Our deepest human need is not material at all. Our deepest need is to be seen.

Just like a sunbeam can't separate itself from the sun, and a wave can't separate itself from the ocean, we can't separate ourselves from one another. We are all part of a vast sea of love, one indivisible divine mind.

People who hate often do so with great conviction. What we need are more people who love with conviction.

The greatest force of personal liberation is the decision to widen our circle of compassion, moving from focus on self to focus on service.

These are very serious times, and serious people need to be doing some serious thinking.

Liberation also means that even though I'm a woman I have masculine parts of my temperament which I can safely explore and integrate into my experience.

I have learned from experience that happiness is an acquired skill. Children are one of the greatest lessons in happiness, constantly challenging us to enjoy the moment, as the next one will not be the same. Gratitude is essential to happiness. Every time our children rush up to us and smile, we have something to be happy about; every time we get out of bed and can take a deep breath and go out for a walk, we have something to be happy about-that is the essence of a happy existence. Happiness is a muscle we must use, or it will wither away.