We Cannot Will Ourselves To Greatness

To be like … great masters, we cannot simply will ourselves to be like them.

We need to cultivate the qualities they possess.

To cultivate the qualities of compassion, wisdom, and dignity, we need to check our motivation and make aspirations.

Motivation is like a mirror- it reflects your present intention.

Aspiration is like a doorway to the future- it ushers you to the results you wish to achieve.

Without motivation, you cannot even start on the path; without aspiration, it would be difficult to reach the results.’

– Phakchok Rinpoche and Sophie Wu

Don’t Wait To Be Treated With Respect

Don’t wait for people to treat you with respect. Whatever it is that you want from other people, you must give it out. Be the first person to love people, to respect people, and to treat people with dignity.

Nothing is free. If you want love, then give love to others. If you want to be treated with respect, then treat others with respect. And it will come back to you.

According to Gregg Ward, ‘Be the first to respect. Don’t wait to be treated with respect before being respectful. Be the first to treat everyone you meet, even perfect strangers, with respect.’