From the dictionary’s point of view, sadness has negative connotations. If you feel sad, you feel unfortunate or bad. Or you are sad because you don’t have enough money or you don’t have any security. But sadness is also inspiring. You feel sad and empty-hearted, but you also feel something positive, because sadness involves appreciation of others. That empty-heartedness is the characteristic of a broken-hearted warrior, a brave person, a truly courageous person. As we read in the newspapers and see on television, the world is deteriorating, one thing after the other, every hour, every minute. A fantastically large number of people need help. Your help doesn’t have to be a big deal. To begin with, just work with your friends and work with yourself at the same time. It is about time that we became responsible for this world. It will pay for itself.

From “The Kingdom, the Cocoon, the Great Eastern Sun,” from pages 9, 12, 13 in The Great Eastern Sun: The Wisdom of Shambhala. Published by Shambhala Publications