Practice has to be a process of endless disappointment. We have to see that everything we demand (and even get) eventually disappoints us. This discovery is our teacher.

There is a foundation for our lives, a place in which our life rests. That place is nothing but the present moment, as we see, hear, experience what is. If we do not return to that place, we live our lives out of our heads. We blame others; we complain; we feel sorry for ourselves. All of these symptoms show that we're stuck in our thoughts. We're out of touch with the open space that is always right here.

In spiritual maturity, the opposite of injustice is not justice but compassion.

Meditation practice is simply moving from a life of hurting myself and others to a life of not hurting myself and others.

There are many people in the world who feel that if only they had a bigger car, a nicer house, better vacations, a more understanding boss, or a more interesting partner, then their life would work. We all go through that one. Slowly we wear out most of our 'if onlies.

We have to face the pain we have been running from. In fact, we need to learn to rest in it and let its searing power transform us.

Joy is being willing for things to be as they are.