Once we recognize that other sentients being – people, animals, and even insects – are just like us, that their basic motivation is to experience peace and to avoid suffering, then, when someone acts in some way or says something that is against our wishes, we’re able to have some basis for understanding: oh well, this person (or whatever) is coming from this position because, just like me, they want to be happy and they want to avoid suffering. That’s their basic purpose. They’re not out to get me; they’re only doing what they think they need to do.
Mingyur Rinpoche
from the book The Joy of Living: Unlocking the Secret and Science of Happiness
Read a random quote or see all quotes by Mingyur Rinpoche.
Further quotes from the book The Joy of Living:
- Recognizing the inherent potential of your mind
- Oh, this is how my mind works
- Trying to do your best
- Neither rejecting nor accepting
- Nothing more than the natural function of the mind
- Thinking of yourself as limited
- The practice of simply observing
- Meditation on compassion
- What Buddhists mean by happiness
- Just observe it
- Setting the tone for your entire day
- Your mind just as it is
- Importance of the motivation
- Being diligent
- The best part of all
- Essentially good
- An experience of absolute well-being
- The need to look at the mind
- Never disturbed
- Becoming aware