Buddhists believe that the present Dalai Lama, the 14th, is a reincarnation of the previous Dalai Lama, the 13th and that this process of reincarnation goes right back to the god Avalokitesvara.
The Dalai Lama is one of the most respected and revered religious leaders in the world. Born in 1935, as Llamo Thondup, he was identified at the age of 2 as the spiritual successor to the 13th Dalai Lama. Buddhists see him as an enlightened being that chooses to postpone his mortality for the benefit of all the people of the world.
Buddhism is one of the oldest religions still practiced in the world, having begun with the birth of Buddha Siddhartha Gautama in the 6th century BCE.
Buddhist teachings are seen only as guides, not as dogma. The individual is encouraged to explore these teachings and compare them to their own experiences. It is that process of exploration that is at the heart of Buddhism. Life, for a Buddhist, is a continuing journey, with an individual’s spirit passing on through many individuals regardless of death intervening.
“We can live without religion and meditation, but we cannot survive without human affection.” ― Dalai Lama
As a result of the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1950, the Dalai Lama now lives in exile in India. However, he continues as the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists and has devoted his life as a force for good in the world.
Over the years, he has spoken at many hundreds of events, including conferences and lectures. The Dalai Lama frequently meets both political and religious leaders from around the world as well as other influential individuals. At every opportunity, he promotes the benefits of the Buddhist approach to life, advocating compassion and the application of wisdom to the world’s problems. In recent years, he has also become interested in the threats faced by the environment and advocates that humanity needs to live alongside nature.
His philosophy is a simple one, based on the individual’s search for happiness and inner peace. He urges everyone to be kind, compassionate, and to do no harm to others. He also says that friends should be valued, or you will become lonely. The Dalai Lama urges negotiation rather than fighting, and that technology has to be our servant, not our master. One of the most important lessons, he says, is to learn from your failures.
He has written many books, and most of his keynote speeches have been published. Wherever he goes, and whoever he meets, he invariably uses the opportunity to promote peace, interfaith respect, and understanding of the world’s problems.
During his long life, many quotes have been attributed to the Dalai Lama. Some of them are reproduced here. They vary from expressions of love to calls for decisive action on the part of the individual. Each is an inspiration for those seeking solace, comfort, or wisdom.
Apply the lessons from them to your own life, and you will surely find that they become the major influences in your life. Then, in turn, they will assist you in achieving genuine happiness.
25 Famous Dalai Lama Quotes:
1. I defeat my enemies when I make them my friends.
2. Do not let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace.
3. The more you are motivated by love, the more fearless and free your action will be.
4. Our visit to this planet is short, so we should use our time meaningfully, which we can do by helping others wherever possible.
5. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.
6. Every day, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it. I am going to use all my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others; to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. I am going to have kind thoughts towards others, I am not going to get angry or think badly about others. I am going to benefit others as much as I can.
7. I try to treat whoever I meet as an old friend. This gives me a genuine feeling of happiness. It is the practice of compassion
8. This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.
9. As you breathe in, cherish yourself. As you breathe out, cherish all beings.
10. A disciplined mind leads to happiness, and an undisciplined mind leads to suffering.
11. The ultimate source of happiness is not money and power, but warmheartedness.
12. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
13. If you have fear of some pain or suffering, you should examine whether there is anything you can do about it. If you can, there is no need to worry about it; if you cannot do anything, then there is also no need to worry.
14. I have always had this view about the modern education system: we pay attention to brain development, but the development of warmheartedness we take for granted.
15. Even more important than the warmth and affection we receive, is the warmth and affection we give.
16. If we are to create a more peaceful world, made up of peaceful individuals, we need a greater concern for others — altruism. That gives inner strength, self-confidence.
17. The remedy is to look deeper and recognize that we human beings are physically, mentally and emotionally the same.
18. As individuals we can influence our own families. Our families can influence our communities and our communities can influence our nations.
19. To be kind, honest and have positive thoughts; to forgive those who harm us and treat everyone as a friend; to help those who are suffering and never to consider ourselves superior to anyone else: even if this advice seems rather simplistic, make the effort of seeing whether by following it you can find greater happiness.
