“Thinking that God wants something from us is like showing a candle to the sun.”

Transcending the cycle of death and rebirth is the real purpose of this life in human form.

If we have been able to give happiness to a soul-even for a minute-it makes our life blessed.

There are thousands ready to die for their religion, but only are few willing to live by its principles. Because of their narrow vision and envy, they have missed the true essence and message of religion which is love and compassion.

Parents need to nourish spiritual values in their children from a very young age.

When one has truly imbibed spiritual qualities, they will spontaneously be reflected in one’s thoughts and actions.

You can only feel love by expressing it.

We should try our best to relieve the suffering of others in whatever way we can.

“Is God a Man or a Woman ?” The answer to this question is neither God is That. But if you must give God a gender, God is more female than male, for he is contained in She.

Be content and happy with whatever comes to you.

A musk deer searches for the source of the fragrance of musk, but it won’t find it because the fragrance comes from within itself. Bliss is not to be found outside of us; it exists within us.

Happiness comes from the dissolution of the mind, not from external objects. Through meditation we can achieve everything including bliss, health, strength, intelligence and vitality. But it should be practiced properly in solitude and with care.

We human beings are born in ego, live in ego, are brought up in ego and will die in ego. We need a certain degree of vision when we live in this world for achieving and attaining our goals in life.

Look at the optimism of Nature. Nothing can stop it. Only the ego makes humans pessimistic, and this causes suffering.

Understand this great truth: The happiness that comes from the pleasures of the world is but a minute reflection of the infinite bliss that comes from within your own Self.

Go out and serve the suffering. Learn to place others in front of yourself.

Our educational system needs to give equal importance to the intellect and the heart.

Can any of us refute the wisdom of Madison and the other framers? Can anyone look at the carnage in Iran, the bloodshed in Northern Ireland or the bombs bursting in Lebanon and yet question the dangers of injecting religious issues into the affairs of state?

By maintaining the separation of church and state, the United States has avoided the intolerance which has so divided the rest of the world with religious wars.

I acknowledge that history is full of religious wars: but we must distinguish; it is not the multiplicity of religions which has produced these wars; it was the intolerating spirit which animated that one which thought she had the power of governing.

Heaven’s harmony is universal love.

I have learned to prize holy ignorance more highly than religious certainty and to seek companions who have arrived at the same place.

I hope we will not so characterize religious people as being so narrow and so biased towards people not of their own religion that they cannot even work with them in this common cause to which you say they are committed.

Each voice carries a portion of value, no matter how unpalatable or distasteful that voice may be: no one person, government, ideology, transnational, or religious institution can own and dominate the whole.

Credulity as a character trait is encouraged in every child who grows up with religious training, which invariably insists on the virtue of blind faith and the sinfulness of doubting and questioning.