Meditation is not passive sitting in silence. It is sitting in awareness, free from distraction, and realizing the clear understanding that arises from concentration.

Sometimes you have a flash of insight, but it's not strong enough to survive. Therefore in the practice of Buddhism, samadhi is the power to maintain insight alive in every moment, so that every speech, every word, every act will bear the nature of that insight. It is a question of cleaning. And you clean better if you are surrounded by those who are practicing exactly the same.

When we enter the present moment deeply, our regrets and sorrows disappear, and we discover life with all its wonders.

When you learn how to suffer, you suffer much less.

If you are motivated by loving kindness and compassion, there are many ways to bring happiness to others right now, starting with kind speech.

It is said that God has created man in his own image. But it may be that humankind has created God in the image of humankind.

The problem is whether we are determined to go in the direction of compassion or not. If we are, then can we reduce the suffering to a minimum? If I lose my direction, I have to look for the North Star, and I go to the north. That does not mean I expect to arrive at the North Star. I just want to go in that direction.