“Truth brings us back to paradise, where we experience a strong communion of love with God, with life, with all creation.”  don Miguel Ruiz

Even a slave is a slave because he is free. Out of freedom we are prosperous, out of our own freedom we are suffering, out of our own freedom we are enslaved. Then why should we grumble and croak, and why not make use of our real freedom to free ourselves physically and socially?

~ Swami Rama Tirtha

“When we practice generating compassion, we expect to experience the fear of our pain.  Compassion practice is daring.  It involves learning to relax and allow ourselves to move gently towards what scares us.” Pema Chödrön

“A moment of self-compassion can change your entire day; a string of such moments can change the course of your life.”  Christopher Germer

“There is a lot of destruction that happens with enlightenment because there is a peeling away process, a removal of unnecessary characteristics and habit that we picked up for defense or survival. We often find that we don’t want to play those games anymore.  We don’t want to pretend or lie.  Not to others and not to ourselves.”  Emily Maroutian

“If you want to know where to find your contribution to the world, look at your wounds.  When you learn how to heal them, teach others.”   Emily Maroutian

“I am not here for your understanding of who I am; I am here for your understanding of who you are.  I am your mirror.”  Emily Maroutian

“Energy is the currency of the universe.  When you ‘pay’ attention to something, you buy that experience.  So when you allow your consciousness to focus on someone or something that annoys you, you feed it your energy, and it reciprocates the experience of being annoyed.  Be selective in your focus because your attention feeds the energy of it and keeps it alive.  Not just within you, but in the collective consciousness as well.”   Emily Maroutian

“All it takes to be more compassionate is the simple act of noticing.”  Daniel Goleman

“The more alert we become to the blessing that flows into us through everything we touch, the more our own touch will bring blessings.”  David Steindl-Rast