When you wash your hands, when you make a cup of coffee, when you're waiting for the elevator - instead of indulging in thinking, these are all opportunities for being there as a still, alert presence.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could spare them from all suffering? No, it wouldn't. They would not evolve as human beings and would remain shallow, identified with the external form of things. Suffering drives you deeper. The paradox is that suffering is caused by identification with form and erodes identification with form. A lot of it is caused by the ego, although eventually suffering destroys the ego-but not until you suffer consciously.

[Relationships] do not cause pain and unhappiness. They bring out the pain and unhappiness that is already in you

Whenever there is negativity in you, if you can be aware in that moment that there is something in you that takes pleasure in it or believes it has a useful purpose, you are becoming aware of the ego directly. The moment this happens your identity has shifted from ego to awareness. This means the ego is shrinking and awareness is growing.

If your relationship to the present moment is not right - nothing can ever be right in the future - because when the future comes - it's the present moment.

Allow whatever this moment contains. No matter what event or happening or situation, say 'yes' to it. Allow it to be.

Spiritual awakening - is becoming awake to the aliveness of this moment.