the power of the comparative lens

"The biggest mistake people make when first beginning to look at unfamiliar perspectives is immediately to make comparisons between the familiar and the unfamiliar. The power of the comparative lens comes not from making positive and negative comparisons; rather, it comes from seeing each perspective clearly, in its own right. In other words, one gets a deeper understanding of one’s own perspective by understanding how others understand their own perspective."

- Rita Gross, “Buddhist to Buddhist”, tricycle.com

I would teach it to each and every person

“Tam sniffed. “The flame and the void aren’t about archery.” 

“Yes, I know. They are a swordsman’s technique.” 

“They’re not about swords either,” Tam said, strapping the sword onto his belt. 

“But—" 

"The flame and the void are about center,” Tam said. “And about peace. I would teach it to each and every person in this land, soldier or not, if I could.” 

- Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson. “A Memory of Light.” Tom Doherty Associates.

wish true happiness for your enemy

“it is worth considering that it is in fact eminently possible and practical to wish true happiness for your enemy”

- Sharon Salzberg. “Love Your Enemies.” Hay House, 2013-09-11.

willing to be intimate with fear

"If we’re afraid of who we are, we continually feel frantic about filling that space, anything to avoid that persistent unease beneath the surface of our lives. The fearlessness of the warrior comes from stepping again and again into open space, with body, breath, and heart exposed. It is the fearlessness that is willing to be intimate with fear."

- Aura Glaser, “Into the Demon’s Mouth”, tricycle.com