The first noble truth of the Buddha is that when we feel suffering, it doesn’t mean that something is wrong. What a relief.

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

Suffering begins to dissolve when we can question the belief or the hope that there's anywhere to hide.

We can begin to open our hearts to others when we have no hope of getting anything back. We just do it for its own sake.

It is possible to move through the drama of our lives without believing so earnestly in the character that we play. That we take ourselves so seriously, that we are so absurdly important in our own minds, is a problem for us. We feel justified in being annoyed with everything. We feel justified in denigrating ourselves or in feeling that we are more clever than other people. Self-importance hurts us, limiting us to the narrow world of our likes and dislikes. We end up bored to death with ourselves and our world. We end up never satisfied.

Deep down in the human spirit, there is a reservoir of courage. It is always available, always waiting to be discovered.

Hold the sadness and pain of samsara [suffering, confusion] in your heart and at the same time the power and vision of the Great Eastern Sun [fundamental awake human nature]. Then the warrior [brave enough to look at & work with reality] can make a proper cup of tea.