Bees and the importance of community

"The problem that faces us is the problem of awakening. What we lack is not an ideology or doctrine that will save the world. What we lack is mindfulness of what we are, of what our situation really is. We need to wake up in order to rediscover our human sovereignty. We are riding a horse that is running out of control. The way of salvation is a new culture in which human beings are encouraged to rediscover their deepest nature."

-Thich Nhat Hanh

"Without inner peace, outer peace is impossible. We all wish for world peace, but world peace will never be achieved unless we first establish peace within our own mind."

-Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

“People who really want to make a difference in the world usually do it, in one way or another. And I’ve noticed something about people who make a difference in the world: They hold the unshakable conviction that individuals are extremely important, that every life matters. They get excited over one smile. They are willing to feed one stomach, educate one mind, and treat one wound. They aren’t determined to revolutionize the world all at once; they’re satisfied with small changes. Over time, though, the small changes add up. Sometimes they even transform cities and nations, and yes, the world.”

-Beth Clark

"If the mindset of people in the world became one that was kinder, friendlier and more compassionate towards one another, peace and harmony would definitely result, and there would also be greater harmony and peace between humanity and the environment. This has to be our aspiration."

-Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche

"We talk about social service, service to the people, service to humanity, service to others who are far away, helping to bring peace to the world - but often we forget that it is the very people around us that we must live for first of all. If you cannot serve your wife or husband or child or parent - how are you going to serve society? If you cannot make your own child happy, how do you expect to be able to make

anyone else happy? If all our friends in the peace movement or of service communities of any kind do not love and help each other, whom can we love and help?"

-Thích Nhất Hạnh

"If we could read the secret history of our enemies,

we should find in each person’s life sorrow and suffering

enough to disarm all hostility."

-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"Awakened beings cannot behave in cruel, unkind and selfish ways simply because the causes for those kinds of actions no longer exist."

​-Michael Kewley

"That’s the big question, the one the world throws at you every morning. ‘Here you are, alive. Would you like to make a comment?’"

-Long Life: Essays and Other Writings, Mary Oliver