The Dalai Lama
"If anything I've said seems useful to you, I'm glad. If not, don't worry. Just forget about it."
His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is the head of state and spiritual leader of Tibet and, consequently, the Tibetan Government -In-Exile. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his ongoing peaceful and nonviolent struggle for the liberation of Tibet.
I admire The Dalai Lama greatly as I also admire Mahatma Gandhi, Jesus Christ and Martin Luther King Jr. They not only believed in nonviolence and peace, but became examples for each of us to show just how far we can take these principles and hopes.
Below I have listed some quotes from The Dalai Lama which I have collected over the last few years. My favorites are closer to the top, but I would highly suggest searching through the quotes looking for keywords. As I have found in my life, you might be surprised just how well these quotes can find you right where you are.
Quotable Dalai Lama 400+
The purpose of our lives is to be happy.
I believe that the purpose of life is to be happy.
I am open to the guidance of synchronicity, and do not let expectations hinder my path.
A good mind, a good heart, warm feelings – these are the most important things.
As far as your personal requirements are concerned, the ideal is to have fewer involvements, fewer obligations and fewer affairs, business or whatever. However, so far as the interest of the larger community is concerned, you must have as many involvements as possible and as many activities as possible.
The need for love lies at the very foundation of human existence.
Genuine compassion is unbiased.
Be a nice person. Be a good person.
If you are showing love to your fellow human beings, you are showing love to your God.
Each individual has an opportunity to make a difference.
If you want to change the world, first try to improve and bring about change within yourself. That will help change your family. From there it just gets bigger and bigger. Everything we do has some effect, some impact.
Just be a nice warm person, that's enough.
The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness.
Your enemy is your best friend.
As long as space endures, and for as long as living beings remain, until then may I, too, abide, to dispel the misery of the world.
A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.
I believe in humanity, and its level in a person is more important than his or her belief or faith.
We speak of three different types of faith. The first is faith in the form of admiration that you have toward a particular person or a particular state of being. The second is aspiring faith. There is a sense of emulation – you aspire to attain that state of being. The third type is the faith of conviction.
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, warm-hearted feeling for others automatically puts the mind at ease. It is the ultimate source of success in life.
If you have a particular faith or religion, that is good. But you can survive without it.
Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll be able to enjoy it a second time.
Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immortality.
Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
Sometimes more silence is useful.
My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.
Be a good human being, a warmhearted, affectionate person. That is my fundamental belief.
Some people, when we talk about compassion and love, think it is a religious matter. Compassion is the universal religion.
Spend some time alone every day.
Religions must serve humanity, not the other way around.
Simply, I try my best to contribute as much as I can my share of responsibility as a human being – that is all.
The spiritual discovery of people of other faiths is the greatest challenge of the twenty-first century. Some will see this as a threat to identity, others will see this as a completion of identity, the discovery of lost cousins and their worlds. The essence of humility.
Wherever you are, your religious teaching must be there with you.
One who smiles has a happy, successful life.
Change only takes place through action. Frankly speaking, not through prayer or meditation, but through action.
Without inner peace, it is impossible to have world peace. Through compassion, through love, it is possible to become a true human family. Through love we can have true happiness, real disarmament.
We can live without religion and meditation, but we cannot survive without human affection.
Every person has the same potential for inner tranquility, but negative forces such as fear, suspicion, selfishness, and self-hatred can destroy inner peace.
I believe in humanity, and its level in a person is more important than his or her belief or faith.
The enemy is a very good teacher.
We are the same human beings; we have the same experience. As far as human rights are concerned, there are no differences between rich and poor, or educated and uneducated, even the Queen of England and the beggar in the street.
It’s best not to get too excited or too depressed by the ups and downs of life.
Most people believe that following the path of compassion and nonviolence is something related to religion. In fact, these are secular ethics and have nothing to do with religion.
All religions are essentially the same in their goal of developing a good human heart so that we may become better human beings.
Whether Islamic, Hindu, Christian, or Buddhist, religion should not matter.
Sometimes religion becomes yet another source for more division and sometimes open conflict. Because of that situation, I feel the different religious traditions have a great responsibility to provide peace of mind and a sense of brotherhood and sisterhood among humanity.
From all points of view we’re the same in wanting happiness and not wanting suffering. Now oneself is only one, but others are infinite in number. Therefore, others are more important than oneself.
Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned.
The most important thing is to promote compassion and positivism.
We can never obtain peace in our outer world until we make peace with ourselves.
The period of greatest gain in knowledge and experience is the most difficult in one’s life. Through a difficult period you can learn; you can develop inner strength, determination, and courage to face the problems.
May I become at all times, both now and forever
A protector for those without protection
A guide to those who have lost their way
A ship for those with oceans to cross
A bridge for those with rivers to cross
A sanctuary for those in danger
A lamp for those without light
A place of refuge for those who lack shelter
And a servant to all in need.
I’m always against violence.
Nonviolence is not a question of holiness, it is a question of reality.
Mothers in society are the first lamas, or gurus, of compassion; our spiritual lamas come later in life. Our mothers teach us the power and value of compassion right from our birth.
Tibetan Buddhism is at one level the universal message similarly offered by Christianity – love thy neighbor as thyself.
Buddhism does not recognize a creator of the universe – no single God – but rather it subscribes to a boundless continuum that had no beginning and will have no end.
Faith leads you to a higher state of existence, whereas reason and analysis lead you to full liberation.
I like to let my thoughts come to me each morning before I get up. I meditate for a few hours and that is like recharging. After that, my daily conduct is usually driven by the motivation to help, to create a positive atmosphere for others.
Your enlightenment rests on your own shoulders.
In external appearances, there are differences between us and, of course, in religious faith, there are cultural differences between us. But these are all minor. Human compassion does not come from religious text. Human compassion is in our blood.
Buddhism relies more on one's own effort, on reason rather than faith.
At the end of the last century, science and spirituality seemed incompatible. Now, they have moved closer together.
A simple smile. That’s the start of opening your heart and being compassionate to others.
Working to ease the suffering of sentient beings, to improve the situation on the planet, is the only way to happiness, contentment and peace.
Seeking blessings from outsiders is not right. Your life is on your own shoulders. Blind faith is not healthy.
Harming or destroying any being from the highest to the lowest, from a human to the tiniest insect, must at all costs be avoided. The foundation of all spiritual practice is love.
At times there have been impossible responsibilities and a lot of difficulties. Then again, personally I’m quite jovial, with not much worry. I do my best, which is moderation, and failure doesn’t matter.
