Matthieu Ricard

fix outside limited illusory

“We try to fix the outside so much, but our control of the outer world is limited, temporary, and often, illusory.”

― Matthieu Ricard

meditation change brain

“Meditation is not just blissing out under a mango tree. It completely changes your brain and therefore changes what you are.”

― Matthieu Ricard

change emotion fleet

“There is a possibility for change because all emotions are fleeting.”

― Matthieu Ricard

meditation transform ourself world

“The ultimate reason for meditating is to transform ourselves in order to be better able to transform the world.”

― Matthieu Ricard

happiness inner fulfillment gratification desire outward

“Happiness is a state of inner fulfillment, not the gratification of inexhaustible desires for outward things.”

― Matthieu Ricard

demand result mind unsteadylazy

“Demanding immediate results is an aspect of unsteadiness of mind or laziness.”

― Matthieu Ricard

lazy thinking ability

“Another form of laziness is thinking: ‘That’s not for me; it’s beyond my abilities. I’d rather not get involved with it.’ In other words, you give up the race before you reach the starting line.”

― Matthieu Ricard

happiness happy life nothing

“According to the philosopher Andre Comte-Sponville: The wise man has nothing left to expect or to hope for. Because he is entirely happy, he needs nothing. Because he needs nothing, he is entirely happy.”

― Matthieu Ricard

altruistic benefit satisfy life

“Being altruistic not only helps us to benefit others, but it is also the most satisfying way to live.”

― Matthieu Ricard

bird cage accustomed fault change

“We are very much like birds that have lived too long in a cage to which we return even when we get the chance to fly away. We have grown so accustomed to our faults that we can barely imagine what life would be like without them. The prospect of change makes us dizzy.”

― Matthieu Ricard

voluntary simplicity joy altruistic

“Voluntary simplicity is at once joyous and altruistic. Joyous because it is not permanently plagued by the hunger for “more”; altruistic because it does not encourage the disproportionate concentration of resources in the hands of a few, resources which—were they to be spread evenly—would significantly improve the lives of those deprived of basic needs.”

― Matthieu Ricard

do commit life

“I think what everyone should be doing, before it's too late, is committing themselves to what they really want to do with their lives.”

― Matthieu Ricard