As Shantideva says, suffering has many good qualities because it purifies our negative karma, increases our renunciation and compassion, reduces our pride, and helps us to overcome our bad mental habits. If we think in this way we will feel that difficult circumstances are our best friends. When our mind is balanced in this way it becomes as stable as Mount Meru, and nothing can cause it to shake.
Geshe Kelsang GyatsoOur mental attitude transforms a situation into either a problem or an opportunity.
Geshe Kelsang GyatsoWhen we want a cup of tea our main wish is to drink tea, but to fulfill this wish we naturally develop the secondary wish to find a cup. In a similar way, the main wish of those who have great compassion is to protect all living beings from their suffering, but to fulfill this wish they know they must first attain Buddhahood themselves and so they naturally develop the secondary wish to attain enlightenment.
Geshe Kelsang GyatsoFaith is like pure eyes that enable us to see a pure and perfect world beyond the suffering world of samsara.
Geshe Kelsang GyatsoThe more we want certain situations, the more we find ourself stuck in situations we do not want.
Geshe Kelsang GyatsoPatient acceptance is often considered a weak and passive response to problems that we do not have the power or courage to solve. In reality, however, being patient is far from being passive. There is nothing strong or courageous in reacting to hardship or insults with anger - all we are doing is being defeated by our delusions.
Geshe Kelsang Gyatso