“There is a saying in Tibetan, ‘tragedy should be utilized as a source of strength.’ No matter what sort of difficulties, how painful experience is, if we lose our hope, that’s our real disaster.” The Dalai Lama

“There is the mud, and there is the lotus that grows out of the mud. We need the mud in order to make the lotus.” Thich Nhat Hanh

“Sweetly the earth sings /
From the silted spring /
Through it, flourishing /
A lotus”

Julie Grossman, “Lotus”