In the early '60s there was very little reliable information on Tibetan Buddhism. I was living in London and I had joined the Buddhist Society. For the most part, people there were either interested in Theravada or Zen Buddhism. There was almost no one into Tibetan Buddhism at that time.

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

We shouldn't be too naïve, or taken in by charisma.

There are certain people who people think are enlightened. The problem with the word enlightenment is what you mean by it.

When I look back I can think that of course I've been lazy and haven't practiced as much as I could have and have wasted time. Still though, I look back on my life and I think that really, I am very happy that I lived my life the way I have and I would never ever have wished it any other way - especially, the six years with my lama and then the 18 in Lahul.

The power of thought is extremely powerful.

We've been human countless times and done everything you can imagine. So we've been planting all these negative seeds, and they're going to come up.