When you are discontent, you always want more, more, more. Your desire can never be satisfied. But when you practice contentment, you can say to yourself, 'Oh yes - I already have everything that I really need.'

If one's life is simple, contentment has to come. Simplicity is extremely important for happiness. Having few desires, feeling satisfied with what you have, is very vital: satisfaction with just enough food, clothing, and shelter to protect yourself from the elements. And finally, there is an intense delight in abandoning faulty states of mind and in cultivating helpful ones in meditation.

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.

I always say that people should not rush to change religions. There is real value in finding the spiritual resources you need in your home religion.

All religions try to benefit people, with the same basic message of the need for love and compassion, for justice and honesty, for contentment.

When you practice gratefulness, there is a sense of respect toward others.