Compassion practice is daring. It involves learning to relax and allowing ourselves to move gently toward what scares us.

Compassion becomes real when we recognize our shared humanity.

Difficult people are the greatest teachers.

Times are difficult globally; awakening is no longer a luxury or an ideal. It’s becoming critical. We don’t need to add more depression, more discouragement, or more anger to what’s already here. It’s becoming essential that we learn how to relate sanely with difficult times. The earth seems to be beseeching us to connect with joy and discover our innermost essence. This is the best way that we can benefit others.

We can drop the fundamental hope that there is a better "me" who one day will emerge. We can't just jump over ourselves as if we were not there.

You're the only one who knows when you're using things to protect yourself and keep your ego together and when you're opening and letting things fall apart, letting the world come as it is - working with it rather than struggling against it. You're the only one who knows.

Meditation practice isn't about trying to throw ourselves away and become something better. It's about befriending who we are already.