20. It is not enough to be compassionate, we must act.
21. I have found that the greatest degree of inner tranquility comes from the development of love and compassion. The more we care for the happiness of others, the greater is our own sense of well-being. Cultivating a close, warmhearted feeling for others automatically puts the mind at ease. It is the ultimate source of success in life.
22. To remain indifferent to the challenges we face is indefensible. If the goal is noble, whether or not it is realized within our lifetime is largely irrelevant. What we must do therefore is to strive and persevere and never give up.
21. For our life to be of value, I think we must develop basic good human qualities — warmth, kindness, compassion. Then our life becomes meaningful and more peaceful — happier.
22. If a problem can be solved it will be. If it can not be solved there is no use worrying about it.
23. Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.
24. If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.
25. Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.
85 Dalai Lama’s Life Changing Quotes:
1. “Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.” – Dalai Lama
2. “Silence is sometimes the best answer” ― Dalai Lama
3. “The true hero is one who conquers his own anger and hatred.” – Dalai Lama
4. “In our struggle for freedom, truth is the only weapon we possess.” – Dalai Lama
5. “Know the rules well, so you can break them effectively.” ― Dalai Lama
6. “Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.” ― Dalai Lama
7. “Choose to be optimistic, it feels better.” ― Dalai Lama
8. “To remain indifferent to the challenges we face is indefensible. If the goal is noble, whether or not it is realized within our lifetime is largely irrelevant. What we must do therefore is to strive and persevere and never give up.” – Dalai Lama
9. “Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.” ― Dalai Lama
10. “If a problem is fixable, if a situation is such that you can do something about it, then there is no need to worry. If it’s not fixable, then there is no help in worrying. There is no benefit in worrying whatsoever.” ― Dalai Lama
11. “The ultimate source of happiness is not money and power, but warm-heartedness” – Dalai Lama
12. “This is my simple religion. No need for temples. No need for complicated philosophy. Your own mind, your own heart is the temple. Your philosophy is simple kindness.” ― Dalai Lama
13. “Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.” ― Dalai Lama
14. “It is very rare or almost impossible that an event can be negative from all points of view.” – Dalai Lama
15. “Give the ones you love wings to fly, roots to come back and reasons to stay.” – Dalai Lama
16. “An eye for an eye….we are all blind” – Dalai Lama
17. “A spoon cannot taste of the food it carries. Likewise, a foolish man cannot understand the wise man´s wisdom even if he associates with a sage.” – Dalai Lama
18. “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.” ― Dalai Lama
19. “Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.” ― Dalai Lama
20. “Every day, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it. I am going to use all my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others; to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. I am going to have kind thoughts towards others, I am not going to get angry or think badly about others. I am going to benefit others as much as I can.” ― Dalai Lama
21. “The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation.” – The Dalai Lama
22. “Time passes unhindered. When we make mistakes, we cannot turn the clock back and try again. All we can do is use the present well.” – Dalai Lama
23. “An open heart is an open mind.” – Dalai Lama
24. “We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves” – Dalai Lama
25. “The goal is not to be better than the other man, but your previous self.” – Dalai Lama
I believe that the very purpose of life is to be happy. From the very core of our being, we desire contentment. In my own limited experience I have found that the more we care for the happiness of others, the greater is our own sense of well-being. Cultivating a close, warmhearted feeling for others automatically puts the mind at ease. It helps remove whatever fears or insecurities we may have and gives us the strength to cope with any obstacles we encounter. It is the principal source of success in life. Since we are not solely material creatures, it is a mistake to place all our hopes for happiness on external development alone. The key is to develop inner peace.
