Akshay

“Q: Why do you think that people are so protective of their egos? Why is it so hard to let go of one’s ego? A: People are afraid of the emptiness of space, or the absence of company, the absence of a shadow. It could be a terrifying experience to have no one to relate to, nothing to relate with. The idea of it can be extremely frightening, though not the real experience. It is generally a fear of space, a fear that we will not be able to anchor ourselves to any solid ground, that we will lose our identity as a fixed and solid and definite thing. This could be very threatening.”
― Chögyam Trungpa, Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism

“WE ALREADY HAVE everything we need. There is no need for self-improvement. All these trips that we lay on ourselves—the heavy-duty fearing that we’re bad and hoping that we’re good, the identities that we so dearly cling to, the rage, the jealousy and the addictions of all kinds—never touch our basic wealth. They are like clouds that temporarily block the sun. But all the time our warmth and brilliance are right here. This is who we really are. We are one blink of an eye away from being fully awake.”
― Pema Chödrön, Start Where You Are: A Guide to Compassionate Living

“Life isn’t a hundred-meter race against your friends, but a lifelong marathon against yourself.”
― Haemin Sunim, The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: How to be Calm in a Busy World

“When people who don't know you well admire you, they are seeing their projected illusion, not your real self.
In contrast, when people who know you well respect you, it is probably because you deserve it.”
― Haemin Sunim, The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: How to Be Calm in a Busy World