Everything we now enjoy has been provided through the kindness of other beings, past or present.

Happiness and suffering are states of mind, and so their main causes cannot be found outside the mind.

There is no situation so bad that it cannot be accepted patiently, with an open, accommodating, and peaceful heart.

We should understand that our problems do not exist outside of ourself, but are part of our mind that experiences unpleasant feelings.

We all wish for world peace, but world peace will never be achieved unless we first establish peace within our own minds.

We know that we are happy when our mind is peaceful, and unhappy when it is not. It is therefore clear that our happiness depends upon our having a peaceful mind and not on good external conditions. Even if our external conditions are poor, if we maintain a peaceful mind all the time we shall always be happy.

A practice that is suitable for one person is not necessarily suitable for someone else, and a practice that is appropriate for one person at one time is not necessarily appropriate for that same person at another time. Buddha did not expect us to put all his teachings into practice right away--they are intended for a great variety of practitioners of different levels and dispositions.