It's unlikely that you were a frog in a past life.

In fact there are beautiful people in this world doing incredibly selfless acts over and over and over. Dedicating their lives completely for the welfare and happiness of others.

Merit clears away obstacles.

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

We try to be present when we are drinking our tea, which isn't as easy as it sounds. It's very easy to think, right now I'm going to be really present while I'm drinking my tea, here I am drinking my tea, and I'm so present, look this is easy, I am here drinking my tea and I know I'm drinking my tea blah blah blah blah... right? And the one place where the mind is not, is here. It's just thinking about being here.

Keep your practice very simple and don't be too ambitious.

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