Because we all share this small planet Earth, we have to live in harmony and peace with each other and with nature. That is not just a dream, but a necessity.
Every human being should realize that the future of humanity is dependent on their present actions and thinking.
I’m just a human being and, incidentally, a Tibetan who chooses to be a Buddhist monk.
In my childhood, I had a religious assistant who always told me, “If you can really laugh with full abandonment, it’s very good for your health.”
First, one must change. I first watch myself, check myself, then expect change from others.
Through training there is knowledge. You can produce compassion, love, forgiveness. You can change yourself.
I always keep in mind [the need to] avoid any inconvenience and embarrassment to anyone.
If anything I’ve said seems useful to you, I’m glad. If not, don’t worry. Just forget about it.
I think now the time has come to think more of humanity than of my nation or that nation. Then automatically, through such a manner of thinking, each individual mind is open.
Basically, the Buddhist attitude is that you should not accept certain things through sheer faith. And for that you need a skeptical attitude. Buddha himself made this clear to his followers. He said you should not accept those things I taught out of respect for me, but rather through investigation by yourself.
The true test of honoring Buddhas or God is the love one extends to fellow humans.
There is no need for temples, no need for complicated philosophies. My brain and my heart are my temples; my philosophy is kindness.
If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.
A learned person will become noble only when he or she has put into real practice what has been learnt, instead of just mere words.
Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.
The person who has a tremendous reserve of patience and tolerance has a certain degree of tranquility and calmness in his or her life. Such a person is not only happy and more emotionally grounded, but also seems to be physically healthier and to experience less illness. The person possesses a strong will, has good appetite, and can sleep with a clear conscience.
While you are engaging in the practice of giving you should do so with great happiness and radiance on your face. One should practice giving with a smile and with mental uprightness.
In Tibetan, the word for blessing means “Transformation through majesty or power.” In short, the meaning blessing is to bring about, as a result of the experience, a transformation in one’s mind for the better.
In Buddhism we have relative truth and absolute truth.
Sometimes one creates a dynamic impression by saying something, and sometimes one creates as significant an impression by remaining silent.
Some people, sweet and attractive, and strong and healthy, happen to die young. They are masters in disguise teaching us about impermanence.
Feelings of anger, bitterness, and hate are negative. If I kept those inside me they would spoil my body and my health. They are of no use.
We have genuine friendship when it is based on true human feeling, a feeling of closeness in which there is a sense of sharing and connectedness. I would call this type of friendship genuine because it is not affected by the increase or decrease of the individual’s wealth, status or power. The factor that sustains that friendship is whether or not the two people have mutual feelings of love and affection.
It is not enough to be compassionate. You must act. There are two aspects to action. One is to overcome the distortions and afflictions of your own mind, that is, in terms of calming and eventually dispelling anger. This is action out of compassion. The other is more social, more public. When something needs to be done in the world to rectify the wrongs, if one is really concerned with benefiting others, one needs to be engaged, involved.
Regardless of race, creed, ideology, political bloc (East and West), or economic region (North and South), the most important and basic aspect of all people is their shared humanity – the fact that each person, old, young, rich, poor, educated, uneducated, male or female, is a human. This shared humanness and thus the shared aspiration of gaining happiness and avoiding suffering as well as the basic right to bring these about are of prime importance.
If people everywhere are not allowed to strive for the happiness they instinctively want, then they will be dissatisfied and will make problems for everyone. Unless we can create an atmosphere of genuine cooperation – cooperation not gained by threat or force but by heartfelt understanding – life will become ever more difficult. If we can satisfy people at a heart level, peace will ensue. Without the basis of coexistence, if undesirable social, political, and cultural forms continue to be imposed upon people, peace becomes difficult.
Within oneself, within each single person, one finds many inconsistencies and contradictions. Sometimes the disparity between one’s thoughts early and late in the day is so great that one spends all one’s energy trying to figure out how it can be resolved. This can lead to headaches. So naturally, between two persons, between parents and children, between brothers and sisters, there are differences. Conflicts and disagreements are bound to happen. If so, then how do we deal with them? If we have confidence in our capacity for reconciliation then we will be able to deal with these situations.
Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.
When people get angry they lose all sense of happiness. Even if they are good-looking and normally peaceful, their faces turn livid and ugly. Anger upsets their physical well-being and disturbs their rest; it destroys their appetites and makes them age prematurely. Happiness, peace, and sleep evade them, and they no longer appreciate people who have helped them and deserve their trust and gratitude.
There are three types of joyous effort:
1) armor like joyous effort:
2) joyous effort in gathering virtues; and
3) joyous effort in working for others.
The main obstacles to the development of these efforts are the different levels of laziness – primarily the laziness of procrastination, and the laziness stemming from indolence and from a sense of inferiority.
The seed for nirvana exists in all of us. The time has come to think more wisely, hasn’t it?
This observation, that emotion and consciousness are not the same thing, tells us that we do not have to be controlled by our thoughts and emotions.
If our love for someone is based largely on attraction, whether it be their looks or some other superficial characteristic, our feelings for that person are liable, over time, to evaporate. When they lose the quality we found alluring, the situation can change completely, this despite their being the same person. This is why intimate relationships based purely on attraction are almost always unstable.
You should respect other religions…the essence of all religions is basically the same: to achieve a true sense of brotherhood, a good heart, respect for others. If we can develop these qualities from within our heart, then I think we can actually achieve true peace.
When a problem first arises, try to remain humble and maintain a sincere attitude, and be concerned that the outcome is fair.
When you realize you have made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.
To remain discouraged is not the way of a human being, we are not birds and animals, so it is not enough for us to simply lament and complain but we should use our intelligence and work hard.
Can the mind even see the mind? We have to answer yes and no. No, because the mind can’t be a subject and object at the same time. The mind interferes, wither it wants to or not, whether it knows it or not, in all that it observes; and with all the more reason when it is a question of itself. But the mind cannot see itself completely. However, the principal toll for purifying the mind is the mind itself. The mind is its own creator, at every instant. Hence its responsibility, which is essential.
If the mind is tranquil and occupied with positive thoughts, the body will not easily fall prey to disease.
Some of you feel that you lose your independence if you don’t let your mind just wander when it wants to, if you try to control it. But, that is not the case. If your mind is proceeding in the correct way, one already has the correct opinion. But if your mind is proceeding in an incorrect way, then it’s necessary, definitely to exercise control.
Whatever we say, let us speak clearly and to the point, in a voice that is calm and pleasant, unaffected by attachment or hatred. Look kindly at others, thinking: it is thanks to them that I shall attain Buddhahood.
