It is... very helpful to think of adversity not so much as a threat to our peace of mind but rather as the very means by which patience is attained.

If our tears do not lead us to act then we have lost the reason of our humanity, which is compassion.

If a problem can be solved it will be. If it can not be solved there is no use worrying about it.

Whether you believe in God or not does not matter much, whether you believe in Buddha or not does not matter so much; as a Buddhist, whether you believe in reincarnation or not does not matter so much. You must lead a good life.

I believe the twenty-first century can become the most important century of human history. I think a new reality is emerging. Whether this view is realistic or not, there is no harm in making an effort.

I don't want to convert people to Buddhism - all major religions, when understood properly, have the same potential for good.

Whenever I visit a market and see the chickens crowded together in tiny cages that give them no room to move around and spread their wings and the fish slowly drowning in the air, my heart goes out to them. People have to learn to think about animals in a different way, as sentient beings who love life and fear death. I urge everyone who can to adopt a compassionate vegetarian diet.