pantry.

[Cohen, The Dragon Doesn't Live Here Anymore]

What time is it?

Time to do well,

Time to live better,

Give up that grudge, Answer that letter,

Speak the kind word to sweeten a sorrow,

Do that kind deed you would leave 'till tomorrow.

Too often we hold onto memories of "The Good Old Day," when we were "really happy," and when things went just right. If they were really good, then we would not feel pain in missing them now, for what is good is liberating, and if we are bound to the experience, it certainly did not liberate us very much. The real good old days were those which showed us that we are free to live fully in any moment, including----and especially----now.

[Cohen, The Dragon Doesn't Live Here Anymore]