26. “People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they’re not on your road doesn’t mean they’ve gotten lost.” ― Dalai Lama
27. “The whole purpose of religion is to facilitate love and compassion, patience, tolerance, humility, and forgiveness.” ― Dalai Lama
28. “If you can cultivate the right attitude, your enemies are your best spiritual teachers because their presence provides you with the opportunity to enhance and develop tolerance, patience and understanding.” ― Dalai Lama
29. “One great question underlies our experience, whether we think about it or not: what is the purpose of life? . . . From the moment of birth every human being wants happiness and does not want suffering. Neither social conditioning nor education nor ideology affects this. From the very core of our being, we simply desire contentment. . . Therefore, it is important to discover what will bring about the greatest degree of happiness.” – Dalai Lama
30. “Only the development of compassion and understanding for others can bring us the tranquility and happiness we all seek.” ― Dalai Lama
31. “Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.” ― Dalai Lama
32. “Look at children. Of course they may quarrel, but generally speaking they do not harbor ill feelings as much or as long as adults do. Most adults have the advantage of education over children, but what is the use of an education if they show a big smile while hiding negative feelings deep inside? Children don’t usually act in such a manner. If they feel angry with someone, they express it, and then it is finished. They can still play with that person the following day.” ― Dalai Lama
33. “The ultimate authority must always rest with the individual’s own reason and critical analysis.” – Dalai Lama
34. “Given the scale of life in the cosmos, one human life is no more than a tiny blip. Each one of us is a just visitor to this planet, a guest, who will only stay for a limited time. What greater folly could there be than to spend this short time alone, unhappy or in conflict with our companions? Far better, surely, to use our short time here in living a meaningful life, enriched by our sense of connection with others and being of service to them.” – Dalai Lama XIV
35. “Share your knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality.” – Dalai Lama
36. “When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.” ― Dalai Lama
37. “Let us try to recognize the precious nature of each day.” – Dalai Lama
38. “World peace must develop from inner peace. Peace is not just mere absence of violence. Peace is, I think, the manifestation of human compassion.” ― Dalai Lama
39. “All suffering is caused by ignorance. People inflict pain on others in the selfish pursuit of their own happiness or satisfaction” ― Dalai Lama
40. “Compassion is not religious business, it is human business, it is not luxury, it is essential for our own peace and mental stability, it is essential for human survival.” – Dalai Lama
41. “The purpose of all the major religious traditions is not to construct big temples on the outside, but to create temples of goodness and compassion inside, in our hearts.” ― Dalai Lama
42. “One problem with our current society is that we have an attitude towards education as if it is there to simply make you more clever, make you more ingenious… Even though our society does not emphasize this, the most important use of knowledge and education is to help us understand the importance of engaging in more wholesome actions and bringing about discipline within our minds. The proper utilization of our intelligence and knowledge is to effect changes from within to develop a good heart.” – Dalai Lama
43. “The creatures that inhabit this earth-be they human beings or animals-are here to contribute, each in its own particular way, to the beauty and prosperity of the world.” – Dalai Lama
44. I believe that the very purpose of our life is to seek happiness. That is clear. Whether one believes in religion or not, whether one believes in this religion or that religion, we all are seeking something better in life. So, I think, the very motion of our life is towards happiness
45. Self-discipline, although difficult, and not always easy while combating negative emotions, should be a defensive measure. At least we will be able to prevent the advent of negative conduct dominated by negative emotion. That is ‘shila’, or moral ethics. Once we develop this by familiarizing ourselves with it, along with mindfulness and conscientiousness, eventually that pattern and way of life will become a part of our own life.
46. If one’s life is simple, contentment has to come. Simplicity is extremely important for happiness. Having few desires, feeling satisfied with what you have, is very vital satisfaction with just enough food, clothing, and shelter to protect yourself from the elements. And finally, there is an intense delight in abandoning faulty states of mind and in cultivating helpful ones in meditation.
