When we are trying to cultivate a capacity to feel closeness to others, we do not need to create anything new. We are cultivating a latent ability, albeit one that might have been neglected or impaired during the course of our lives. There is every indication that the ability to experience genuine closeness is an innate potential of all human beings.

17th Karmapa

from the book Interconnected: Embracing Life in Our Global Society

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Further quotes from the book Interconnected:

• Our intimate dependence on the natural environment
• Extend yourself and connect
• The opportunity to love
• Noticing the collective effects of our individual actions
• The full vividness of direct contact
• Time to act
• Recollecting kindness
• Outer and inner world
• Interdependent individual
• Freedom
• Knowing more is not a substitute for feeling more
• The best way to love oneself
• Gratitude
• Focusing on our inner interdependence
• A main condition for our selfishness
• Inner freedom is key
• His Loneliness
• Enthusiastically benefiting whomever we come in contact with
• Extending gratitude in all directions
• Limitless aspirations