In spiritual growth, it is important to avoid imbalances between academic or intellectual learning and practical implementation. Otherwise there is a danger that too much intellectualiza tion will kill the more contemplative practices and too much emphasis on practical implementation without study will kill the understanding. There has got to be a balance.

I hope that at this moment you are thinking of yourself as a human being rather than as an American, Asian, European, African, or member of any particular country. These loyalties are secondary.

What unites all beings is their desire for happiness.

An enemy is indeed a precious teacher.

The realization that we are all basically the same human beings who seek happiness and try to avoid suffering is very helpful in developing a sense of brotherhood and sisterhood; a warm feeling of love and compassion for others.

Easy times are the enemy, they put us to sleep. Adversity is our friend, it wakes us up

If you wonder what you were doing in the past, look at your body; to know what will happen to you in the future, look at your mind.