47. From the viewpoint of absolute truth, what we feel and experience in our ordinary daily life is all delusion. Of all the various delusions, the sense of discrimination between oneself and others is the worst form, as it creates nothing but unpleasant
48. “Human potential is the same for all. Your feeling, “I am of no value”, is wrong. Absolutely wrong. You are deceiving yourself. We all have the power of thought – so what are you lacking? If you have willpower, then you can change anything. It is usually said that you are your own master.” ― Dalai Lama
49. “Hard times build determination and inner strength. Through them we can also come to appreciate the uselessness of anger. Instead of getting angry nurture a deep caring and respect for troublemakers because by creating such trying circumstances they provide us with invaluable opportunities to practice tolerance and patience.” ― Dalai Lama
50. “I will not propose to you that my way is best. The decision is up to you. If you find some point which may be suitable to you, then you can carry out experiments for yourself. If you find that it is of no use, then you can discard it.” – Dalai Lama
60. “In the practice of tolerance, one’s enemy is the best teacher.” ― Dalai Lama
61. “Because we all share this planet earth, we have to learn to live in harmony and peace with each other and with nature. This is not just a dream, but a necessity.” ― Dalai Lama
62. “Anger or hatred is like a fisherman’s hook. It is very important for us to ensure that we are not caught by it.” – Dalai Lama
63. “Irrespective of whether we are believers or agnostics, whether we believe in God or karma, moral ethics is a code which everyone is able to pursue.” ― Dalai Lama
64. “Happiness doesn’t always come from a pursuit. Sometimes it comes when we least expect it.” – Dalai Lama
65. “When we are motivated by compassion and wisdom, the results of our actions benefit everyone, not just our individual selves or some immediate convenience. When we are able to recognize and forgive ignorant actions of the past, we gain strength to constructively solve the problems of the present.” ― Dalai Lama
66. “I believe the very purpose of our life is to seek happiness. Whether one believes in religion or not, whether one believes in that religion or this religion, we are all seeking something better in life. So, I think, the very motion of our life is towards happiness. – Dalai Lama
67. “Compassion is the radicalism of our time.” ― Dalai Lama
68. “If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun.” ― Dalai Lama
69. “Peace does not mean an absence of conflicts; differences will always be there. Peace means solving these differences through peaceful means; through dialogue, education, knowledge; and through humane ways.” ― Dalai Lama
70. “We need to learn how to want what we have NOT to have what we want in order to get steady and stable Happiness” – Dalai Lama
71. “There is only one important point you must keep in your mind and let it be your guide. No matter what people call you, you are just who you are. Keep to this truth. You must ask yourself how is it you want to live your life. We live and we die, this is the truth that we can only face alone. No one can help us, not even the Buddha. So consider carefully, what prevents you from living the way you want to live your life?” ― Dalai Lama
72. “It is under the greatest adversity that there exists the greatest potential for doing good, both for oneself and others.” ― Dalai Lama
73. “I defeat my enemies when I make them my friends.” ― Dalai Lama
74. “Our ancient experience confirms at every point that everything is linked together, everything is inseparable.” ― Dalai Lama
75. “What surprises me most is “Man”, because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he doesn’t enjoy the present; The result being he doesn’t live in the present or the future; He lives as if he’s never going to die, and then he dies having never really lived.” – Dalai Lama
76. “Love and Compassion are the true religions to me. But to develop this, we do not need to believe in any religion.” ― Dalai Lama
77. “Someone else’s action should not determine your response.” – Dalai Lama
78. “When we meet real tragedy in life, we can react in two ways–either by losing hope and falling into self-destructive habits, or by using the challenge to find our inner strength.” ― Dalai Lama
79. “Cultivating a close, warmhearted feeling for others automatically puts the mind at ease. It helps remove whatever fears or insecurities we may have and gives us the strength to cope with any obstacles we encounter. It is the principal source of success in life. Since we are not solely material creatures, it is a mistake to place all our hopes for happiness on external development alone. The key is to develop inner peace.” – Dalai Lama
80. “I believe compassion to be one of the few things we can practice that will bring immediate and long-term happiness to our lives. I’m not talking about the short-term gratification of pleasures like sex, drugs or gambling (though I’m not knocking them), but something that will bring true and lasting happiness. The kind that sticks.” ― Dalai Lama
81. “My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.” ― Dalai Lama
82. “As people alive today, we must consider future generations: a clean environment is a human right like any other. It is therefore part of our responsibility toward others to ensure that the world we pass on is as healthy, if not healthier, than we found it.” – Dalai Lama
83. “We begin from the recognition that all beings cherish happiness and do not want suffering. It then becomes both morally wrong and pragmatically unwise to pursue only one’s own happiness oblivious to the feelings and aspirations of all others who surround us as members of the same human family. The wiser course is to think of others when pursuing our own happiness.” – Dalai Lama
84. “The topic of compassion is not at all religious business; it is important to know it is human business, it is a question of human survival.” – Dalai Lama
85. “Whether one is rich or poor, educated or illiterate, religious or non-believing, man or woman, black, white, or brown, we are all the same. Physically, emotionally, and mentally, we are all equal. We all share basic needs for food, shelter, safety, and love. We all aspire to happiness and we all shun suffering. Each of us has hopes, worries, fears, and dreams. Each of us wants the best for our family and loved ones. We all experience pain when we suffer loss and joy when we achieve what we seek. On this fundamental level, religion, ethnicity, culture, and language make no difference.” – Dalai Lama
14 Dalai Lama Quotes On Death And Suffering:
1. The more time you spend thinking about yourself, the more suffering you will experience.
All suffering is caused by ignorance. People inflict pain on others in the selfish pursuit of their own happiness or satisfaction.
