As each breath goes out, let it be the end of that moment and the birth of something new. . .

At some point, we realize that what we do for ourselves benefits others, and what we do for others benefits us.

So war and peace start in the human heart. Whether that heart is open or whether that heart closes has global implications.

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

None of us is ever OK, but we all get through everything just fine.

Just pausing for two to three breaths is a perfect way to stay present. This is a good use of our life. Indeed, it is an excellent, joyful use of our life. Instead of getting better and better at avoiding, we can learn to accept the present moment as if we had invited it, and work with it instead of against it, making it our ally rather than our enemy.

The point is that our true nature is not some ideal that we have to live up to. It's who we are right now, and that's what we can make friends with and celebrate.