The Heart of the Revolution

Compassion isn't a soft and easy practice, though everyday connotations of the word might suggest that. Anger and aversion are easy. Compassion, on the other hand, is hard core, the antidote to suffering. (49)

Forgiveness-- the journey and practice of intentionally letting go of the stuff of the past that has caused us emotional suffering and feelings of anger and resentment-- begins with the understanding that all harm caused comes out of suffering and ignorance. There is no such thing as wise abuse or enlightened betrayal. This is the core truth of harm: it always comes from confusion and suffering. (62)

We must become the loving forces of a spiritual revolutionary front. It may take only a handful of committed assassins to inspire a full-fledged war against ignorance. (143)

Last night, I finished reading Noah Levine's The Heart of the Revolution: The Buddha's Radical Teachings on Forgiveness, Compassion, and Kindness. Like his earlier books, this is good stuff.