DOC O’CONNOR
Office Manager, LaGrange, Ohio
“Long pilgrimages to Asia. I’m just back from five months in India and Nepal with a more balanced foundation for dealing with my own chaotic American culture.”

FATHER ALLEN BREAUX
Pastor, St. Rita Catholic Church, St. Martinsville, Louisiana
“Being free—being given permission to be oneself. In the tradition of being unrestricted—to freely question and to find the answer in the question.”

TRACI GOZA
Dancer, Houston, Texas
“Living a simple life. Being present to life as it is. Not that I even know what that is.”

SIDDHARTHA
Brahmin’s Son, India
“I can think. I can wait. I can fast. Oh yes, I can compose poetry.”

YANKI TSERING
Program Coordinator, NY, NY
“Having the flexibility and privilege of being open to everything happening around me. Buddhism encourages me to change constantly. Sometimes, as soon as people know I’m Buddhist they have a whole stereotype in their mind about me living an overly pure life. Instead, they should see that I’m like any other person but with a different world view.”

gosananda

MAHA GOSANANDA
Cambodian Monk
“Knowing how to eat. Why to eat and where to eat and what to eat. And with whom to eat. And for whom. Life is a process of eating. We try to eat other people but we do not let them eat us. And the Buddha cries when he sees this suffering.”

gyatso

TENZIN GYATSO
The Fourteenth Dalai Lama, Dharamsala, India
“For as long as space endures, and for as long as living beings remain, until then may I, too, abide to dispel the misery of the world.”

Courtesy of Allen Ginsberg.
Courtesy of Allen Ginsberg.

CAROL HAMILTON
Attorney, Los Angeles
“No matter what I’m doing whether legal work or human rights for Tibet or driving on the L.A. freeway—it means always trying to reset my motivation.”

MAITREYA
Buddha, Tushita Heaven
“Profound in wisdom, firm in will. Able to question the buddhas and receive and retain all they hear.”

LEX HIXON
Author, Riverdale, New York
“What does being human mean?”

Courtesy of Harry Langdon.
Courtesy of Harry Langdon.

ANUCHA WATCHARAPASORN
Senior, Tabor Academy, Massachusetts
“The Way is self-effort, free from prayer and superstition. Even the Buddha did not claim to be a god or a savior. He revealed his experiences to others, but we ourselves tread the path.”

NOPPANUNT UTAMAPHETHAI
Senior, Tabor Academy, Massachusetts
“Buddha said be moderate in everything you do. It works like a rope: Too much tension the rope will break—too little tension, the rope hangs too loosely.”

YASUO MINAGAWA
Picture Framer, NY, NY
“Feels like being in Buddha’s mind in a very personal, not a generalized way. A warm, open atmosphere but you know where you are and where the limit is. How could one be so free without knowing the limit?”

KEIZAN
Zen Master (1268-1325), Japan
“Transmission of light. First, awaken on your own. Then, see someone else.”

Courtesy of Julie Thayer.
Courtesy of Julie Thayer.

MAZUMI ROSHI
Zen Abbot, Los Angeles, CA
“Following the way—whatever the way is. The way is your very life itself. How do you live your life as the life of the Buddha?”

Courtesy of Morgan Alexander.
Courtesy of Morgan Alexander.

RICHARD BAKER ROSHI
Abbot, Crestone, Colorado
“A lot of fun.”

JOAN HALIFAX
Director Ojai Institute, Ojai, CA
“Being practical. Being harmless. ”

TENRYU STEVEN ALLEN
Abbot, Issan-Ji Temple, San Francisco, CA
“It doesn’t mean anything.”

EDGAR KEY
Writer, Davenport, Iowa
“I consider myself a Buddhist and make a daily commitment to the dharma. But right now it means being divided between Tibetan Buddhism and Zen daily practice. I’ve never been willing or comfortable enough to make a formal commitment to either path. I don’t know whether it’s even necessary.”

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