Merit clears away obstacles.

Until you are open, you cannot receive.

Realization is wonderful, but you have to expand it until there's not a single defilement left in the mind and the mind is completely open and spacious. Even in that condition, you still use the relative mind. You use them both.

I think the problem with Western students is they're very ambitious.

When I was 18 I read a book about Buddhism and, before I was halfway through it I said to my mother, "I'm a Buddhist!" She said, "That's great. Finish reading the book and then you can tell me all about it." From that moment on I knew I was a Buddhist.

To be completely enlightened means that you're a Buddha.I don't speak of enlightenment.

We're not lowly sinners, we're not worthless beings. We are something jewel-like and beautiful.