Gloriousness and wretchedness need each other. One inspires us, the other softens us.

The idea of karma is that you continually get the teaching that you need to open your heart.

Meditation is not about getting out of ourselves or achieving something better. It is about getting in touch with what you already are.

We can stop struggling with what occurs and see its true face without calling it the enemy. It helps to remember that our spiritual practice is not about accomplishing anything - not about winning or losing - but about ceasing to struggle and relaxing as it is. That is what we are doing when we sit down to meditate. That attitude spreads into the rest of our lives.

As Buddhism moved to the West, one of the big characteristics was the strong place of women. That didn't exist in the countries of origin. It's just a sign of our culture.

When we scratch the wound and give into our addictions we do not allow the wound to heal.

As Buddhism moved from one culture to another, it always adapted.