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:

• Investigation
• Reactions
• Our impact on the world
• Impermanence
• Why not support others
• The benefits of dharma
• Serving the common interest
• Dialogue
• Living harmoniously with others
• Using discernment
• Guidance on the own path
• How to decide
• Just for the fun of it
• Intelligence
• Lighten up
• Assessing a religion
• Friends
• Advice
• Coexisting in delicate balance
• Human life