The Parallel Sayings

"A human being experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest - a kind of optical illusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of understanding and compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty." - Albert Einstein

"True happiness comes not from a limited concern for one's own well-being, or that of those one feels close to, but from developing love and compassion for all sentient beings." - The Dalai Lama

(Excerpt from a little book by Thomas McFarlane called "Einstein and Buddha: The Parallel Sayings" that juxtaposes quotations from Eastern contemplatives and Western scientists.)

Sacred Balance: Interdependence

"Human beings depend on Earth and its life-forms for every aspect of their survival and life. It is impossible to draw lines that delineate separate categories of air, water, soil and life. You and I don't end at our fingertips or skin - we are connected through air, water and soil; we are animated by the same energy from the same source in the sky above. We are quite literally air, water, soil, energy ad other living creatures."

- DAVID SUZUKI, The Sacred Balance