When spiritual beliefs are used to build up walls between people, this is a total misunderstanding of the purpose of spirituality. Spirituality should mean coming closer to yourself. When this happens, you become closer to others, too. Spirituality and religion should dismantle discrimination and labels, not shore them up. It should break, not create, barriers between people.
17th Karmapa
from the book The Heart Is Noble: Changing the World from the Inside Out
translated by Ngodup Tsering Burkhar & Damchö Diana Finnegan
Read a random quote or see all quotes by the 17th Karmapa.
Further quotes from the book The Heart Is Noble:
- We need space to grow and learn from our own mistakes
- Distinguishing between wants and needs
- Boxing Love with Our Expectations
- Social action
- Facing Impermanence Wisely
- Greed is a recipe for dissatisfaction
- Balanced Life
- The intention to work for others
- True Wealth
- The kindness we receive from others
- Life in Balance
- Expanding our sense of ourselves
- Nothing is intrinsically bad
- The Wealth of Contentment
- Reality is your teacher
- Protective Inner Wisdom
- Authentic love toward others
- Healthy relationships
- There are no fixed starting points