We have to cultivate contentment with what we have. We really don't need much. When you know this, the mind settles down. Cultivate generosity. Delight in giving. Learn to live lightly. In this way, we can begin to transform what is negative into what is positive. This is how we start to grow up.

Most of the people I talk to are not going to go off and live in a cave. Why should they? So I talk about how people can stop separating dharma practice - going on retreats, going to dharma centers, hearing talks, reading books - from their ordinary life.

If nuns begin getting more empowered, where does that leave us?

I don't think I've changed anything, but I hope that by my talks I have encouraged people in their practice. That's as much as any of us can do.

You can still practice to be a better and kinder and happier person. That's perfectly possible.

I think it's a meritorious action to become a monk, provided that your motivation is pure.

In the very deep darkness of this world, little pinpoints of light show up very brightly and can shine a long way.