For every shrill and violent voice that throws itself in front of microphones and cameras in the name of God, there are countless lives of gentleness and good works who will not. We need to see and hear them, as well, to understand the whole story of religion in our world.

Humanity needs this technology as much as it needs all other technologies that have now connected us and set before us the terrifying and wondrous possibility of actually becoming one human race.

Buddhist mindfulness is about the present, but I also think its about being real. Being awake to everything. Feeling like nothing can hurt you if you can look it straight on.

I dont accept the idea that there are two sides to any issue. I think that the middle ground is to be found within most of us.

What a liberating thing to realize that our problems are probably our richest sources for rising to the ultimate virtue of compassion.

If we cant face our losses, we cant be present either fully to everything that is. When people have cut off or not made peace with some part of themselves, they miss out on other aspects of life.

Compassion is a piece of vocabulary that could change us if we truly let it sink into the standards to which we hold ourselves and others.