I think of desire as the essence that brings forth the whole universe.

The main thing going on around intimacy is that we've developed a lot of strategies so we'll be a desirable package.

When you are in touch with your body and heart, it allows you to then be in the world and act with intention and clarity and kindness.

Presence is not some exotic state that we need to search for or manufacture. In the simplest terms, it is the felt sense of wakefulness, openness, and tenderness that arises when we are fully here and now with our experience.

I mentioned earlier the two wings of awareness. The first step is recognizing the fear of getting close to others - this honest witnessing of where it is in the body, where it is in your beliefs.The other wing regards what's seen with kindness and compassion.

There is something wonderfully bold and liberating about saying yes to our entire imperfect and messy life.

When someone says to us, as Thich Nhat Hanh suggests, "Darling, I care about your suffering," a deep healing begins.