2. When we meet real tragedy in life, we can react in two ways – either by losing hope and falling into self-destructive habits, or by using the challenge to find our inner strength. Thanks to the teachings of Buddha, I have been able to take this second way.
3. In our concern for others, we worry less about ourselves. When we worry less about ourselves an experience of our own suffering is less intense.
4. Virtually all of us have benefited from our mother’s affection at the start of our lives. When someone is on their deathbed, if he or she is surrounded by loved ones they can pass away peacefully. From birth to death we all need affection.
5. We human beings are all the same in wanting to be happy and not wanting to suffer and yet many of the problems we face are of our own making.
6. We seek happiness in external things without realizing that they don’t help when we have problems within. We need to focus instead on the joy that comes with peace of mind that allows us to remain happy whatever happens.
7. Every single being, even those who are hostile to us, is just as afraid of suffering as we are, and seeks happiness in the same way we do. Every person has the same right as we do to be happy and not to suffer. So let’s take care of others wholeheartedly, of both our friends and our enemies. This is the basis for true compassion.
8. If a person’s basic state of mind is serene and calm, then it is possible for this inner peace to overwhelm a painful physical experience. On the other hand, if someone is suffering from depression, anxiety, or any form of emotional distress, then even if he or she happens to be enjoying physical comforts, he will not really be able to experience the happiness that these could bring.
9. A truly compassionate attitude toward others does not change even if they behave negatively or hurt you.
10. One begins by identifying those factors which lead to happiness and those factors which lead to suffering. Having done this, one then sets about gradually eliminating those factors which lead to suffering and cultivating those which lead to happiness. That is the way.
11. It is important not to allow ourselves to be put off by the magnitude of others’ suffering. The misery of millions is not a cause for pity. Rather it is a cause for compassion.
12. Although you may not always be able to avoid difficult situations, you can modify the extent to which you can suffer by how you choose to respond to the situation.
13. Physical comforts cannot subdue mental suffering, and if we look closely, we can see that those who have many possessions are not necessarily happy. In fact, being wealthy often brings even more anxiety.
14. When someone who has lived a kind life dies, people miss them and say so. But when an angry, greedy, ruthless person dies, there’s a sense of relief. So, I try to practice warmheartedness wherever I go.
15. Death is a part of all our lives. Whether we like it or not, it is bound to happen. Instead of avoiding thinking about it, it is better to understand its meaning. We all have the same body, the same human flesh, and therefore we will all die. There is a big difference, of course, between natural death and accidental death, but basically death will come sooner or later. If from the beginning your attitude is ‘Yes, death is part of our lives,’ then it may be easier to face.
36 Dalai Lama Quotes On Happiness And Gratitude:
1. Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.
2. As human beings we all want to be happy and free from misery we have learned that the key to happiness is inner peace. The greatest obstacles to inner peace are disturbing emotions such as anger, attachment, fear and suspicion, while love and compassion and a sense of universal responsibility are the sources of peace and happiness.
3. Only the development of compassion and understanding for others can bring us the tranquility and happiness we all seek.
4. To be kind, honest and have positive thoughts; to forgive those who harm us and treat everyone as a friend; to help those who are suffering and never to consider ourselves superior to anyone else: even if this advice seems rather simplistic, make the effort of seeing whether by following it you can find greater happiness.
5. Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.
6. When life becomes too complicated and we feel overwhelmed, it’s often useful just to stand back and remind ourselves of our overall purpose, our overall goal. When faced with a feeling of stagnation and confusion, it may be helpful to take an hour, an afternoon, or even several days to simply reflect on what it is that will truly bring us happiness, and then reset our priorities on the basis of that. This can put our life back in proper context, allow a fresh perspective, and enable us to see which direction to take.
7. If I am only happy for myself, many fewer chances for happiness. If I am happy when good things happen to other people, billions more chances to be happy!
8. When you practice gratefulness, there is a sense of respect toward others.
9. Happiness doesn’t always come from a pursuit. Sometimes it comes when we least expect it.
10. “Happiness” means mainly a sense of deep satisfaction. The object of life or our goal, then, is satisfaction.
