American - Author | 1952 -
I had a very turbulent and painful childhood, like many people. I left for college when I was 16 years old and up until that point I'd lived in five different family configurations. Each one ended or changed through a death or some terrible loss.
Sharon Salzberg
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Even on the spiritual path, we have things we'll tend to cover up or be in denial about.
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Compassion isn't morose; it's something replenishing and opening; that's why it makes us happy.
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It's a rare and precious thing to be close to suffering because our society - in many ways - tells us that suffering is wrong. If it's our own suffering, we try to hide it or isolate ourselves. If others are suffering, we're taught to put them away somewhere so we don't have to see it.
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We all want to be happy. We need to expand the notion of what that means, to make it bigger and wiser.
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It is so powerful when we can leave behind our ordinary identities, no longer think of ourselves primarily as a conductor, or writer, or salesclerk, and go to a supportive environment to deeply immerse in meditation practice.
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The meditation traditions I started and have continued practicing have all emphasized inclusivity: anyone can do this who is interested.
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My earliest experiences in meditation were in a context of intensive retreats.
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We are taught that revenge is strong and compassion is weak. We are taught that power is more important than love.
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In Buddhist teaching, ignorance is considered the fundamental cause of violence - ignorance... about the separation of self and other... about the consequences of our actions.
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In our own lives and in our communities, we need to find a way to include others rather than exclude them. We need to find a way to allow our pain and suffering, individually and collectively.
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The moment that we realize our attention has wandered is the magic moment of the practice, because that's the moment we have the chance to be really different. Instead of judging ourselves, and berating ourselves, and condemning ourselves, we can be gentle with ourselves.
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