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

A realized being would not be making any fresh karma because karma is very much connected to the ego but would still be receiving the results of past karma.

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

Since I was a small child, I'd believed we were inherently perfect, and that we had to keep coming back again and again until we recognized our innate perfection.

We have met with the dharma. Many of us have met with teachers. We do have some idea of what to do and how to practice. And we should not be lazy.

In the early '60s there was very little reliable information on Tibetan Buddhism. I was living in London and I had joined the Buddhist Society. For the most part, people there were either interested in Theravada or Zen Buddhism. There was almost no one into Tibetan Buddhism at that time.

Of course, now as a woman you can do so much, without being necessarily a rinpoche.