Fear is a natural reaction of moving closer to the truth. If we commit ourselves to staying right where we are, then our experience becomes very vivid. Things become very clear when there is nowhere to escape.

This moving away from comfort and security, this stepping out into what is unknown, uncharted and shaky - that's called liberation.

Usually we regard loneliness as an enemy. Heartache is not something we choose to invite in. It's restless and pregnant and hot with the desire to escape and find something or someone to keep us company. When we can rest in the middle, we begin to have a nonthreatening relationship with loneliness, a relaxing and cooling loneliness that completely turns our usual fearful patterns upside down.

We tend to forget that we are part of the natural scheme of things.

The essence of our whole path is in that place of discomfort, and what do we do with it?

At the root of all the harm we cause is ignorance.

Feel the feelings and drop the story.