“Unruly beings are as unlimited as spaceThey cannot possibly all be overcome,But if I overcome thoughts of anger aloneThis will be equivalent to vanquishing all foes.Where would I possibly find enough leatherWith which to cover the surface of the earth?But (wearing) leather just on the soles of my shoesIs equivalent to covering the earth with it.Likewise it is not possible for meTo restrain the external course of things;But should I restrain this mind of mineWhat would be the need to restrain all else?”

“Where would I find enough leatherTo cover the entire surface of the earth?But with leather soles beneath my feet,It’s as if the whole world has been covered.”

“What need is there to say more?The childish work for their own benefit,The Buddhas work for the benefit of others.Just look at the difference between them.If I do not exchange my happiness, for the suffering of others, I shall not attain the state of Buddhahood.And even in Samsara I shall have no real joy. The source of all misery in the world lies in thinking of oneself;The source of all happiness lies in thinking of others.”

“Love is the great redeemer, the Franciscan had said. Through love, all things are possible. Gideon bit back the triumphant laughter rising in his chest. He’d beaten the monster. Just once, but if he’d restrained it once, he could do it again.Through love, all things are possible.”

“We who are like senseless children shrink from suffering, but love its causes. We hurt ourselves; our pain is self-inflicted! Why should others be the object of our anger?”

“All the happiness there is in this world comes from thinking about others, and all the suffering comes from preoccupation with yourself.”

“All the suffering there is in this world arises from wishing our self to be happy. All the happiness there is in this world arises from wishing others to be happy.”