Faith is not a commodity that you either have or don't have enough of, or the right kind of. It's an ongoing process. The opposite of faith is despair.

I call myself a meditation teacher rather than a spiritual teacher.

If we fall, we don't need self-recrimination or blame or anger - we need a reawakening of our intention and a willingness to re-commit, to be whole-hearted once again.

We often get caught up in our own reactions and forget the vulnerability of the person in front of us.

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.

In a situation of potential conflict, let compassion guide you.

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