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.

Either we're aware and present, or we're not. There is no half way.

There are other ways of benefiting than by being a recognized tulku and sitting on a throne.

I never really wondered about getting from London to Lahaul. It all seemed such a natural progression. In London I felt I was in the wrong place and wanted to leave. I'd thought about going to Australia or New Zealand. It's nothing against England, but I knew I wasn't meant to be there.

We have to cultivate contentment with what we have. We really don't need much. When you know this, the mind settles down. Cultivate generosity. Delight in giving. Learn to live lightly. In this way, we can begin to transform what is negative into what is positive. This is how we start to grow up.

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

There are certain teachers who shouldn't be teachers.