As humans we have the exceptional abilities to learn and to choose. This book is filled with insight and encouragement: to be kind, to be ethical, to be forgiving, to be loving. A slight shift in perspective takes us from despair to hope; a slight alteration in outlook, and the world changes. We have the potential to grow beyond our greatest aspirations.

This gentle book provides the peace, solace and support for living joyfully in our current world. It reminds us that hope is never far; we can find it within ourselves. With each passage, we are invited to enter a life of joy, and to sometimes shift perspectives. With each passage, readers are given a vantage point to allow us to break free from our dead ends.

A collection from renowned Buddhist teacher, Zhen-Ru, these short passages and musings invoke the stillness needed for everyday contemplation. Available for the first time in English, each of these passages is offered with the goal of helping the reader access the compassion, understanding and gratitude that is needed to hold space for each other, and for the earth.

Selections in translation for over six years, the Amrita Translation Foundation of Buddhist monks and nuns, who hope to preserve the essence of Zhen-Ru’s teachings, conveying her insights to the everyday applications of readers.

Zhen-Ru's profile page

Amrita Translation Foundation's profile page

Kacy Lin's profile page

Zhen-Ru is a prolific writer, composer, humanitarian, and Buddhist teacher. She has dedicated her life to studying, practicing, and teaching Buddhism. Over 80,000 students study her teachings worldwide, including Buddhist monks, nuns, and laypeople. Her work shows how Buddhist insights can be used within every aspect of life, from family relationships and education, to technology, and environmental stewardship. Zhen-Ru has also initiated many charitable works, workingto benefit the welfare of humans, animals, as well as the environment. Her goal is to be compassionate and understanding towards all, including the Earth, and to inspire others to do the same.
Zhen-Ru was born into a family of educators. As a child, she began thinking deeply about existential questions. After extensive reading and research, she was determined to raise her consciousness by instilling the Buddha's teaching into her own life. Despite being top of the class in heryouth, she left the traditional education system and traveled extensively throughout Asia, studying and learning from great Tibetan spiritual teachers.
Based on Prince Edward Island, the Amrita Translation Foundation is a group committed to creating a happier, more peaceful world. By preserving and translating Zhen-Ru's work, Amrita aims to make this collection of Buddhist teachings more accessible.
To ensure the highest level of accuracy, this team of monastic translators has dedicated their lives to the study and practice of Buddhist teachings. They are educated and trained in the Five Great Treatisescurriculum, a rigorous Buddhist curriculum with roots tracing to the Tibetan and ancient Indian Nalanda traditions.
Kacy Lin is a translator who specializes in the translation of Buddhist works from Mandarin to English. She holds a Master's degree in Psycho-Spiritual studies from the University of Toronto, and has dedicated many years to the translation and practice of Buddhist teachings.
Kacy's deep understanding of both Buddhist philosophy and Western spirituality has enabled her to translate and render Zhen Ru's complex teachings with clarity and precision,making it accessible to a global audience, and fostering a greater cross-cultural understanding and a deeper appreciation for Buddhist spirituality.
In addition to her translation work, Kacy practices Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy in hospitals around the Toronto area, providing guidance and support to those who are undergoing difficult life transitions.