If we are attached to petty concerns and never aspired to anything great, we won’t accomplish much. What is petty and what is great? Petty is for oneself alone, for immediate gratification, and for harmful deeds, while great is for the many, for the long term, and for positive pursuits. Look closely – what have you or those around you achieved ? Avoid pettiness and aspire to great things!

17th Karmapa

from the book The Future Is Now: Timely Advice for Creating a Better World

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Further quotes from the book The Future Is Now:

• Human life
• Lighten up
• Guidance on the own path
• Why not support others
• Serving the common interest
• Dialogue
• Impermanence
• How to decide
• Reactions
• Our impact on the world
• Advice
• Experiences
• Assessing a religion
• Coexisting in delicate balance
• Use your brain
• Using discernment
• Be your own guide
• Friends
• Investigation
• True peace