A truly compassionate attitude toward others does not change even if they behave negatively or hurt you. Whether one believes in a religion or not, and whether one believes in rebirth or not, there isn’t anyone who doesn’t appreciate kindness and compassion.
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.
If the mind is dominated by hatred, the best part of the brain, which is used to judge right and wrong, does not function properly.
Occasionally people who do not have a proper knowledge of karmic law say that such and such person is very kind and religious, but he always has problems, whereas so and so is very deceptive and negative, but always seems very successful. Such people may think that there is no karmic law at all. There are others who go to the other extreme and become superstitious, thinking that when someone experiences illness, it is all due to harmful spirits. However, there is a definite relation between causes and effects: that actions not committed will never produce an effect; and that once committed, actions will never lose their potentiality.
Where ignorance is our master, there is no possibility of real peace.
When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.
Spirituality is like a medicine. To heal the illness, it is not sufficient to look at the medicine and talk about it: You have to ingest it.
If one assumes a humble attitude, one’s own good qualities will increase. Whereas if one is proud, one will become jealous of others, one will look down on others, and due to that there will be unhappiness in society.
The future depends on the present.
Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
If through practice of insight you develop a sense of ease, then time has no relevance. If you’re miserable, time does matter. It’s so unbearable, so enormous you want to get out of it as soon as possible.
If any sensible person thinks deeply, he will respect justice. There is an inborn appreciation and respect for justice within our human body. In children, we find what is natural to be human character. But as they grow up, they develop a lot of conditioning and wrong attitudes. I often feel there is more truthfulness in a small child and I find reasons to have confidence in human courage and human nature.
Take in account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
It is always a possibility in a multicultural society to keep an identity. Complete isolation is impractical. You have to mix with the rest of the community in a more balanced way, mixing with the new situations and the modern way while keeping your traditional identity.
For me, it is nothing. New millennium or new century or new year. For me it is another day, another day and night. The sun, the moon, the stars remain the same.
I believe that any human activity which stems from basic gentleness and the nonviolent nature of human beings…has the guarantee to be of benefit and service. And any act…even if the aim or goal be a noble one, so long as the act is motivated by a feeling of hatred, a feeling of revenge, then I don’t think it will have benefit.
Through meditative techniques, one can free the mind of delusions and attain what we call enlightenment.
But…then as a Buddhist, as my own motivation is concerned, I [try to be] open and sincere and try my best. If something is achieved, very good, if not achieved, no regrets.
Sooner or later you will find a limitation of resources and will have to adopt a more contented lifestyle.
If you shift your focus from oneself to others, and think more about others’ well-being and welfare, it has an immediate liberating effect.
Old friends pass away, new friends appear. It is just like the days. An old day passes, a new day arrives. The important thing is to make it meaningful: a meaningful friend – or a meaningful day.
Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.
In the practice of tolerance, one’s enemy is the best teacher.
What irritates us in the first place is that our wishes are not fulfilled. But remaining upset does nothing to help fulfill those wishes. So we neither fulfill our wishes nor regain our cheerfulness! This disconcerted state, from which anger can grow, is most dangerous. We should try never to let our happy frame of mind be disturbed. Whether we are suffering at present or have suffered in the past, there is no reason to be unhappy.
The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness.
A young man caught a small bird, and held it behind his back. He then asked, “Master, is this bird I hold in my hands alive or dead?” The boy thought this was a grand opportunity to play a trick on the old man. If the master answered, “dead,” it would be let loose into the air. If the master answered “alive,” his would simply wring its neck. The master spoke, “The answer is in your hands.”
We should not be too concerned with our fame or what people say about us, either bad or good because in reality, fame could not make any serious difference to one’s life. Therefore, we should have our priorities right, and seek what is truly of value, what is truly of meaning to our life not just mere fame, which is, after all, empty sounds. Some individuals sacrifice many of their material possessions, wealth and even their lives to achieve fame. This type of obsession with seeking fame is very childish and is quite foolish.
Hatred is our only true enemy. Hatred has no other purpose but to destroy us. Never give it the opportunity to conquer you.
You are welcome whether you’re a practicing Buddhist or not. You are seeking happiness and relief from suffering and pain.
Genuine lasting world peace must come out of mutual trust.
History shows that most of the positive or beneficial developments in human society have occurred as the result of care and compassion. Consider, for example, the abolition of the slave trade…Ideals are the engine of progress.
I just want to live as a simple Buddhist monk, but during the last thirty years I have made many friends around the world and I want to have close contact with these people. I want to contribute to harmony and peace of mind, for less conflict. Wherever the possibility is, I’m ready. This is my life’s goal.
Sacrificing the “nightclub experience” for early morning meditation would make the world a more peaceful place.
Our strength is truth, justice, reason, and human understanding.
I always consider myself first and foremost to be a monk. A Buddhist monk. Dalai Lama comes after that.
The very purpose of meditation is to discipline the mind and reduce afflictive emotions.
If in the midst of your enjoyment of the world you have a moment, try to help in however small a way those who are downtrodden and those who, for whatever reason, cannot or do not help themselves. Try not to turn away from those whose appearance is disturbing, from the ragged and unwell. Try never to think of them as inferior to yourself. If you can, try not even to think of yourself as better than the humblest beggar. You will look the same in your grave.
Knowledge is important, but much more important is the use toward which it is put. This depends on the heart and mind of the one who uses it.
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.
Given human beings’ love for truth, justice, peace, and freedom, creating a better, more compassionate world is a genuine possibility. The potential is there.
Through money or power you cannot solve all problems. The problem in the human heart must be solved first.
The Buddhist uses the Buddha’s words only as a key. We emphasize human reason…and our own experience in determining if we find something convincing and reliable.
We believe the whole world will come and disappear, come and disappear – so eventually the world becomes desert and even the ocean dries up. But then again, another new world is reborn. It’s endless.
I think compared to other people I have not much worry.
When I think about the values of altruism, I am often very moved.
Democracy, free elections, a free press, and an independent judiciary, this is the best guarantee for human rights.
There are philosophical differences, in the concept of a creator, for example. Buddhism is most suitable to me, but not necessarily to everybody. We need pluralism.
A Tibetan wanderer would regard a jumbo jet – or television – to be a miracle. But to a scientist who knows how they work they’re not. Similarly, there are certain things that can be done through mental training. To those who have developed skills it’s nothing special.
Before I sleep, if my mind is active, I calculate what I’ve done that is positive, what mistakes, make confession, sometimes prostrations. Around 9PM I go to sleep. Without a sleeping pill. I can go to sleep very easily, very peacefully.
