Our neurosis and our wisdom are made out of the same material. If you throw out your neurosis, you also throw out your wisdom.

There's a reason you can learn from everything: you have basic wisdom, basic intelligence, and basic goodness.

Compassion starts with making friends with ourselves.

What you do for yourself, you're doing for others, and what you do for others, you're doing for yourself.

If your mind is expansive and unfettered, you will find yourself in a more accommodating world, a place that's endlessly interesting and alive. That quality isn't inherent in the place but in your state of mind.

Meditation is not a matter of trying to achieve ecstasy, spiritual bliss, or tranquillity, nor is it attempting to become a better person. It is simply the creation of a space in which we are able to expose and undo our neurotic games, our self-deceptions, our hidden fears and hopes.

One way to practice staying present is to simply sit still for a while and listen. For one minute, listen to the sounds close to you. For one minute, listen to the sounds at a distance. Just listen attentively.