Quotes by Sharon Salzberg

Contemplating the goodness within ourselves is a classical meditation, done to bring light, joy, and rapture to the mind. In contemporary times this practice might be considered rather embarrassing, because so often the emphasis is on all the unfortunate things we have done, all the disturbing mistakes we have made. Yet this classical reflection is not a way of increasing conceit. It is rather a commitment to our own happiness, seeing our happiness as the basis for intimacy with all of life. It fills us with joy and love for ourselves and a great deal of self-respect. Significantly, when we do metta practice, we begin by directing metta toward ourselves. This is the essential foundation for being able to offer genuine love to others

When we bring deep awareness to whatevers bothering us, the same things might be happening, but we are able to relate to them differently.

There is so much we just cant see or know right now, including precisely how our actions will ripple out.

Love exists in itself, not relying on owning or being owned.

When we don’t allow setbacks to defeat us, they become opportunities for learning, acceptance, flexibility, and patience.

Each opportunity to interrupt the onslaught of thoughts and return to the object of meditation is, in fact, a moment of enlightenment

Every time we forget to breathe or our minds wander or we’re hijacked by feelings or sensations, we gently bring ourselves back to the breath, again and again.

We live in a network of inter connectivity.

Meditation trains the mind the way physical exercise strengthens the body.

In order to do anything about the suffering of the world we must have the strength to face it without turning away.

Vulnerability in the face of constant change is what we share, whatever our present condition.

Our path, our sense of spirituality demands great earnestness, dedication, sincerity & continuity.

Every single moment is expressive of the truth of our lives when we know how to look.

Through meditation we come to know that we are dying & being reborn in every moment.

Meditation is a cyclical process that defies analysis, but demands acceptance.

Just as a prism refracts light differently when you change its angle, each experience of love illuminates love in new ways, drawing from an infinite palette of patterns and hues.

The causes of familial discord and distance are countless, but the results are often the same: secrecy, blame, sadness, hurt, confusion, and feelings of loss and grief.

Forgiveness is a process, an admittedly difficult one that often can feel like a rigorous spiritual practice.

We cannot instantaneously force ourselves to forgive—and forgiveness happens at a different pace for everyone and is dependent on the particulars of any given situation.

Telling the story, acknowledging what has happened and how you feel, is often a necessary part of forgiveness.