It looks like there is awful lot of work to do. If you had to analyze all your dreams there would be no time left to dream.
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 also there is no need to worry.
When you have fear, you can think: “Others have fear similar to this; may I take to myself all of their fears.” Even though you are opening yourself to greater suffering, taking greater hardship on yourself, your fear lessens.
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 toward happiness.
Pleasurable sensation is a form of suffering. It plants the seed of dissatisfaction.
From a believer’s point of view I do have some special relationship with some higher beings. But in my own mind I am still an ordinary Buddhist monk.
At daybreak if the weather is fine, I go into the garden. This time of day is very special to me. The sky is clear, I see the stars, and I have this special feeling of my insignificance in the cosmos, the realization of what we Buddhists call impermanence.
All human beings come from a mother’s womb. We are all the same part of one human family. We should have a clear realization of the oneness of all humanity.
As long as we are alive as human beings, there is something we can do about it. It is a great mistake to regard this life as fruitless. We have such a wonderful opportunity. We need a little more patience and determination. There is not point in engaging in foolish anxiety.
So long as I am alive, my time and my life must be utilized properly. Then after my death, I don’t care how people remember me.
In the East, we need more material goods and development. In the West, you need to develop the mind to sustain happiness and peace, so I think we can benefit from an exchange.
Through these decades, the most important factor for sustaining my peace of mind is compassion.
We have to treat the whole world as one entity. There is no possibility of remaining isolated from the rest of humanity.
The mere living is not so important. The important thing is usefulness. So if I could get another hundred years more and be useful, then…good. Otherwise, you just create more problems for others.
Respect for fundamental human rights should not remain an ideal to be achieved but a requisite foundation for every human society.
All the great religions deserve respect and, if practiced seriously, are paths to love and peace.
If you’re more relaxed, I think your brain functions more effective. Tibetans, generally speaking, are quite jovial. In my family, we were always laughing.
Our planet is blessed with vast natural treasures. If we use them wisely, beginning with the elimination of militarism and war, every human being will be able to live a healthy, prosperous existence.
Despite all differences of class or ideology, mentally, emotionally, we all have the same basic nature.
There is a phenomenological difference in experiencing pain yourself and sharing someone else’s pain and suffering. Your own pain is involuntary; you feel overwhelmed and have no control. When feeling the pain of others, there is an element of discomfort, but there also is a level of stability because you are voluntarily accepting pain. It gives you a sense of confidence.
Many of our troubles are man-made, created by our own ignorance and greed and irresponsible actions.
Often I have some kind of desire to go to a very remote area. When I listen to a Tibetan who has stayed in these mountains and they tell me about their way of life, in a bare room, just empty with no gold or bronze, I very much envy it.
The interest toward inner values is increasing. People have lots of material goods but are not happy. People are beginning to realize that material facility alone is not the full answer of life. That’s my impression.
All major religions have the same potential to create good human beings.
If you help and serve others, you will ultimately gain.
It is my fundamental belief that all human beings share the same basis aspirations: that we all want happiness and that we all share suffering. Asians, just like Americans, Europeans, and the rest of the world share a desire to live life to its fullest, to better ourselves and the lives of our loved ones.
The main cause of suffering is egoistic desire for one's own comfort and happiness
We must make a clear distinction between religious institutions and the practice of religion. Religious institutions and politics should stay apart.
To say violence is bad is not sufficient. We must make an effort to have greater human compassion.
You need some relaxation, mental as well as physical. They all converge into the same point.
Ultimately there are no dualities – neither black nor white, neither oppressor nor victim. We are all connected in a journey toward the happiness that is labeled enlightenment.
The more we focus on others, the more we have a concern for others, it seems to bring and inner strength.
I want to say, without hesitation, the purpose of our life is happiness.
Others think of me as a healer. That is absolutely wrong. If there is a real healer, I want to see him.
Smile is you want a smile from another face.
I believe that because of our intelligence we human beings are also capable of developing infinite altruism.
I am optimistic that the ancient values that have sustained mankind are today reaffirming themselves to prepare us for a kinder, happier twenty-first century.
If you practice your own religion very intensely, it is easier for you to see the values of other religions.
Every religion has certain unique ideas or techniques and learning about them can only enrich one’s own faith.
Only a small proportion of the world’s 5 billion people are engaged in acts of violence. The overwhelming majority are engaged in acts of loving, caring and sharing.
Some stories of Jesus Christ seem miracles. But from the Buddhist viewpoint they are explainable through an inner element. There are five external elements, but there are also five internal elements. Through meditation we can change things and influence one another. So miracles can be explained.
A mind that is characterized by unrest will not be tranquil even in the presence of great calm.
When we develop a close contact among ourselves, it is possible to gain more awareness of each other’s tradition. On such a basis, it becomes possible for us to make a combined effort.
I don’t think a person should have two sides – a private and a public side. There should be no gap; that is not honest.
We need a little more compassion, and if we cannot have it, then no politician or even a magician can save the planet.
I believe that in the twentieth century, humanity has learned from many, many experiences. Some positive and many negative. What misery, what destruction! The greatest number of human beings were killed in the two world wars. But human nature is such that when we face a tremendous situation, the human mind can wake up and find some other alternative. That is a human capacity.
If you have too much expectation, you may come away disappointed.
In my experience, there is too much emphasis on what is minor and not on what is essential, and what is essential involves being able to transform the individual from within.
The world’s religions can contribute to world peace, if there is peace and growing harmony between different faiths.
Spirituality should be able to guide people about the essence, which is contentment, self-discipline, caring, sharing, forgiveness and tolerance.
I think when tragic things happen, it is on the surface. It’s like the ocean. On the surface a wave comes, and sometimes the wave is very serious and strong. But it comes and goes, comes and goes, and underneath the ocean always remains calm.
One can’t achieve happiness merely through education and knowledge, though they are important, but should also imbibe compassion and nonviolence.
Although the world’s major religions have different theologies and traditions, they share a common goal of compassion and peace.
In any human society where you want and need progress, it is essential to have freedom.
It is under the greatest adversity that there exists the greatest potential for doing good, both for oneself and others.
In the interests of everyone, of humanity, the artist has a responsibility to use his medium well. In the Tibetan culture, most of the paintings are of deities or Buddhas and they try to send a message of value of the spiritual.
Those who wage war in the name of religion have failed to look beyond their religion to other faiths they oppose. If they did examine other faiths, they would recognize the same desire for transformation.
We must not neglect our inner values. If we become slaves of money, we can’t be a happy person. If we expect all our problems to be solved by external means, that is a mistake.
