Eric Dinerstein > Quotes

“If the shrike did not eat the grasshoppers, then the grasshoppers would eat all the grass, and there would be none left for the deer...and the deer are food for the tiger. Life in the jungle is a giant spiderweb; if you touch one strand, it will vibrate at the other end. We cannot separate nature into good and bad, Rita. The gods do not will it so.”
― Eric Dinerstein, What Elephants Know

“We look back and we look ahead, but we live in the time we are allowed.”
― Eric Dinerstein, The Kingdom of Rarities

“In their natural habitats some of these species may be, like the golden-fronted bowerbird, easy to locate and observe but may nevertheless trick the biologist into treating them as "common" when they are really just "obvious," an important distinction.”
― Eric Dinerstein, The Kingdom of Rarities

“Bhutan was the first nation to establish a permanent fund to finance the long-term protection of its native and rare flora and fauna.”
― Eric Dinerstein, The Kingdom of Rarities

“The golden langur is one of the world’s rarest primates, noted for its expressive black face set off by a robe of dense golden fur.”
― Eric Dinerstein, The Kingdom of Rarities

“The charismatic lama attracted a large following with his unorthodox teachings, startling outbursts, and magical powers. During his visit he was asked to perform a miracle. After consuming an entire cow and goat for lunch, he placed the goat’s head on the cow’s skeleton and waved his arm, and the bizarre takin sprang to life and galloped off to graze. Our”
― Eric Dinerstein, The Kingdom of Rarities

“... there is nothing to be gained by dwelling on what is past, or worrying about what may or may not come to pass. All we have is this moment right in front of us. It is precious, and the more you stay present, the more peace you will feel in your heart.”
― Eric Dinerstein, What Elephants Know

“Then I remembered a joke told by a Tibetan friend: “What is the difference between a Buddhist and a non-Buddhist?” The answer: “The non-Buddhist thinks there is one.”
― Eric Dinerstein, The Kingdom of Rarities

“Merriment seemed to be a favorite pastime in this country, where the citizenry take the concept of happiness very seriously.”
― Eric Dinerstein, The Kingdom of Rarities

“Gould’s sunbird landed on the crown of a nearby hemlock. In the brilliant mountain light, its burgundy mantle and back set off its bright yellow rump and belly, highlighted by a long blue tail. The Buddhists say that attachment to beauty is one of the false perceptions humans hold. We, however, suspended Mincha’s Buddhist instruction at such moments and wallowed in our attachment. Over”
― Eric Dinerstein, The Kingdom of Rarities

“I asked Mincha if he would like to be reincarnated as the beautiful scarlet minivet. Mincha paused for a moment and then pointed out how many insects a minivet consumes in its lifetime. “Killing other creatures causes pain in the world. So from a Buddhist perspective, we must say that the minivet is not to be envied.” Besides, he related, there are 500 rebirths separating birds and humans, so a bird rebirth would be a big setback from enlightenment. Back”
― Eric Dinerstein, The Kingdom of Rarities