We human beings are all parts of the same body. Just because we do not wish to acknowledge another person’s importance does not mean that this person is unimportant to our well-being. Just because we do not wish to acknowledge what we share with others does not mean that we can separate ourselves from them. Interdependence is an inescapable truth of our existence.

Of course, we are not all identical. Because certain differences do exist between us, we all have something to offer each other. We can work together making our diverse and complementary contributions. Because we are all part of the same social body, it is in our own best interest to assure that we can all function well together.

17th Karmapa

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

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

Further quotes from the book The Heart Is Noble:

• Interdependent reality
• Protective Inner Wisdom
• The Wealth of Contentment
• Social action
• Life in Balance
• Boxing Love with Our Expectations
• Just Love
• There are no fixed starting points
• Nothing is intrinsically bad
• 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