I want to be just a pure spiritual leader.

Hard times build determination and inner strength. Through them we can also come to appreciate the uselessness of anger. Instead of getting angry nurture a deep caring and respect for troublemakers because by creating such trying circumstances they provide us with invaluable opportunities to practice tolerance and patience.

The quality of what we do depends on our motivation, which is why we have to learn how to cultivate a compassionate mind.

Because motivation pervades all action, it is important that we have a positive motivation. Whatever we are involved in, whether it’s politics, education, medicine, law, engineering, science, business or industry, the nature of our motivation determines the character of our work.

The moment you develop a sense of concern for others, you realize that, just like ourselves, they also want happiness; they also want satisfaction.

When you have this sense of concern, your mind automatically widens. At this point, your own problems, even big problems, will not be so significant. The result? Big increase in peace of mind.

So, if you think only of yourself, only your own happiness, the result is actually less happiness. You get more anxiety, more fear.

Be ready to change your goals, but never your values.

It is the enemy who can truly teach us to practice the virtues of compassion and tolerance.

Compassion is of little value if it just remains an idea. It must motivate how we respond to others and be reflected in all our thoughts and actions.

When we are motivated by compassion and wisdom, the results of our actions benefit everyone, not just our individual selves or some immediate convenience. When we are able to recognize and forgive ignorant actions of the past, we gain strength to constructively solve the problems of the present.

“Happiness” means mainly a sense of deep satisfaction. The object of life or our goal, then, is satisfaction.

One great question underlies our experience, whether we think about it or not: what is the purpose of life?… From the moment of birth every human being wants happiness and does not want suffering. Neither social conditioning nor education nor ideology affects this. From the very core of our being, we simply desire contentment… Therefore, it is important to discover what will bring about the greatest degree of happiness.

People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they’re not on your road doesn’t mean they’ve gotten lost.

True happiness comes from having a sense of inner peace and contentment, which in turn must be achieved by cultivating altruism, love and compassion, and by eliminating anger, selfishness and greed.

The wiser course is to think of others when pursuing our own happiness.

A good motivation and honesty bring self-confidence, which attracts the trust and respect of others. Therefore the real source of blessings is in our own mind.

A good motivation and honesty bring self-confidence, which attracts the trust and respect of others. Therefore the real source of blessings is in our own mind.

When you care for others, you manifest an inner strength despite any difficulties you face. Your own problems will seem less significant and bothersome to you. Reaching beyond your own problems and taking care of others, you gain confidence, courage and a greater sense of calm.

Through violence, you may ‘solve’ one problem, but you sow the seeds for another.

Pain can change you, but that doesn’t mean it has to be a bad change. Take that pain and turn it into wisdom.

When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know. But if you listen, you may learn something new.

The basis of moral principles is to have a real concern for the well-being of others and an appreciation of the oneness of humanity. Whether science or religion is constructive or destructive depends on our motivation and whether we are guided by moral principles.

A zero itself is nothing, but without a zero you cannot count anything; therefore, a zero is something, yet zero.

“Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.”