Generally speaking, people are concerned with their own welfare. You cannot really know whether their advice is meant for your benefit – or for themselves. You may find some who appear to want to help you but actually have other intentions and others who sincerely mean well but lack the wisdom to give good advice. Taking this into account, it is better to use your own brain and investigate your situation than to rely on the advice of others. At least then you will have no regrets. ~ 17th Karmapa

Depression is the result of over thinking. The mind creates problems that didn’t even exist. ~Unknown

When you’re alone, you think. When you think, you remember. When you remember, you feel pain. ~Unknown

Just look within to the virtuous thoughts you have had, and you will always find a reason to love yourself. Take joy in your sincere intentions. Everything starts with an intention. If you have been able to have beautiful aspirations, these aspirations will always be part of you, a beautiful part. ~17th Karmapa

RFA/Men Sothyr

There are many forces surrounding us that encourage us to follow along unthinkingly wherever our greed leads us. We are bombarded by advertising designed to convince us that our happiness depends on material goods. Today’s global culture tells us that having more of these goods is a measure of our success in life, and even of our value as a person. This message comes at us in many forms and from many directions, so we need a clear awareness of how greed works in order to protect ourselves from being deceived by these forces. We can then counteract them with inner wisdom about where real success and personal value come from. ~ 17th Karmapa

A lack of love can cause people to have no help when they need help, no friends when they need a friend. So, in a sense, the most dangerous thing in the world is apathy. We think of weapons, violence, warfare, disease as terrible dangers, and indeed they are, but we can take measures to avoid them. But once our apathy takes hold of us, we can no longer avoid it. ~ 17th Karmapa

We should not feel like we are strangers to each other but rather that we share a collective karma with one another on this earth and it is our responsibility to try to improve it. The basis of Lord Buddha’s teachings is that nothing rises by itself and we are not individual entities living by ourselves. The law of cause and effect and interdependence should encourage us to develop compassion for all living beings on this planet and for the earth itself. One beneficial act can have a multiple number of positive effects. We should feel greatly encouraged and determined to protect nature for this reason. ~ 17th Karmapa

Life is all about learning. Learning about the little things. Learning from all your mistakes. Learning about those that you thought would have your back but turned out they didn’t. Learning about the people that you pushed aside only to realize that they are the ones that would always be there for you. Life is about falling but knowing when to get back up and fight. Fight for what you believe in. Fight for your dreams. Practice kindness. Love deeply. Love yourself. ~Suzie Pierce