“Well neither of us were "Buddhists" then because it was new to us. We were 60's people. Psychedelic relics, you know... whatever, right on, radicals and world changers, social peaceniks perhaps, with a Buddhist spiritual veneer.” PeopleKnowsWorldWellsSpiritualSocialBuddhistRadicalPsychedelicRelicsVeneer Author:Surya Das
“Well Buddhism, 'shmoodism', I didn't go to India looking for Buddhism. I was looking for truth, or God, or a better way of life or happiness, fulfillment, meaning, purpose. And a way to become peace in the world and not just fight for peace, as we had in the 60's.” WorldWayWellsPurposeFightingBuddhismIndiaFulfillmentBetter Ways Author:Surya Das
“It's not like we're all animalistic people trying to become more spiritual. We're really living spirit, trying to find out how to live embodied in this nitty gritty world, these corporeal forms, in these fleeting bodies in the material world where everything's changing and we're not in control.” PeopleWorldTryingBodySpiritualFormSpiritMaterialsFleetingMaterial WorldReally LivingAnimalistic Author:Surya Das
“However, we need to participate and manage skillfully, helpfully, and harmoniously, for a better world, family and society to be possible. So everybody's spiritual by nature I believe, not that they necessarily have to be religious. Everybody wants, or cares about, and has values even if they don't talk about them all the time explicitly, like some noisy preachers do with their foghorn voices and dogmatic views.” IfsWorldWantNeedsBelieveCareSpiritualValuesI BelieveVoiceReligiousViewsManagePreacherNoisyDogmatic Author:Surya Das
“Everybody has similar values. You travel around the world and everybody is different, but everybody is also the same in those ways. There's so much difference but there's so much similarity. Nobody wants to be harmed, or have their children, or their mates, or their relatives, or their families harmed, exploited, bombed, starved, dislocated, or become homeless refugees. So we're all similar in that way and spiritual life and religion is supposed to be part of the solution not part of the problem.” WorldWayWantChildrenDifferentProblemSpiritualValuesDifferencesSolutionsAround The WorldSupposed To BeMatesSpiritual LifeHomelessRefugeeSimilarity Author:Surya Das
“Really, whatever I was seeking and looking into in those days like creative arts, chant, the muse being in touch with the muse for poetry and writing and music. It's all part of the spirit and if we look particularly at Hinduism and Buddhism, the tantric stream of those traditions totally embraces all aspects of human life and life on this world.” IfsWorldWritingHumansLooksArtSpiritCreativeThis WorldBuddhismAspectTraditionEmbraceSeekingHuman LifeStreamsHinduismMuseCreative ArtHinduism And Buddhism Author:Surya Das
“So we have to be ready, willing, and able to really transform ourselves, and each other in the world, not just say it and affirm it, "Oh, I want to change". Intention is important, but so is action.” WorldWantImportantAbleActionWillingReadyIntention Author:Surya Das
“It almost seems as though this roiling world is conspiring to test our patience at every turn. In fact, it is. With this in mind, we would be wise to look on our imperfect environment as a teacher rather than an antagonist. It constantly shows us that we need to be patient on an ongoing basis, not just every now and then, if we´re going to realize true inner peace, happiness, and fulfillment.” IfsWorldNeedsMindLooksFactsShowsSeemsWould BeTurnsRealizingEnvironmentTeacherWiseTestsBasesPatiencePatientInner PeaceFulfillmentImperfectNow And ThenBe PatientOngoingBeing WiseAntagonistConspiring Author:Surya Das
“May all beings everywhere with whom we are inseparably connected, be fulfilled, awakened, liberated and free. May there be peace in this world and throughout the entire universe, and may we all together complete the spiritual journey.” WorldMayTogetherSpiritualUniverseJourneyThis WorldConnectedFulfilledAwakenedLiberatedSpiritual Journey Author:Surya Das
