You could begin to notice whenever you find yourself blaming others or justifying yourself. If you spent the rest of your life just noticing that and letting it be a way to uncover the silliness of the human condition-the tragic yet comic drama that we all continually buy into-you could develop a lot of wisdom and a lot of kindness as well as a great sense of humor.

Anything we experience, no matter how challenging, can become an open pathway to awakening.

Most of us do not take these situations as teachings. We automatically hate them. We run like crazy. We use all kinds of ways to escape - all addictions stem from this moment when we meet our edge and we just can't stand it. We feel we have to soften it, pad it with something, and we become addicted to whatever it is that seems to ease the pain.

We don’t sit in meditation to become good meditators. We sit in meditation so that we’ll be more awake in our lives.

Impermanence is a principle of harmony. When we don't struggle against it, we are in harmony with reality.

Nothing in its essence is one way or the other.

Even if you don't feel appreciation, just look. Feel what you feel; take an interest and be curious.