Human intelligence should be used properly, which alone could lead to subduing physical pain and lead to a meaningful life.
If we each selfishly pursue only what we believe to be in our own interest, without caring about the needs of others, we not only end up harming others but also ourselves.
Tashi Delek. (Tibetan for “Good Wishes”)
I’m trying to promote the value of compassion and not just based on attachment to those who are close to you but rather for all beings, irrespective of what that person does to you, or whether they are your enemy or not.
It is my belief that whereas the twentieth century has been a century of war and untold suffering, the twenty-first century should be one of peace and dialogue.
Buddhist culture provides for a gentler attitude toward nature and toward other human beings.
I promote harmony on the basis of mutual respect for every religion.
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.
Tyranny is essentially against human nature. It can’t work. It is against nature’s law, so therefore no force can stop human nature winning.
I always believe that it is much better to have a variety of religions, a variety of philosophies, rather than one single religion or philosophy. This is necessary because of the different mental dispositions of each human being. Each religion has certain unique ideas or techniques, and learning about them can only enrich one’s own faith.
There can be no peace as long as there is grinding poverty, social injustice, inequality, oppression, environmental degradation, and as long as the weak and small continue to be trodden by the mighty and powerful.
To be a good human being, that is the most important thing. I myself am also trying to be a good person. Sometimes I fail, but I try. That is a source of one’s own happiness.
Freedom is a human need; it may be even more than human. I have a cat. People feed this cat; they pet this cat; they give the cat everything he needs. But every time the window is open just a little, he runs away.
Because we all share an identical need for love, it is possible to feel that anybody we meet in whatever circumstances is a brother or sister.
As long as we are on this small planet together, we need human gentleness, human affection.
Resist when you must, but insist on achieving your aim and persist until you get it.
If war happens and we use all those awful weapons, there would be no victory. Both sides would suffer.
In some cases I understand certain violence’s that take place out of desperation. However, basically it is wrong. Violence is almost like a strong pill. It may work in one way, but the side effects may be equally strong.
In my mind I am a monk, a Buddhist monk. You see one indication is in my dream, sometimes certain dreams happen, then immediately is the feeling, always, I am monk. In dreamtime I never felt I am Dalai Lama.
Human beings are of such nature that they should have not only material facilities but spiritual sustenance as well. Without spiritual sustenance, it is difficult to get and maintain peace of mind.
It is important not to have unrealistic expectation that we will find a magic key to help get rid of all suffering. It takes determination, patience, and more than one week.
By internal disarmament I mean ridding ourselves of all the negative emotions that result in violence. External disarmament will also have to be done gradually, step by step.
I always take the essential part of religion and culture, what is truly useful in our daily lives. This must be distinguished from the ceremonial part and from social habit.
War, the desire to destroy one’s enemy, is an outmoded concept, especially now, when the interest of all the world’s people is so linked. If you hit another being, it is like hitting part of your own body.
The seed of nirvana exists in all of us. The time has come to think more wisely, hasn’t it?
Others say the human population level is okay and can continue to increase because science will meet our needs with new sources of energy and things like that. But even if we can sustain 10 billion people, then as time goes it will become 15 billion, then 20 billion. Impossible!
Anger brings us not only energy but blindness.
Do not confuse peace of mind with spaced-out insensitivity. A truly peaceful mind is very sensitive, very aware.
I believe that politics becomes dirty because politicians become dirty, even though politics themselves are an instrument to help solve problems in society.
The road to happiness is rigged with land mines. These are destructive emotions that cause pain and suffering and can be triggered at any time by people whose minds are not trained to apply antidotes to overpower the negative with the positive.
Among the many forces in which the human spirit has tried to express its innermost yearnings and perceptions, music is perhaps the most universal. It symbolizes humanity’s search for harmony, with oneself and others, with nature, and with the spiritual and sacred within and around us.
Caring about others is a great benefit for the self.
When I say that human nature is gentleness, it is not 100 percent so. Every human being has that nature, but there are many people acting against their nature, being false.
It is useful to have a certain mental attitude to reduce your problems.
Compassion, respect, and a sense of understanding know no national boundaries.
I always try to think at a deeper level, to find ways to console.
Through violence you may solve one problem, but you sow the seeds for another.
I believe that Tibetan people have a right to preserve our own unique and distinct cultural heritage. I also believe that the Tibetan people should be able to decide their future, their form of government, and their social system.
When things are desperate, there is no need to pretend that everything is beautiful. You have to accept reality. This has helped me come closer to reality.
Our problems, though grave and complex, are within our own power to control and rectify. The solution can only be based upon an approach that transcends selfish and regional demands.
For people to focus on “my life”, “my life”, “my life” destroys the capacity for compassion. From that perspective, a small problem appears to be a gigantic problem and only brings more unhappiness, frustration, insecurity, and fear.
If you are too sensitive, then negative things happen. Nowadays, I realize how important it is to keep your mental state calm.
I try to see each tragedy in the context of other bigger tragedies in history. That gives me a larger focus and makes it easier to bear. So that is my secret, my trick.
Compared to the major illnesses in the world, my headache is much better.
Violence one it starts, is by its nature very unpredictable. Originally you intend limited use of force. Then counter reaction. Difficult to stop. Devastation. So always, I feel, it is better to avoid.
Many difficulties arise from ideological or even religious conflicts, and men fight each other for means or methods, losing sight of their human ends and goals.
In order to make nonviolence, which is a physical expression of compassion, a reality, we must first work on internal disarmament and then proceed to work on external disarmament.
The interest in Buddhism is still very strong. So, therefore, the Tibetan Buddhist culture can help to promote…more compassion. And if the most populous nation can become more compassionate – that, I think, would be a very wonderful thing.
If we accept that others have a right to peace and happiness equal to our own, do we not have a responsibility to help those in need?
Without a sense of universal responsibility, our very existence and survival becomes threatened.
You cannot buy peace of mind in a shop – at least not as long as our brains haven’t been replaced by computers.
Some of the greatest problems facing the world, including warfare, violence, drug abuse, and child exploitation, are caused by people not thinking about the consequences of their actions and being motivated by money.
Humans are not machines; we are something more. We have feeling and experience. Material comforts are not sufficient to satisfy us. We need something deeper – human affection.
Sensitivity to people’s problems, truthfulness, honesty, and a sense of responsibility are vital both for governance and also as a source of satisfaction.
Achieving nirvana brings freedom from the endless cycle of suffering caused by wanting too much money, of seeking too much power, of trying to find happiness through sensual pleasures.
