Monastic life cuts off the distractions and emotional entanglements one becomes involved in, in the lay life.

We're always given the message that our potential is so limited, which is so sad. Actually, our potential is infinite.

If we want to be musicians, dancers or sportspeople, we can download a certain amount and watch DVDs and read books, but in the end we need someone to assess us and give us personal instruction. The two go together.

Until time and space exist... I vow to come back for the benefit of other beings.

Some students went to Milarepa and said, we should stop living in caves and meditating because we should go out and help beings as bodhisattvas. And Milarepa said that as long as space exists, so long will there be beings for you to help.

Try to develop some genuine love and compassion, some real caring for others.

If you go to any nunnery and ask them what the main obstacle is, they'll always say low self-esteem and lack of confidence. It will take time. But the difference between the first girls from Ladakh who became nuns, to the girls we have now, is very encouraging.