Illustration by Francesco Ciccolella

When you stop needing others to be different, they change. When you stop needing yourself to be better, you grow. This is the paradox of the spiritual path: We arrive by stopping, not by striving. Doing nothing requires trust that the Buddha is still alive in you and the willingness to be present, even for a few minutes. Doing so can change someone’s life.

From At Peace, Filled with Joy © 2026 by Cuong Lu. Reprinted in arrangement with Shambhala Publications, Boulder, CO. www.shambhala.com

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