Peace would always be less compelling than war. Perhaps that was why there was so little of it in the world. (p. 160)

— Eknath Easwaran

The goal of meditation is awareness, not relaxation.

— Eknath Easwaran

The law of karma says that no matter what context I find myself in, it is neither my parents nor my science teacher nor the mailman, but I alone who have brought myself into this state because of my past actions. Instead of trapping me in a fatalistic snare, this gives me freedom. Because I alone have brought myself into my present condition, I myself, by working hard and striving earnestly, can reach the supreme state which is nirvana.

— Eknath Easwaran

The mind is powerful, but it needs something to hold on to so it doesn't wander.

— Eknath Easwaran

Those who indulge themselves in sense stimulation throughout their lives often end up exhausted, with an enfeebled will and little capacity to love others.

— Eknath Easwaran

To be secure everywhere is the mark of sophistication. To be unshakeable is the mark of courage. To be permanently in love with every person is the mark of masculinity or femininity. To forgive is the mark of strength. To govern our senses and passions is the mark of freedom.

— Eknath Easwaran

To love, we need to be sensitive to those around us, which is impossible if we are racing through life engrossed in all the things we need to do before sunset. In fact, I would go to the extent of saying that a person who is always late will find it difficult to love; he will be in too much of a hurry.

— Eknath Easwaran

Two forces pervade human life, the Rita says: the upward thrust of evolution and the downward pull of our evolutionary past.

— Eknath Easwaran

We can all avoid travel that is unnecessary we do not need to travel around the world when the source of all joy and all beauty is right within us.

— Eknath Easwaran

When Nureyev appeared in San Francisco not long ago there were quite a few ballet fans who flew all the way from New York to see him. The mystics would point out how fruitless it is to go to see important people when our first priority is to see ourselves. We think we know Tom, Dick and Harry, but we really know everyone, including ourselves, only on the surface level. If we could see our real Self coming down the street, we would wonder who this beautiful, radiant, magnificent creature could be. We would not be able to take our eyes off him.

— Eknath Easwaran