11. One great question underlies our experience, whether we think about it or not: what is the purpose of life?… From the moment of birth every human being wants happiness and does not want suffering. Neither social conditioning nor education nor ideology affects this. From the very core of our being, we simply desire contentment… Therefore, it is important to discover what will bring about the greatest degree of happiness.
12. People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they’re not on your road doesn’t mean they’ve gotten lost.
13. It is very important to generate a good attitude, a good heart, as much as possible. From this, happiness in both the short term and the long term for both yourself and others will come.
14. Neither a space station nor an enlightened mind can be realized in a day.
15. We need to ask ourselves how to find happiness — it’s not in money and power.
16. We need to learn to want what we have, not to have what we want, in order to get stable and steady happiness.
17. I have found that the greatest degree of inner tranquility comes from the development of love and compassion. The more we care for the happiness of others, the greater is our own sense of well-being. Cultivating a close, warmhearted feeling for others automatically puts the mind at ease. It is the ultimate source of success in life.
18. Ethics are not a collection of commandments and prohibitions to abide by, but a natural inner offering that can bring happiness and satisfaction to ourselves and others.
19. When you are discontent, you always want more, more, more. Your desire can never be satisfied. But when you practice contentment, you can say to yourself, ‘Oh yes – I already have everything that I really need’.
20. The basic thing is that everyone wants happiness, no one wants suffering. And happiness mainly comes from our own attitude, rather than from external factors. If your own mental attitude is correct, even if you remain in a hostile atmosphere, you feel happy.
21. True happiness comes from having a sense of inner peace and contentment, which in turn must be achieved by cultivating altruism, love and compassion, and by eliminating anger, selfishness and greed.
22. The wiser course is to think of others when pursuing our own happiness.
23. We seek happiness in external things without realizing that they don’t help when we have problems within. We need to focus instead on the joy that comes with peace of mind that allows us to remain happy whatever happens.
24. A sense of contentment is crucial to being happy. Physical health, material wealth and friends contribute to this, but contentment governs our relations with them all.
25. A good motivation and honesty bring self-confidence, which attracts the trust and respect of others. Therefore the real source of blessings is in our own mind.
26. Since we are not solely material creatures, it is a mistake to place all our hopes for happiness on external development alone. The key is to develop inner peace.
27. Foolish, selfish people are always thinking of themselves and the result is always negative. Wise persons think of others, helping them as much as they can, and the result is happiness.
28. Whether our action is wholesome or unwholesome depends on whether that action or deed arises from a disciplined or undisciplined state of mind. It is felt that a disciplined mind leads to happiness and an undisciplined mind leads to suffering, and in fact it is said that bringing about discipline within one’s mind is the essence of the Buddha’s teaching.
29. Part 1. If we think only of ourselves, forget about other people, then our minds occupy very small area. Inside that small area, even tiny problem appears very big.
30. Part 2. The moment you develop a sense of concern for others, you realize that, just like ourselves, they also want happiness; they also want satisfaction.
31. Part 3. When you have this sense of concern, your mind automatically widens. At this point, your own problems, even big problems, will not be so significant. The result? Big increase in peace of mind.
32. Part 4. So, if you think only of yourself, only your own happiness, the result is actually less happiness. You get more anxiety, more fear.
33. When we feel love and kindness towards others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us also to develop inner happiness and peace.
34. More compassionate mind, more sense of concern for other’s well-being, is source of happiness.
35. A heart full of love and compassion is the main source of inner strength, willpower, happiness, and mental tranquility.
36. If love is defined as a wish that others be happy and compassion as the wish that they be free from suffering, and you cultivate love and compassion within yourself, it will ensure happiness, good health and peace of mind.
12 Dalai Lama Quotes On Attitude:
1. For many people, the only tangible value is money. And of course money has its place, but the value of cultivating a compassionate attitude is much more effective. When we only pay attention to material values, there’s little room for concern for others, or for mutual regard.
2. Death is a part of all our lives. Whether we like it or not, it is bound to happen. Instead of avoiding thinking about it, it is better to understand its meaning. We all have the same body, the same human flesh, and therefore we will all die. There is a big difference, of course, between natural death and accidental death, but basically death will come sooner or later. If from the beginning your attitude is ‘Yes, death is part of our lives,’ then it may be easier to face.
