Meditation practice is relevant because in meditation our conceptual mind relaxes and we can feel who we are at heart.

A lot of people do their practice. They meditate on compassion. Then they yell at people afterwards. That is not quite working. One of the things I try to emphasize is contemplative meditation - bringing your thought and intention into meditation.

For me, language and how I use it are very important. I held back on doing a poetry book, walking the fine line between trying to be helpful and just putting more junk out there.

The first thing you have to do is acknowledge the basic and fundamental goodness of all beings. If you don't, then you are going to have conflict. That's at the core of Shambhala.

When we have gone beyond the boundaries of hope and fear, we are able to work with whatever comes our way.

I think we are very environmental people. We need to be supported environmentally. Books very much have that imprint on the mind.

Shambhala can be relevant in terms of what is going on in the world.