From a Buddhist point of view, the first thing to help is yourself, to get your own mind together. And to really understand how to benefit beings, not just on the physical level, but on all levels. Then there are endless beings you can benefit.

Yes, times are not good, but when were times good? This is samsara.

You have to recharge your batteries.

Because we're trying, because we want, it's very hard to get.

I've always loved the Sangha. I have the deepest, deepest respect for them. I'm very sorry that in the West people don't appreciate what the monastic order is about.

In Dharma practice, the most important thing is to be very sincere.

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.