We make the commitment to stop for a moment and look at what the mind is doing, what mind state we are dwelling in. We don't judge it, we just know it. Gradually we'll become more and more accustomed to being conscious of what we're thinking and our various positive and negative states. We'll become more and more the masters of our mind, rather than the slaves.

Most of the spiritual traditions were very theistic and the idea of an external god pulling the strings didn't resonate with me. I then discovered Buddhism and found the perfect path. I felt so grateful to the Buddha for having given the path, and not just explaining the end result, but showing so clearly how to get there.

If you just follow your inner calling, then you just go ahead.

I have made a vow to attain Enlightenment in the female form - no matter how many lifetimes it takes.

Develop confidence in your innate qualities and believe that these qualities will be brought to fruition.

This is a time that calls for extreme restraint. In a world of outright aggression and violence there can be no winners. To respond to violence with counter-violence only throws oil on the fire.

Distraction is the main problem for us all - what the Buddha called the monkey mind. We need to tame this monkey mind.