3. If you can cultivate the right attitude, your enemies are your best spiritual teachers because their presence provides you with the opportunity to enhance and develop tolerance, patience and understanding.
4. A wider of more altruistic attitude is very relevant in today’s world. If we look at the situation from various angles, such as the complexity and inter-connectedness of the nature of modern existence, then we will gradually notice a change in our outlook, so that when we say ‘others’ and when we think of others, we will no longer dismiss them as something that is irrelevant to us. We will no longer feel indifferent.
5. Generosity is the most natural outward expression of an inner attitude of compassion and loving-kindness.
6. A person’s underlying outlook and motivation can certainly affect how he or she responds to life’s adversities and dangers. An attitude of kindness and compassion brings a sense of self-confidence, an inner strength that reduces fear. In fact, an individual’s response to danger and ability to deal with fear can often depend more on their outlook and personal characteristics than on the nature of the situation itself.
7. It is very important to generate a good attitude, a good heart, as much as possible. From this, happiness in both the short term and the long term for both yourself and others will come.
8. The basic thing is that everyone wants happiness, no one wants suffering. And happiness mainly comes from our own attitude, rather than from external factors. If your own mental attitude is correct, even if you remain in a hostile atmosphere, you feel happy.
9. Too much self-centered attitude brings isolation. Result: loneliness, fear, anger. The extreme self-centered attitude is the source of suffering.
10. A truly compassionate attitude toward others does not change even if they behave negatively or hurt you.
11. One problem with our current society is that we have an attitude towards education as if it is there to simply make you more clever, make you more ingenious… Even though our society does not emphasize this, the most important use of knowledge and education is to help us understand the importance of engaging in more wholesome actions and bringing about discipline within our minds. The proper utilization of our intelligence and knowledge is to effect changes from within to develop a good heart.
12. Ultimately we have to change attitudes, not by law but by education.
25 Dalai Lama Quotes On Mankind and Humanity:
1. I pray for all of us, oppressor and friend, that together we succeed in building a better world through human understanding and love, and that in doing so we may reduce the pain and suffering of all sentient beings.
2. We must recognize that the suffering of one person or one nation is the suffering of humanity.
3. Ultimately, humanity is one and this small planet is our only home. If we are to protect this home of ours, each of us needs to experience a vivid sense of universal altruism
4. Individual happiness can contribute in a profound and effective way to the overall improvement of our entire human community.
5. Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.
6. With realization of one’s own potential and self-confidence in one’s ability, one can build a better world.
7. A good motivation is what is needed: compassion without dogmatism, without complicated philosophy; just understanding that others are human brothers and sisters and respecting their human rights and dignities. That we humans can help each other is one of our unique human capacities.
8. Scientists have a special responsibility, a moral responsibility, in ensuring that science serves the interests of humanity in the best possible way.
9. I believe that to meet the challenges of our times, human beings will have to develop a greater sense of universal responsibility. Each of us must learn to work not just for oneself, one’s own family or nation, but for the benefit of all humankind. Universal responsibility is the key to human survival. It is the best foundation for world peace.
10. I always believe the rule by king or official leader is outdated. Now we must catch up with the modern world.
11. Appreciation of humanity, compassion and love are key points. If we develop a good heart, whether our field is science, agriculture or politics, since motivation is so crucial, they’ll all improve.
12. We all want to live a happy life, so we have to learn to live together in trust and mutual respect. We do have differences of race, nationality, religious faith and so on, but these differences are secondary in comparison to our equality in being human.
13. Human beings by nature want happiness and do not want suffering. With that feeling everyone tries to achieve happiness and tries to get rid of suffering, and everyone has the basic right to do this. In this way, all here are the same, whether rich or poor, educated or uneducated, Easterner or Westerner, believer or non-believer, and within believers whether Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and so on. Basically, from the viewpoint of real human value we are all the same.
14. The creatures that inhabit this earth – be they human beings or animals – are here to contribute, each in its own particular way, to the beauty and prosperity of the world.
15. Because of lack of moral principle, human life becomes worthless. Moral principle, truthfulness, is a key factor. If we lose that, then there is no future.
