Because of our unenlightenment, we do not know that what we do to others we ultimately do to ourselves.

You cannot change the past but you can start now and lay the foundation for the future.

Patanjali tells us that if we practice aparigraha, (greedlessness) we will begin to understand not only where we have come from but where we are going and how our karmas have contributed to where we are now.

Yes, all of life is sacred, including plants; and yes, there is research that demonstrates that plants have feelings - they feel it when their leaves or stems are ripped - and there is scientific evidence that while plants do not have brains and nervous systems like animals, they nevertheless actively work to ensure their survival - they want to live, thrive, reproduce, evolve.

How we treat others will determine how others treat us, and how others treat us will determine who we are.

I passionately feel that as long as we view ourselves as superior and other animals as exploitable our consciousness will remain stuck in a level of ignorance that will disallow a full realization of the truth underlying reality.

Three things to never leave home without: your keys, birdseed for the birds, and your mala beads to chant through difficulties.