Sharon Salzberg

Genuine awe connects us with the world in a new way.

Patience doesn't mean making a pact with the devil of denial, ignoring our emotions and aspirations. It means being wholeheartedly engaged in the process that's unfolding, rather than ripping open a budding flower or demanding a caterpillar hurry up and get that chrysalis stage over with.

We can learn the art of fierce compassion - redefining strength, deconstructing isolation and renewing a sense of community, practicing letting go of rigid us-vs.-them thinking - while cultivating power and clarity in response to difficult situations.

I call myself a meditation teacher rather than a spiritual teacher.

I've spent quite a bit of my life as a meditation teacher and writer commending the strengths of love and compassion.

Because the development of inner calm & energy happens completely within & isn__ dependent on another person or a particular situation, we begin to feel a resourcefulness and independence that is quite beautiful__nd a huge relief.

Meditation is essentially training our attention so that we can be more aware_ not only of our own inner workings but also of what__ happening around us in the here & now.

People turn to meditation because they want to make good decisions, break bad habits & bounce back better from disappointments.

Mindfulness, also called wise attention, helps us see what we__e adding to our experiences, not only during meditation sessions but also elsewhere.

We are all too often told by someone that we are too old, too young, too different, too much the same, and those comments can be devastating.

Mindfulness helps us get better at seeing the difference between what__ happening and the stories we tell ourselves about what__ happening, stories that get in the way of direct experience. Often such stories treat a fleeting state of mind as if it were our entire and permanent self.

It is never too late to turn on the light. Your ability to break an unhealthy habit or turn off an old tape doesn't depend on how long it has been running; a shift in perspective doesn't depend on how long you've held on to the old view. When you flip the switch in that attic, it doesn't matter whether its been dark for ten minutes, ten years or ten decades. The light still illuminates the room and banishes the murkiness, letting you see the things you couldn't see before.Its never too late to take a moment to look.

When we can step back even briefly from our hurt, sorrow, and anger, when we put our faith in the possibility of change, we create the possibility for non-judgmental inquiry that aims for healing rather than victory.

You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.

It is a state of peace to be able to accept things as they are. This is to be at home in our own lives. We see that this universe is much too big to hold on to, but it is the perfect size for letting go. Our hearts and minds become that big, and we can actually let go. This is the gift of equanimity.

Even as we live with the knowledge that each day might be our last, we don__ want to believe it.

Many strong emotions are actually intricate tapestries woven of various strands.

Trying to impose our personal agenda on someone else__ experience is the shadow side of love, while real love recognizes that life unfolds at its own pace.