It is not as if we have to develop a characteristic we do not possess naturally. We all already have these tendencies to some degree; all we must do is enhance them.

When we are meditating only to pursue momentary peace, it is not a life-changing practice. It is really not much more than a good nap.

The way to develop a good heart is to aspire to reach the point where this experience of universal love imbues our every thought, action, and attitude.

A good heart originates from paying attention to and understanding other people’s situations in life.

Our attention is the only reason thoughts and emotions are powerful. They do not have any independent power. Our attention and focus on them feed their power. Taking mental events seriously and paying attention to them make mental events powerful. The more seriously we take them, the more we recharge their energy.

If you believe your thoughts and emotions, and accept their way of finding a comfort zone, then for the rest of your life you will always be looking, searching, yearning.

Being an addict does not make us content; it makes us crave more. The more we crave, the more we suffer. If we can break the cycle, we will find inner freedom. When we cut through our addiction, we can rest. Enlightenment comes when the mind rests in its natural state. Real contentment is found when our mental events slow down.

Just as love is the heartfelt aspiration for others to be happy and to have all the conditions for happiness, compassion is the heartfelt aspiration for others to be free from suffering and from the conditions of suffering.

To summarize, in the beginning we use a technique with an object, and then, after our mind is calmed and able to remain fixed on the object without distraction, we let go of the technique. Over time, as our mind becomes naturally calmer, we will need less mindfulness meditation before we switch to the unique features of Pristine Mind meditation.