There is great transformative power in the act of discovery. No founder of any religion was a follower. The Buddha became the Buddha because he discovered important truths for himself. Many remarkable people following within his tradition also came to that understanding themselves. The same is true of the founders and remarkable followers of every other major world religion. Each brought forth new insights and understanding. Everyone is capable of that; you just need the right conditions. Joining a religion or studying its wisdom can be one of those conditions. But I have studied Buddhist philosophy for over a decade, and I can tell you that such study is not sufficient in order to find true meaning. Only if your own understanding is rooted profoundly within will you be able to awaken spiritually. Only you can understand your life and find its deepest meaning.

17th Karmapa

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

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Further quotes from the book The Heart Is Noble:

• Difference without Division
• Breaking barriers
• Healthy relationships
• Take joy in your sincere intentions
• Just not been introduced before
• Finding our nobility of heart
• Authentic love toward others
• There are no fixed starting points
• Expanding our sense of ourselves
• Our life is vast
• Open-minded
• Greed is a recipe for dissatisfaction
• Balanced Life
• 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