48 Quotes by Surya Das

Buddhism says yes, change is possible. It tell us that no matter what our background, each of us is the creator of his or her own destiny. It tells us that our thoughts, our words, and our deeds create the experience that is our future.

Learning how to love is the goal and the purpose of spiritual life – not learning how to develop psychic powers, not learning how to bow, chant, do yoga, or even meditate, but learning to love. Love is the truth. Love is the light.

May all beings everywhere with whom we are inseparably connected, be fulfilled, awakened, liberated and free. May there be peace in this world and throughout the entire universe, and may we all together complete the spiritual journey.

We all have spiritual DNA; wisdom and truth are part of our genetic structure even if we don’t always access it.

We each need to make peace with our own memories. We have all done things that make us flinch.

So we have to be ready, willing, and able to really transform ourselves, and each other in the world, not just say it and affirm it, “Oh, I want to change”. Intention is important, but so is action.

Also not being afraid to stand up for what you believe in while taking into account that you could very well be wrong, or maybe there’s another way to look at it- that things are not what they seem to be, and that everything is subjective.

Who’s willing to face the unknown- the difficulties, the disappointments, the surprises of the unfamiliar. If you’re going to change, you have to face those things, and who’s able? Who has the skillful means, the knowhow, the perseverance, the help, the fortitude to keep going?

You have to go through the darkness to truly know the light. This may sound like a cliche, but it’s true nonetheless. Often the greatest doubts occur just before a breakthrough.