Although we have the potential to experience the freedom of a butterfly, we mysteriously prefer the small and fearful cocoon of ego.

Nobody else can really begin to sort out for you what to accept and what to reject in terms of what wakes you up and what makes you fall asleep. No one else can really sort out for you what to accept - what opens up your world - and what to reject - what seems to keep you going round and round in some kind of repetitive misery.

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

Impermanence is a principle of harmony. When we don't struggle against it, we are in harmony with reality.

If we Pause and breathe in and out, then we can have the experience of timeless presence, of the inexpressible wisdom and goodness of our own minds. We can look at the world with fresh eyes and hear things with fresh ears.

Since death is certain and the time of death is uncertain, what is the most important thing?

Our neurosis and our wisdom are made out of the same material. If you throw out your neurosis, you also throw out your wisdom.