I have come to the conclusion that whether or not a person is a religious believer does not matter. Far more important is that they be a good human being.

Genuine happiness comes from focusing on the happiness of others.

Despite all philosophical differences, all major world religions have the same potential to create good human beings.

For change to happen in any community, the initiative must come from the individual.

Since we desire the true happiness that is brought about by a calm mind, and such peace of mind arises only from having a compassionate attitude, we need to make a concerted effort to develop compassion.

We need to take action to develop compassion, to create inner peace within ourselves and to share that inner peace with our family and friends. Peace and warm-heartednes s can then spread through the community just as ripples radiate out across the water when you drop a pebble into a pond

I believe that the basic nature of human beings is gentle and compassionate. It is therefore in our own interest to encourage that nature, to make it live within us, to leave room for it to develop. If on the contrary we use violence, it is as if we voluntarily obstruct the positive side of human nature and prevent its evolution.