With understanding, those we love will certainly flower.
Usually, people have a tendency to be caught in the worries concerning the future or in the regret concerning the past. There is some kind of energy that is pushing them to run, and they are not able to establish themselves in the present moment.
Buddhism teaches us not to try to run away from suffering. You have to confront suffering. You have to look deeply into the nature of suffering in order to recognize its cause, the making of the suffering.
I realize that many elements of the Buddhist teaching can be found in Christianity, Judaism, Islam. I think if Buddhism can help, it is the concrete methods of practice.
If you have the chance to be exposed to a loving, understanding environment where the seed of compassion, loving kindness, can be watered every day, then you become a more loving person.
In Buddhist culture, offering food to the monk symbolizes the action of goodness, and if you have no opportunity to support the practice of spirituality, then you are somehow left in the realm of darkness.
Many Communist government officials have a rigid, dictatorial power, but they live in constant suspicion and fear of anything that might undermine the power they have.
We are looking for happiness and running after it in such a way that creates anger, fear and discrimination. So when you attend a retreat, you have a chance to look at the deep roots of this pollution of the collective energy that is unwholesome.
There are many, many Christians who practice Buddhism, and they become better and better Christians all the time.
Anyone who is practicing understanding and compassion can exemplify true power. Anyone can be a Buddha.
Doubt in my tradition is something that is very helpful. Because of doubt, you can thirst more and you will get a higher kind of proof.
Happiness is the cessation of suffering.
I think Buddhism should open the door of psychology and healing to penetrate more easily into the Western world.
If we chew every morsel of our food, in that way we become grateful, and when you are grateful, you are happy.
If we are peaceful, if we are happy, we can smile, and everyone in our family, our entire society, will benefit from our peace.
When we have peace, then we have a chance to save the planet. But if we are not united in peace, if we do not practice mindful consumption, we cannot save our planet.
To reconcile conflicting parties, we must have the ability to understand the suffering of both sides.
Breathing in, I am aware of my heart. Breathing out, I smile to my heart and know that my heart still functions normally. I feel grateful for my heart.
Science and mindfulness complement each other in helping people to eat well and maintain their health and well-being.
One Buddha is not enough; we need to have many Buddhas.