You have to have a certain persona to be a star, you know, and I don't have that. I'm a banana.
Vulnerability in the face of constant change is what we share, whatever our present condition.
The movement of the heart as we practice generosity in the outer world mirrors the movement of the heart when we let go of conditioned views about ourselves on our inner journey. Letting go creates a joyful sense of space in our minds
We need the compassion and the courage to change the conditions that support our suffering. Those conditions are things like ignorance, bitterness, negligence, clinging, and holding on.
Meditation is a microcosm, a model, a mirror. The skills we practice when we sit are transferable to the rest of our lives.
In contrast, compassion manifests in us as the offering of kindness rather than withdrawal. Because compassion is a state of mind that is itself open, abundant and inclusive, it allows us to meet pain more directly. With direct seeing, we know that we are not alone in our suffering and that no one need feel alone when in pain. Seeing our oneness is the beginning of compassion, and it allows us to reach beyond aversion and separation.
Resilience is based on compassion for ourselves as well as compassion for others
That which makes you different is actually the thing that makes you special.
The rest of the world isn't nearly as important as the few who are here.
I was really fortunate. I don't believe in luck so I was really fortunate. God really blessed me in terms of my health. I was really healthy. But I tried to do my part in terms of preparation, in terms of perseverance, to make sure that I was always ready to play and try to stay ahead of the game, to beat people with my mind. I wasn't the biggest or the one that jumped the highest, but I had a real high basketball IQ and I knew it. I was a student of game and tried to prepare and be professional and have a good attitude. All of those things helped me have a long career.
One of the grandest things in having rights is, that though they are your rights you may give them up