Ryokan, a Zen Master, lived the simplest kind of life in a little hut at the foot of a mountain. One evening a thief visited the hut only to discover there was nothing to steal. Ryokan returned and caught him. “You may have come a long way to visit me,” he told the prowler, “and you should not return empty-handed. Please take my clothes as a gift.” The thief was bewildered. He took the clothes and slunk away. Ryokan sat naked watching the moon. “Poor fellow,” he mused, “I wish I could give him this beautiful moon.”

To me one of the greatest things is generosity of spirit. It has nothing to do with material things but everything to do with what we give of ourselves. Narrowness and meanness of spirit not only makes you poor of soul but I think poor in general. Today I had one of those incredible days where strangers smiled at me and little ladies in coffee shops struck up hour long conversations. I know it has something to do with what I projected. So often we close ourselves off to every single intrusion that may disturb our equilibrium when in fact balances are maintained by subtle intrusions of kindness and love. When one thinks of the small effort it is to make subtle allowances for people and the great reward that comes along with it, it is worth opening yourself up to have an angelday.