Every country that meets Buddhism molds it into their own indigenous religion, as America will. A very clear example of this is Japan, which threw out almost all the dharma, and just kept that essence, which spoke to them.

To become effortless takes a lot of effort. It's good to compare it to learning an instrument or learning a sport.

There are certain teachers who shouldn't be teachers.

I think, for East and West, the first thing we need is a good grounding in basic Buddhadharma.

In the texts, and as His Holiness the Dalai Lama reminds us, we should check the person's behavior not when they're sitting on a big throne, but behind the scenes. How do they treat ordinary people - not the big sponsors - but just ordinary people who are of no particular importance to them.

Traditionally, women didn't have much a role in Buddhism. The books were all written by monks, for other monks. So the general view of the feminine was rather misogynistic, with women playing the role of the forbidden other, waiting to pounce on innocent little monks! In that society, it was hard for women to become educated and get the deeper teachings and really become accomplished.

I do think that someone who decides to devote themselves entirely to the spiritual life, that that is more meritorious.