If we looked down at the world from space, we would not see any demarcations of national boundaries. We would simply see one small planet, just one.

It is our basic right to be a happy person, happy family, and eventually a happy world. That should be our goal.

Through difficult experiences, life sometimes becomes more meaningful.

For the rest of your life to be as meaningful as possible, engage in spiritual practice if you can. It is nothing more than acting out of concern for others. If you practice sincerely and with persistence, little by little, step by step you will gradually reorder your habits and attitudes so as to think less about your own narrow concerns and more about others' - and thereby find peace and happiness yourself.

Those who like myself, consider themselves to be followers of Buddha, should practice as much as we can. To followers of other religious traditions, I would like to say, 'Please practice your own religion seriously and sincerely.' And to non-believers, I request you to try to be warm-hearted. I ask this of you because these mental attitudes actually bring us happiness.

I have found that the greatest degree of inner peace comes from cultivating love and compassion.

A genuine, affectionate smile is very important in our day-to-day lives.