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Sylvia Boorstein Quotes

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Sylvia Boorstein is an American author born in 1936. Her works mainly revolve around Buddhist philosophy and spiritual growth, which are highly appreciated by readers.

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All Mind Compassion Feels Ifs Mindfulness Needs Pain People Suffering Thinking Moments Response Happenings Looks World Balanced Clarity Complicated Happens Heart

Famous Sylvia Boorstein Quotes

“I think a lot about Big Mind-Small Mind, expansive, wide-lens consciousness and contracted, introverted consciousness. I have moments-we all do-when just being alive is a pleasure and a miracle. They feel like moments when the shutters of the mind are open so I can look out. It also feels as if those same shutters have no hooks to fix them in an open position. One small wind and bang-they slam shut.”

Source: Pay Attention, for Goodness' Sake: Practicing the Perfections of the Heart--The Buddhist Path of Kindness

“My father . . . used to say, 'I need my anger. It obliges me to take action.' I think my father was partly right. Anger arises, naturally, to signal disturbing situations that might require action. But actions initiated in anger perpetuate suffering. The most effective actions are those conceived in the wisdom of clarity.”

Thinking Needs Might Action Used Suffering Father Situation Arise Clarity Signals Disturbing

Author:Sylvia Boorstein

“His response is more than sensible. It reflects his understanding that evens unfold as a refelction of precise karmic order and that a benevolent response in all circumstances will be the most healing one. I think he is so universally admired becuase he exemplifies by his behavior the truth that the essence of natural mind, unclouded by greed or anger or delusion, is that of peace.”

Thinking Mind Order Peace Understanding Natural Healing Circumstances Behavior Essence Response Greed Delusion Sensible Precise Benevolent

Author:Sylvia Boorstein

“I want to feel deeply, and whenever I am brokenhearted I emerge more compassionate. I think I allow myself to be brokenhearted more easily, knowing I won't be irrevocably shattered [p. 59]”

Thinking Want Feels Knowing Compassionate Shattered Brokenhearted

Author:Sylvia Boorstein

“Heir to your own karma doesn't mean 'You get what you deserve.' I think it means 'You get what you get.' Bad things happen to good people. My happiness depending on my action means, to me, that it depends on my action of choosing compassion--for myself as well as for everyone else--rather than contention. [p.61]”

People Thinking Wells Mean Happens Action Compassion Depends Deserve Karma Things Happen Bad Things Good People Heirs Contention Bad Things Happen What You Deserve

Book:Happiness Is an Inside Job: Practicing for a Joyful Life

Source: Happiness Is an Inside Job: Practicing for a Joyful Life

“What if someone hurts you with a weapon? Wait. Think it over. You probably feel angry. That's normal. But wasn't it the stick striking your body that hurt you? Can you be angry at the stick? Of course not. Should you be angry at the wielder of the stick? Wouldn't it make more sense to be angry at the hatred in the mind of the stick wielder? If you think about it, isn't the end of hatred in the world what you want most of all? Why, then, would you add to it by giving energy to your anger? After all, it will pass on its own if left alone, especially if you respond to it with compassion.”

Source: Pay Attention, for Goodness' Sake: Practicing the Perfections of the Heart--The Buddhist Path of Kindness

“When people ask the Dalai Lama, "Is Buddhism a religion?" he answers, "Yes, it is." Then they ask, "What kind of religion is it?" He responds, "My religion is kindness." You might think, "Everyone's is." Everyone's is. That's true. It's not complicated to describe the goal of a spiritual life. It's easier than you think to explain it. It's more difficult than you can imagine to do it.”

People Thinking Kind Might Spiritual Religion Asks Difficult Goal Answers Kindness Imagine Buddhism Easier Complicated Spiritual Life Lama Dalai

Author:Sylvia Boorstein