Quote collection
453 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"Cool loneliness allows us to look honestly and without aggressionat our own minds. We can gradually drop our ideals of who we think weought to be, or who we think we want to be, or who we think other peoplethink we want to be or ought to be. We give it up and just look directlywith compassion and humor at who we are. Then loneliness is no threat andheartache, no punishment."
"By becoming intimate with how we close down and how we open up, we awaken our unlimited potential."
"Everything is fresh, the essence of realization."
"we come to realize that other people's welfare is just as important as our own. In helping them, we help ourselves. In helping ourselves, we help the world."
"The way I regard those who hurt me today will affect how I experience the world in the future. In any encounter, we have a choice: we can strengthen our resentment or our understanding and empathy. We can widen the gap between ourselves and others or lessen it."
"The Buddha taught that flexibility and openness bring strength and that running from groundlessness weakens us and brings pain. But do we understand that becoming familiar with the running away is the key? Openness doesn't come from resisting our fears but from getting to know them well"
"As Buddhism moved from one culture to another, it always adapted."
"According to the Buddhist belief, you can go on and on indefinitely, so you see your life as just a brief moment in time."
"As Buddhism moved to the West, one of the big characteristics was the strong place of women. That didn't exist in the countries of origin. It's just a sign of our culture."
"The more neurosis the more wisdom."
"Tonglen is a way for you to be with people who need you - beginning with yourself."
"One very powerful and effective way to work with this tendency to push away pain and hold on to pleasure is the practice of tonglen. In tonglen practice, when we see or feel suffering, we breathe in with the notion of completely feeling it, accepting it, and owning it."
"Tonglen dissolves your solid sense of "I'm the wise person, I'm going to help this poor, unfortunate loser.""