Things don't just happen in this world of arising and passing away. We don't live in some kind of crazy, accidental universe. Things happen according to certain laws, laws of nature. Laws such as the law of karma, which teaches us that as a certain seed gets planted, so will that fruit be.

By prizing heartfulness above faultlessness, we may reap more from our effort because we're more likely to be changed by it.

You don't have to believe anything, adopt a dogma in order to learn how to meditate.

Effort is the unconstrained willingness to persevere through difficulty.

My earliest experiences in meditation were in a context of intensive retreats.

In contrast, compassion manifests in us as the offering of kindness rather than withdrawal. Because compassion is a state of mind that is itself open, abundant and inclusive, it allows us to meet pain more directly. With direct seeing, we know that we are not alone in our suffering and that no one need feel alone when in pain. Seeing our oneness is the beginning of compassion, and it allows us to reach beyond aversion and separation.

As we practice meditation, we get used to stillness and eventually are able to make friends with the quietness of our sensations.