All of us are playing roles, and there's nothing wrong with playing roles because we have to live in this world - the problem is only when we believe in those roles.

I'd say look at the teacher's students. Do you want to be like them? If you see a good and harmonious sangha, and if they're practicing well and are good people with good hearts, then you have a cause for trust.

We live in a society which is heading in one direction, so it's good to have at least a few friends who share the same values and can encourage us and help us to remember that we're not alone or peculiar, but that what we're doing is a very valid way of life. This will encourage us to put the Dharma at the centre of our life and not the periphery, to use our daily life as our Dharma practice.

To be enlightened doesn't mean you end up stupefied and unable to function.

Obviously being relaxed doesn't mean that you make no effort.

When Tibetan lamas die they stay in a realization of clear light nature of the mind for several days or weeks.

The nature of the mind is completely incredible.