The essence of Buddhism is if you can, help others. If not, then at least refrain from hurting others.
Political leaders needed to inculcate more spiritual values than those sages living on the mountaintops.
We need to help each other when we have difficulties, and we must share the good fortune that we enjoy.
Inner peace is the key. If you have inner peace, the external problems do not affect your deep sense of peace and tranquility.
Genuine peace between nations will come from mutual respect, not from weapons or force.
A disciplined mind will help one control anger.
My favorite aspect of American culture is the sense of ease with which you interact with people.
Environmental damage is often gradual and not easily apparent, and by the time we become aware of it, it is generally too late.
As more and more people become educated as to their individual potential, the more they seek to express themselves through a democratic system.
Peace starts within each one of us. When we have inner peace, we can be at peace with those around us.
The ultimate state of mind is clear light, but its clarity can be covered up by negative emotional states such as anger, hatred or anxiety.
We need to share with other people because that kind of friendship is something very special.
Tibetans have a saying: If bad news comes, you listen here (points to the right ear) and let it out here (points to the left ear).
To me there is no difference, whether president, beggar, or king.
Cultivating inner discipline is a time-consuming process. Having expectations of immediate results is a sign of impatience. Ironically, what the modern man wants is the best, the fastest, the easiest, and, if possible, the cheapest way.
If we wish to secure peace for ourselves, we must start by championing it for others.
Irrespective of past history, I’m always looking forward.
The desire for democracy and freedom is an innate human desire. No force can stop that.
For a person who cherishes compassion and love, the practice of tolerance is essential, and for that, an enemy is indispensable. So we should be grateful to our enemies, for it is they who can best help us develop a tranquil mind.
All of us may have experiences, which we later forget, but which leave their imprints on us.
I still need a lot of spiritual improvement in myself.
Humanity in this century has seen many wonders, such as technological developments, but is has also seen the greatest number of humanity killed through violence and war.
In the Buddhist tradition, you would aspire to Buddhahood. In the Christian context you may not use the same language, but you can say you aspire to attain the perfection of the divine nature, or union with God.
I believe that our Tibetan ability to combine spiritual qualities with a realistic and practical attitude enables us to make a special contribution, in however modest in a way.
Problems arise when on falls too deeply into self-regard, when an individual is prepared to exploit or to totally sacrifice other’s well-being in the pursuit of self-interest.
If you are showing love to your fellow human being, you are showing love to your God.
When you think about hope and humanity the mind opens.
My religion is kindness. A good mind, a good heart, warm feelings – these are the most important things.
Through blessings, my whole day’s thought becomes something useful, also something positive.
[Education and compassion]…if you combine these two, your whole life will be constructive and happy.
Once you really make the effort to practice, then you really get the value of religious faith.
Our beautiful blue planet has no national boundaries.
A person who knows a lot but does not practice is like a shepherd who does not own any cattle but always looks after a flock of sheep or cattle. Therefore, studying, reflecting, and meditation on the nature of reality is of great significance for the progress of a spiritual practitioner.
With the realization of ones’ own potential and self-confidence in ones’ ability, one can build a better world. According to my own experience, self-confidence is very important. That sort of confidence is not a blind one; it is an awareness of ones’ own potential. On that basis, human beings can transform themselves by increasing the good qualities and reducing the negative qualities.
When you engage in fulfilling the needs of others, your own needs are fulfilled as a by-product.
Who is more important, you or others? The conclusion is clear; even if minor suffering happens to all others, its range is infinite, whereas when something happens to me, it is limited to just one person. When we look at others in this way, oneself is not so important.
As long as there is no freedom in many parts of the world, there can be no real peace.
Human rights should be universal.
When you think about hope and humanity the mind opens.
Everyone spent a few months in their mother’s womb, but nobody remembers that. So one does not necessarily remember everything about one’s existence.
International relations seem to lack compassionate virtues. It is all geopolitical considerations and no moral principles.
With care and compassion, a warm heart and determination, difficult things can change and healthy, happy people can talk through their differences, reaching a compromise that all can live with.
In some respects I have been the most unlucky Dalai Lama because I have spent more time living as a refugee outside of my country than I have spent in Tibet. On the other hand, it has been very rewarding for me to live in a democracy and to learn about the world in a way we Tibetans had never known before.
Love and compassion are states of mind cultivated through efforts to relieve the sufferings of one’s fellow human beings.
Meditation is the key to spiritual growth.
To be aware of a single shortcoming within oneself is more useful than to be aware of a thousands in some body else. Rather than speaking badly about people and in ways that will produce only friction and unrest in their lives, we should practice a purer perception of them, and when we speak of others, speak of their good qualities. If you find yourself slandering anybody, first imagine that your mouth is filled with excrement. It will break you of the habit quickly enough.
I don't think a person should have two sides - a private and a public side. There should be no gap, that is not honest.
Even though a bird can fly, it must land on earth. – Tibetan saying
Compassion is not helpless pity, but an awareness and determination that demands action.
The purpose of life is happiness whether you are a believer or nonbeliever.
Life’s purpose of happiness can be gained only if people cultivate the basic human values of compassion, caring and forgiveness.
There is too little contact among world leaders.
A narrow-minded, self-centered attitude is the basis for negative emotions like fear, anxiety, and frustration.
Training the mind to think differently, through meditation, is one important way to avoid suffering and be happy.
Karma means action. So things change through action not by prayer…not by wish.
Tibetan Buddhist goals are the same as those of Western science: to serve humanity and to make better human beings.
In my daily practice as a Buddhist monk I have to observe many rules, but the fundamental theme of them all is a deep concern and respect for the rights of others.
Think of all sentient beings as being more precious than jewels, examine one’s life to avoid negative emotions and harmful actions, and treat enemies as sacred friends.
Compassion, a sense of caring, thinking about others’ welfare. That sort of attitude brings me inner peace. It has defined the purpose of my life.
Tolerance does not mean you just accept whatever people do. No. You have to take proper measures. You must make a distinction between the person and the action.
According to Buddhist belief, every sentient being has a mind whose fundamental nature is essentially pure and unpolluted by mental distortions. We refer to that nature as the seed of enlightenment.
As a Buddhist, blessing must come from within, not from outside.
I always consider all human beings to be special, whether they are educated or uneducated. They all have the same human mind and human spirit and that is what is important.
One aspect of compassion is to respect other’s rights and to respect other’s views. That is the basis for reconciliation.
I feel a variety of religions is much better, because the spirit needs a variety of foods just as the body does. If the same dish is served over and over, for every meal for months on end, I think no longer any customers.
