Only when we start to distinguish reality from fantasy that we can humbly, with eyes wide open, forge loving and sustainable connections with others.
SHARON SALZBERGWe are all too often told by someone that we are too old, too young, too different, too much the same, and those comments can be devastating.
More Sharon Salzberg Quotes
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The art of concentration is a continual letting go. We let go of what is inessential or distracting. We let go of a thought or a feeling, not because we are afraid of it or because we can’t bear to acknowledge it as a part of our experience; but, because it is UNNECESSARY.
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Thinking we are only supposed to have loving & compassionate feelings can be a terrible obstacle to spiritual practice.
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Meditation is a microcosm, a model, a mirror. The skills we practice when we sit are transferable to the rest of our lives.
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Forgiveness can be bittersweet. It contains the sweetness of the release of a story that has caused us pain, but also the poignant reminder that even our dearest relationships change over the course of a lifetime.
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Meditation can be a refuge, but it is not a practice in which real life is ever excluded. The strength of mindfulness is that it enables us to hold difficult thoughts and feelings in a different way—with awareness, balance, and love
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Forgiveness that is insincere, forced or premature can be more psychologically damaging than authentic bitterness & rage.
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When we don’t tell those we love about what’s really going on or listen carefully to what they have to say, we tend to fill in the blanks with stories.
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For any marginalized group to change the story that society tells about them takes courage and perseverance.
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With attachment all that seems to exist is just me & that object I desire.
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Love exists in itself, not relying on owning or being owned.
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All forms of meditation strengthen & direct our attention through the cultivation of three key skills: concentration, mindfulness & compassion or loving & kindness.
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Mindfulness isn’t difficult, we just need to remember to do it.
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Our ability to connect with others is innate, wired into our nervous systems, and we need connection as much as we need physical nourishment.
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We cannot simply forgive and forget, nor should we.
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Because the development of inner calm & energy happens completely within & isn’t dependent on another person or a particular situation, we begin to feel a resourcefulness and independence that is quite beautiful—and a huge relief.
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To reteach a thing its loveliness is the nature of metta. Through loving kindness, everyone & everything can flower again from within.
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We can understand the inherent radiance & purity of our minds by understanding metta. Like the mind, metta is not distorted by what it encounters.
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Training attention through meditation opens our eyes.
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Even when we do our very best to treat those close to us with utmost respect and understanding, conflict happens. That’s life. That’s human nature.
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The key to cultivating confidence in ourselves is understanding our right to make the truth our own.
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We can free ourselves from the old stories that have reduced us & allow real love for ourselves to blossom.
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The light still illuminates the room and banishes the murkiness, letting you see the things you couldn’t see before.
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Mindfulness, also called wise attention, helps us see what we’re adding to our experiences, not only during meditation sessions but also elsewhere.
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Mindfulness is the agent of our freedom. Through mindfulness we arrive at faith we grow in wisdom & we attain equanimity.
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Pain & suffering requires time, awareness, and an intentional practice of self-love to disentangle.
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We’re capable of much more than mediocrity, much more than merely getting by in this world.
SHARON SALZBERG