You can observe a cloud or a tree or the movement of a river with a fairly quiet mind because they are not very important to you, but to watch yourself is far more difficult because there the demands are so practical, the reactions so quick. So when you are directly in contact with fear or despair, loneliness or jealousy, or any other ugly state of mind, can you look at it so completely that your mind is quiet enough to see it? ~Krishnamurti

In the struggle against the emotions, if you lose your vigilance even for a moment you have to revive it at once — in the same way that a swordsman in battle who lets slip his sword must pick it up again immediately. The very instant an emotion arises, the thought of using the antidote should occur to you. What else is the dharma for, if it is not to stop you giving full vent to your negative emotions? ~Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

The challenge is to stay in the middle rather than to buy into struggle and complaint. The challenge is to let it soften us rather than make us more rigid and afraid. Becoming intimate with the queasy feeling of being in the middle of nowhere only makes our hearts more tender. When we are brave enough to stay in the middle, compassion arises spontaneously. ~Pema Chödron

The unconditioned, natural state of Buddhas and its immeasurable phenomena are always equally pure. Therefore, all Buddhas are never in transitional states because they are always abiding in indivisible, vajra-wisdom Buddhafields. Sentient beings have the same unconditioned purity as Buddhas, but through not recognizing the even purity of the reflections of mirrorlike mind, they moved into the uneven, samsaric phenomena of the transitional states. ~Thinley Norbu Rinpoche

What am I going to do?

From now on, what am I going to do? Instead of cherishing myself I’m going to cherish only other sentient beings and with my three doors of body, speech, and mind I am going to work to bring the greatest benefit to other sentient beings. Decide that this is what you are going to do this year, this month, and especially today. ~ Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Although hundreds or thousands of explanations are given,
There is only one thing to be understood –
Know the one thing that liberates everything –
Awareness itself, your true nature.

~Dudjom Rinpoche

Great compassion makes a peaceful heart.
A peaceful heart makes a peaceful person.
A peaceful person makes a peaceful family.
A peaceful family makes a peaceful community.
A peaceful community makes a peaceful nation.
A peaceful nation makes a peaceful world.

~His Holiness Maha Ghosananda