The goal of attention, or shamatha, practice is to become aware of awareness. Awareness is the basis, or what you might call the “support,” of the mind. It is steady and unchanging, like the pole to which the flag of ordinary consciousness is attached. When we recognize and become grounded in awareness, the “wind” of emotion may still blow.

But instead of being carried away by the wind, we turn our attention inward, watching the shifts and changes with the intention of becoming familiar with that aspect of consciousness that recognizes Oh, this is what I’m feeling, this is what I’m thinking. As we do so, a bit of space opens up within us. With practice, that space—which is the mind’s natural clarity—begins to expand and settle.

by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche

八正道是佛弟子修行的八项内容:

1) 正见 
正确的见解，亦即坚持佛教四谛的真理；

2) 正思维
又称正志，即根据四谛的真理进行思维、分别；

3) 正语
即说话要符合佛陀的教导，不说妄语、绮语、恶口、两舌等违背佛陀教导的话；

4) 正业
正确的行为。一切行为都要符合佛陀的教导，不作杀生、偷盗、邪淫等恶行；

5) 正命
过符合佛陀教导的正当生活；

6) 正精进
又称正方便，即毫不懈怠地修行佛法，以达到涅盘的理想境地；

7) 正念
念念不忘四谛真理；

8) 正定
专心致志地修习佛教禅定，于内心静观四谛真理，以进入清净无漏的境界。

Remember you don't meditate to get anything, but to get rid of things. We do it, not with desire, but with letting go. If you want anything, you won't find it.

by Ajahn Chah

1) 攝律儀戒

遵守佛戒，諸惡不作，無惡不除，為止惡門。

2) 攝善法戒
奉行一切善法，無善不行，為善生門。

3) 攝眾生戒
廣修一切善法，利益眾生，無一眾生不加利濟，為利生門。

It's often quite helpful when recognizing the problem as due to karma, to transform that problem, saying, "Okay. This is the challenge."

Instead of rejecting the problem, say, "This situation is a challenge for me to grow." Our problems are challenges for us to grow, aren't they? They really are. Often, if we look back over our life, we see the times when we've grown the most are those times we've had lots of problems. Can you look back at times when you've had problems, really painful times in your life, and look at yourself now, seeing how you are as a result of having had that experience?

And sure, it was painful. It was awful. But it's over now. It doesn't exist anymore. We lived through it. And, we actually grew in some ways. Because, in particular, when things are really a challenge, when everything seems to be falling apart around us, then, that's an excellent opportunity to find our own inner resources, and the support of our community, or within our Dharma friends in the broader society.

So, when we have problems, there really is a lot of opportunities for growth, if we take that opportunity, if we avoid retreating into our old patterns, like getting angry, or feeling sorry for ourselves.

by Thubten Chodron