Your own interests and your own life will be balanced only when they include both the well-being of yourself and others. Any wholesome undertaking necessarily includes a desire to benefit others. If an undertaking is egocentric and full of self-cherishing, then that balance will be extremely difficult to find and maintain.

17th Karmapa

from the book The Heart Is Noble: Changing the World from the Inside Out

translated by Ngodup Tsering Burkhar & Damchö Diana Finnegan


Read a random quote or see all quotes by the 17th Karmapa.

Further quotes from the book The Heart Is Noble:

• Greed is a recipe for dissatisfaction
• Distinguishing between wants and needs
• Disconnected from our own noble heart
• Boxed limitless potential
• A noble vision
• My trust is a gift
• The intention to work for others
• Look what he did
• Loving Responsibility
• Making healthy relationships possible
• Authentic love
• Facing Impermanence Wisely
• The kindness we receive from others
• Our relationship to the material world
• We truly have everything we need already
• Capacity for Change
• Who are you
• Let the moon be the keeper of my love
• True Wealth