Dalai Lama

From adversity we can learn the value of patience.

Love is the absence of judgment.

What is the purpose of life? I believe that the purpose of life is to be happy.

The essence of Buddhism is, if you can, to help others. If not, then at least refrain from hurting others.

A mind committed to compassion is like an overflowing reservoir – a constant source of energy, determination and kindness.

Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.

There’s nothing written in the Bible, Old or New testament, that says, If you believe in Me, you ain’t going to have no troubles.

Jesus tapped me on the shoulder and said, Bob, why are you resisting me? I said, I’m not resisting you! He said, You gonna follow me? I said, I’ve never thought about that before! He said, When you’re not following me, you’re resisting me.

The Zen expression Kill the Buddha!” means to kill any concept of the Buddha as something apart from oneself.

I do not believe in the creed professed by the Jewish church, by the Roman church, by the Greek church, by the Turkish church, by the Protestant church, nor by any church that I know of. My own mind is my own church.

I believe in God, but not as one thing, not as an old man in the sky. I believe that what people call God is something in all of us. I believe that what Jesus and Mohammed and Buddha and all the rest said was right. It’s just that the translations have gone wrong.

We are desire. It is the essence of the human Soul, the secret of our existence. Absolutely nothing of human greatness is ever accomplished without it. Not a symphony has been written, a mountain climbed, an injustice fought, or a love sustained apart from desire. Desire fuels our search for the life we prize. – John Elderidge

It’s not about approving or liking, but just being able to allow the world to be the way it is without resenting, hating, or judging it.

Well, I don’t know, but I’ve been told the streets in heaven are lined with gold. I ask you how things could get much worse if the Russians happen to get up there first; Wowee! pretty scary!

Zen is not some kind of excitement, but concentration on our usual everyday routine. – Shunryu Suzuki

God is a concept by which we measure our pain.

If anything is worth doing, do it with all your heart.

Children, Fear God; that is to say, have an holy awe upon your minds to avoid that which is evil, and a strict care to embrace and do that which is good.

O Lord, help me to be pure, but not yet.

Buddhist practice is simply a system directed to the one end of lessening the suffering of life.

Did we believe a final Reckoning and Judgment; or did we think enough of what we do believe, we would allow more Love in Religion than we do; since Religion it self is nothing else but Love to God and Man. He that lives in Love lives in God, says the Beloved Disciple: And to be sure a Man can live no where better. It is most reasonable Men should value that Benefit, which is most durable. Now Tongues shall cease, and Prophecy fail, and Faith shall be consummated in Sight, and Hope in Enjoyment; but Love remains.