16. I think technology really increased human ability. But technology cannot produce compassion.
17. I don’t think of myself just as a Tibetan or a Buddhist, but as a human being. We have to think of the whole of humanity. Being human is the common ground in our efforts to create a better world. Remember, we all survive in dependence on others.
18. If we were really to see one another as brothers and sisters, there would be no basis for division, cheating and exploitation among us. Therefore it’s important to promote the idea of the oneness of humanity, that in being human we are all the same.
19. I am one of the 7 billion human beings alive today. We each have a responsibility to think about humanity and the good of the world because it affects our own future. We weren’t born on this planet at this time to create problems but to bring about some benefit.
20. We can achieve peace of mind if we tackle our destructive emotions, so the goal of making the 21st century an era of peace and compassion is feasible. It will involve finding solutions to problems in dialogue, not the use of force.
21. The real way we’re going to become happy individuals, living in happy families and communities is to become more warm-hearted towards each other. We need more loving kindness.
23. Whether one is rich or poor, educated or illiterate, religious or non-believing, man or woman, black, white, or brown, we are all the same. Physically, emotionally, and mentally, we are all equal. We all share basic needs for food, shelter, safety, and love. We all aspire to happiness and we all shun suffering. Each of us has hopes, worries, fears, and dreams. Each of us wants the best for our family and loved ones. We all experience pain when we suffer loss and joy when we achieve what we seek. On this fundamental level, religion, ethnicity, culture, and language make no difference.
24. I believe everyone has the responsibility to develop a happier world. We need, ultimately, to have a greater concern for others’ well-being. In other words, kindness or compassion, which is lacking now. We must pay more attention to our inner values. We must look inside.
25. When the heart is closed it leads to fear, stress and anger. Nurturing the idea of the oneness of humanity has the effect of opening the heart.
17 Dalai Lama Quotes On Religion:
1. My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.
2. We can’t say that all religions are the same, different religions have different views and fundamental differences. But it does not matter, as all religions are meant to help in bringing about a better world with better and happier human beings. On this level, I think that through different philosophical explanations and approaches, all religions have the same goal and the same potential.
3. Whether you believe in God or not does not matter so much, whether you believe in Buddha or not does not matter so much. You must lead a good life.
4. All major religious traditions carry basically the same message, that is love, compassion and forgiveness the important thing is they should be part of our daily lives.
5. The very purpose of religion is to control yourself, not to criticize others. Rather, we must criticize ourselves. How much am I doing about my anger About my attachment, about my hatred, about my pride, my jealousy These are the things which we must check in daily life.
6. Irrespective of whether we are believers or agnostics, whether we believe in God or karma, moral ethics is a code which everyone is able to pursue.
7. Love, kindness, compassion and tolerance are qualities common to all the great religions, and whether or not we follow any particular religious tradition, the benefits of love and kindness are obvious to anyone.
8. Young children don’t care about nationality, faith or caste. Because these ideas prompt us to think in terms of ‘us’ and ‘them’, they are divisive.
9. The basis of moral principles is to have a real concern for the well-being of others and an appreciation of the oneness of humanity. Whether science or religion is constructive or destructive depends on our motivation and whether we are guided by moral principles.
10. Each of us in our own way can try to spread compassion into peoples hearts. Western civilizations these days place great importance on filling the human ‘brain’ with knowledge, but no one seems to care about filling the human ‘heart’ with compassion. This is what the real role of religion is.
11. For the individual, one truth or one religion is essential, … it is very important to make clear that all religious traditions have the same message love, compassion and contentment.
12. The purpose of all the major religious traditions is not to construct big temples on the outside, but to create temples of goodness and compassion inside, in our hearts.
13. The whole purpose of religion is to facilitate love and compassion, patience, tolerance, humility, and forgiveness.
14. The first of my personal commitments is to work to increase human happiness by encouraging the cultivation of inner values and a sense of concern for others’ well being. These are the key factors whether one is a religious person or not.
15. Irrespective of whether we have faith in religion or not, it’s good to be more compassionate. It makes us happier as individuals with a positive influence on our families and the neighborhood where we live.
16. We do not necessarily need to become religious, nor even believe in an ideology. We need only to develop our good human qualities and know that love and compassion are the most essential concepts for human survival.
17. I am a man of religion, but religion alone cannot answer all our problems.