From the Zen view all beings are in the grip of the three poisons, greed, anger and delusion (ignorance).

Fear of the future and longing for the past are major factors which impede appropriate action.

Unless we base our sense of identity upon the truth of who we are, it is impossible to attain true happiness.

Whatever we can't love or accept in another, is a mirror of something we can't love or accept in ourselves.

Relying on another is an expression of attachment, not love, a manifestation of insecurity and suffering, not understanding the true nature of our lives.

When we are willing to accept our experience, just as it is, a strange thing happens: it changes into something else. When we avoid pain, struggle not to feel it, pain turns into suffering.

The best defense against being hurt is to feel good about yourself and the way a person responds to you says more about them, than about you.

What seems good turns bad, what seems bad turns good. It is an endless cycle.

Change is the very basis of our life, not to be fought, to be welcomed and tasted, to be seen for the gift it truly is.

All the insight we will ever need to live well will come from fully being who and where we are.

In a relationship if you are giving and getting nothing back in return, stop giving so much, and spend time being. Give to yourself, be who you are.

Our capacity can grow or diminish, and either way, the results compound over time.

As historians, our training and discipline is based on documentary evidence,.

But if one's dreams having to come true was the only referendum on whether they were beautiful, or worth dreaming, well then, no one would wish for anything. And that would be so much sadder.

Often life asks much of you, and you either honor life by answering with all your heart, or you cower your way into your grave.

Sometimes, Clark, you are pretty much the only thing that makes me want to get up in the morning.

Allow yourself to be out of your depth at all times.

Books were to my family's house like beds and stoves, the most basic items, necessary for survival

Sometimes, a family is like an ear of summer corn: It might look perfect on the outside, but when you peel the husk away. every kernel is rotten.

I always wanted to perform. I remember being 5 years old and telling my parents to sit down as I was going to put on a play for them.

When you look at the possibilities instead of the problems, the future is filled with endless opportunities