The main idea of Buddhism is the unification of the body, mind, and spirit, and it is only by attaining such a state that people can find happiness in life.
Intelligence itself is the ultimate source of power.
Spirituality is like a medicine. To heal the illness, it is not sufficient to look at the medicine and talk about it. You have to ingest it.
Through a difficult period you can learn; you can develop inner strength, determination and courage to face the problems.
Most people do not derive their values directly from religious traditions. Given that reality, a system of secular moral ethics must be taught to lift the lives and spirits of millions of people.
In my experience, there is too much emphasis on what is minor and not on what is essential, and what is essential involves being able to transform the individual from within.
We can change; our ultimate nature is pure.
I think the ultimate power depends very much on truth. Truthfulness is very essential.
Like the traditional Chinese and Indian systems, Tibetan medicine views health as a question of balance. A variety of circumstances such as diet, lifestyle, seasonal and mental conditions can disturb this balance.
People who call themselves religious without basic human values like compassion; they are not really religious people.
To counter anger, you should cultivate love and compassion.
If we carry basic human spirit – human good qualities – then many problems we can reduce, eliminate.
Practicing patience is going to bring you long-term benefits. Therefore you should greet the opportunity with great happiness.
I think all religions have the same potential to strengthen human values and to develop general harmony.
It is essential to know that to be a happy person, happy family, a happy society, it is very crucial to have a good heart.
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.
Home is where you live, where you can utilize your usefulness.
Because of the interdependent nature of everything, we cannot hope to solve the multifarious problems with a one-sided or self-centered attitude.
In Buddhism we have a concept called interdependency. It is very relevant today. Simply put it says that my future is linked to that of society, that of human beings to the environment.
The restlessness and unhappiness that occurs at the level of the mind is something that can only be addressed by a means that is mental.
It is only after mature reflection (that) you (should) believe that Buddhism could offer you more than Christianity (and then) that you should become a Buddhist.
Nonviolence means to be of service to our fellow beings.
Violence and war have always been part of human history, and in ancient times there were winners and losers. However, there would be no winners at all if another global conflict were to occur today.
Through good times and bad times, we Tibetans try to keep our spiritual health and our good humor, remembering that all people, whether they harm us or help us, are ultimately our friends.
One thing we can do is, we can practice forgiveness, and underlying forgiveness is the ability to distinguish between the individual and the act.
I like to let my thoughts come to me each morning before I get up. I meditate for a few hours and that is like recharging.
Young people should learn more about the outside world, develop compassion and understanding of others, and practice having patience.
While the concept of one religion or one truth is essential for an individual practitioner, in terms of humanity the concept of several religions is important.
Every faith has a piece of the truth.
We need to see each other's suffering as our own.
Whenever you find discomfort, calamities, you should know how to transport it to positive practices. It would be senseless not to see your own ill deeds as the factors that harm you.
When there is restlessness - too much hope and desire which cannot be fulfilled - this causes unhappiness and depression.
No matter what the circumstances, no matter what kind of tragedy I am facing, I practice compassion. This gives me inner strength and happiness. This gives me the feeling that my life is useful.
Normally I am in very good health. My officials and advisers have always been recommending that I relax more and take more rest.
Intelligence has the potential for both happiness and suffering.
In day-to-day life, the practice of patience helps one to maintain and sustain calmness and presence of mind.
I believe deeply that we must find, all of us together, a new spirituality.
Be a good human being, a warmhearted, affectionate person. That is my fundamental belief.
This new concept ought to be elaborated alongside the religions, in such a way that all people of good will could adhere to it. We ought to promote this concept with the help of scientists. It could lead us to what we are looking for.
Great compassion and wisdom are the chief qualities of the Buddha. Even in worldly terms, the more intelligent and knowledgeable a person is, the more the person commands respect. Similarly, the more compassionate, kind, and gentle a person, the more he or she should be respected. So if you are able to develop that intelligence and altruism to their fullest extent, then you are truly admirable and deserve to be respected.
We humans have existed in our present form for about 100,000 years. I believe that if during this time the human mind had been primarily controlled by anger and hatred, our overall population would have decreased. But today, despite all our wars, we find that the human population is greater than ever. This clearly indicates to me that love and compassion predominate in the world. And this is why unpleasant events are “new”; compassionate activities are so much a part of daily life that they are taken for granted and, therefore, largely ignored.
There are different types of attachment in relation to different objects: attachment toward form appearance, sound, smell, tactile sensations, and so on. All of these individually are powerful enough to cause a lot of problems and difficulties. However, the strongest form of attachment seems to be sexual attachment. Here we find attachment toward all the five senses involved. Therefore, it is all the more powerful and has the potential for problems and destruction.
Nowadays the world is becoming increasingly materialistic, and mankind is reaching toward the very zenith of external progress, driven by an insatiable desire for power and vast possessions. Yet by this vain striving for perfection in a world where everything is relative, they wander even further away from inward peace and happiness of the mind.
Ideals are very important in one’s life. Without ideals you cannot move – whether you achieve them or not is immaterial. But one must try and approximate them.
Laziness will stop your progress in your spiritual practice. One can be deceived by three types of laziness: the laziness of indolence, with is the wish to procrastinate; laziness of inferiority, which is doubting your capabilities; and the laziness that is attached to negative actions, or putting great effort into nonvirtue.
Inner darkness, which we call ignorance, is the root of suffering. The more inner light that comes, the more darkness will diminish. This is the only way to achieve salvation or nirvana.
I believe deeply that we must find, all of us together, a new spirituality.
Be a good human being, a warmhearted, affectionate person. That is my fundamental belief.
I find that there are two kinds of fear. In one kind, things are quite delicate, or critical. At such times, I know what to do or not. First, I try to consult with my friends and reflect on it. Then I make a decision and act, and I never have any regret. Ultimately, this is very much related to motivation. If I have no negative, selfish motivation, deep down I will have no guilty feeling. A second kind of fear is based on imagination. To overcome that, you need calmness so that you can investigate it more closely. When you look into it in detail, your imaginary fear dissipates.
It seems to me that Western science and Eastern philosophy can join together to create a really complete and full-fledged human being. It is only in this way that man will emerge strengthened from his condition and become whole. Who in fact interests me is what is beyond matter and awareness, what really is important and what makes us what we are.
I believe in humanity, and its level in a person is more important than his or her belief or faith.
This new concept ought to be elaborated alongside the religions, in such a way that all people of good will could adhere to it. We ought to promote this concept with the help of scientists. It could lead us to what we are looking for.
