My first encounter with Buddhist dharma would be in my early 20s. Like most young men, I was not particularly happy.

I do think that good actors can do any part. It doesn’t mean that they are the best ones to do it.

Western Buddhists in many ways are much serious Buddhists than Tibetans are.

Maybe the Dalai Lama is the only person who is totally honest, and even with him, he’s skillful not to hurt anybody. He’s skillful.

When you work as an actor, you’ve got to feel safe even in what appears to be the simplest things.

In a way, one gets stability from being able to order the rational mind.

The Dalai Lama said that he thinks mother’s love is the best symbol for love and compassion, because it is totally disinterested.

Tibetan Buddhism had an enormous impact on me.

I’m voting for Gore because the other is unthinkable. Which most of us will probably do. I hope all of us. I’ve always liked Ralph Nader and would like to see a real third party, but the thought of George Bush as president is unthinkable.

In saving Tibet, you save the possibility that we are all brothers, sisters.

I’m not that tough; I’m not that smart. I need life telling me who I am, showing me my mind constantly. I wouldn’t see it in a cave.

I cry every chance I get.

I’m a 50 year-old guy and I’m not in shape like I was when I was 30.

Even in comedies, you’ve got to feel safe for things to just happen in a way that is natural and free, and recognizable as human.

My first encounter with Buddhist dharma would be in my early 20s. Like most young men, I was not particularly happy.

I don’t think that bravery is about skin. Bravery is about a willingness to show emotional need.

What we all have in common is an appreciation of kindness and compassion; all the religions have this. We all lean towards love.

There’s really one character for every actor. The voyage is to find that one character.

Meditation is such a more substantial reality than what we normally take to be reality.

When someone has a strong intuitive connection, Buddhism suggests that it’s because of karma, some past connection.

When His Holiness won the Nobel Peace Prize, there was a quantum leap. He is not seen as solely a Tibetan anymore; he belongs to the world.

If the work is going well and it’s something that has value with some meaning to it, it gives back a lot.

I’m less needy about needing to express myself through acting. I have many different lives outside of this that are extremely fulfilling.

I can’t say I have control over my emotions; I don’t know my mind. I’m lost like everyone else. I’m certainly not a leader.

Everyone responds to kindness.

Certainly there have been better actors than me who have had no careers. Why? I don’t know.

There is nothing real about film. Nothing. Even the light particles that project the film can’t be proven to exist. Nothing is there.

When I started acting, it was really the way for me to be able to communicate.

The secret of my success is my hairspray.

Billions of people don’t practice a religion at all.

I don’t know any of us who are in relationships that are totally honest – it doesn’t exist.

All of our energy should be in sacrifice and services. Suffering, at least.