Above all, we must put others before us and keep others in our mind constantly: the self must be place last. All our doings and thinking must be motivated by compassion for others. The way to acquire this kind of outlook is that we must accept the simple fact that whatever we desire is also desired by others. Every being wants happiness, not suffering. If we adopt a self-centered approach to life by which we attempt to use others for our own self-interest, we might be able to gain temporary benefit, but in the long run, we will not succeed in achieving even our personal happiness, and hope for the next life is out of question.
True enlightenment is nothing but the nature of one’s own self being fully realized.
If you help others with sincere motivation and sincere concern, that will bring you more fortune, more friends, more smiles, and more success. If you forget about others’ rights and neglect others welfare, ultimately you will be very lonely.
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 state of mind and in cultivating helpful ones in meditation.
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 and attachment, fear and suspicion, while love, compassion, and a sense of universal responsibility are the sources of peace and happiness.
Because we all share an identical need for love, it is possible to feel that anybody we meet in whatever circumstances, is a brother or sister.
What science finds to be nonexistent, we must accept as nonexistent; but what science merely does not find is a completely different matter….It is quite clear that there are many, many mysterious things.
Human happiness and human satisfaction must ultimately come from within oneself. It is wrong to expect some final satisfaction to come from money or from a computer.
From one point of view we can say that we have human bodies and are practicing the Buddha’s teachings and are thus much better than insects. But we can also say that insects are innocent and free from guilt, where as we often lie and misrepresent ourselves in devious ways in order to achieve our ends or better ourselves. From this perspective, we are mush worse than insects.
Ideally one should have a great deal of courage and strength, but not boast or make a big show of it. Then, in times of need, one should rise to the occasion and fight bravely for what is right.
Our intention should not be spoiled by the eight worldly preoccupations: gain or loss, pleasure or pain, praise or criticism, and fame or infamy.
If we examine ourselves every day with mindfulness and mental alertness checking our thoughts, motivations, and their manifestations in external behavior, a possibility for change and self-improvement can open within us. Although I myself cannot claim with confidence to have made any remarkable progress over the years, my desire and determination to change and improve is always firm. From early morning until I go to bed and in all situations in life, I always try to check my motivation and be mindful and present in the moment. Personally, I find this to be very helpful in my own life.
To foster inner awareness, introspection, and reasoning is more efficient that meditation and prayers.
If objects and people evoke attachment in us, we do not understand the nature of phenomena. We can only become detached by realizing the true nature of things.
Among the 5.7 billion human beings, the older generation, including me, is getting ready to say good-bye to this world. The youth has to carry the responsibility for the future. So, please realize your responsibility, remember your potential, and have self-confidence. Have an open mind and a sense of caring and belonging. The freshness and strength that youth has should not fade away. You must keep this enthusiasm.
Faith dispels doubt and hesitation, it liberates you from suffering, and delivers you to the city of peace and happiness. It is faith that removes the mental turbidity and makes you mind clear. Faith reduces your pride and is the root of veneration. It is the supreme lake because you can easily traverse from one stage of the spiritual path to another. It is like your hand, which can gather all virtuous qualities.
If you have a sincere and open heart, you naturally feel self-worth and confidence, and there is no need to be fearful of others. If you have this basic quality of kindness or good heart, then all other things, education, ability will go in the right direction.
From the very core of our being we desire contentment. For harmony each individual’s identity must be fully respected.
All of the different religious faiths, despite their philosophical differences, have a similar objective. Every religion emphasizes human improvement, love, respect for others, sharing other people’s suffering. On these lines every religion has more or less the same viewpoint and the same goal.
Faith is the basis of the Path,
The mother of virtues,
Nourishing and growing all good ways,
Cutting away the net of doubt,
Freeing from the torrent of passion…
Faith can assure arrival at enlightenment.
It is through listening that your mind will turn with faith and devotion, and you will be able to cultivate joy within your mind and make your mind stable. It is through listening that you will be able to cultivate wisdom and be able to remove ignorance. Therefore, it is worthwhile to engage in listening even if it costs your life. Listening is like a torch that dispels the darkness of ignorance. And if you are able to make your mental continuum wealthy through listening, no one can steal that wealth. It is supreme wealth.
If you shift your focus from oneself to others, and think more about other’s well-being and welfare, it has an immediate liberating effect.
If you must be selfish, then be wise and not narrow-minded in your selfishness.
To renounce the world means to give up your attachment to the world. It does not mean that you have to separate yourself from it. The very purpose of our doctrine is to serve others. In order to serve others you must remain in the society. You should not isolate yourself from the rest.
Try to develop a deep conviction that the present human body has great potential and that you shall never waste even a single minute of its use. Not taking any essence of this precious human existence, but just wasting it, is almost like taking poison while being fully aware of the consequences of doing so. It is very wrong for people to feel deeply sad when they lose money, yet when they waste the precious moments of their lives they do not have the slightest feeling of repentance.
The essence of all spiritual life is your emotion, your attitude toward others. Once you have pure and sincere motivation, all the rest follows. You can develop this right attitude toward others on the basis of kindness, love, and respect, and on the clear realization of the oneness of all human beings.
The task of man is to help others; that’s my firm teaching, that’s my message. That is my own belief. For me, the fundamental question is better relations; better relations among human beings – and whatever I can contribute to that.
It is the enemy who can truly teach us to practice the virtues of compassion and tolerance.
According to Buddhism, individuals are masters of their own destiny. So our future is in our hands. What greater free will do we need?
Anger deceives us. Try to distance yourself from anger.
Buddhism has long argued for the tremendous potential for transformation that exists naturally in the human mind. To this end, the tradition has developed a wide range of contemplative techniques, or meditation practices, aimed specifically at tow principal objectives: the cultivation of a compassionate heart and the cultivation of deep insights into the nature of reality, which are referred to as the union of compassion and wisdom.
If you do not have the capacity to love yourself, then there is simply no basis on which to build a sense of caring toward others.
By thinking of all sentient beings as even better than the wish-granting gem for accomplishing the highest aim, may I always consider them precious.
I speak to you as just another human being; as a simple monk. If you find what I say useful, then I hope you will try to practice it.
When we talk about gaining the perfect wisdom of a Buddha, we should not think that we need to create qualities in ourselves that are not there already, and acquire them from somewhere outside of us. Rather, we should see perfect Buddha wisdom as a potential that is being realized.
You see, the past is past and the future is yet to come. That means the future is in your hands – the future entirely depends on the present. That realization gives you a great responsibility.
To develop patience, you need someone who willfully hurts you. Such people give us real opportunities to practice tolerance. They test our inner strength in a way that even our guru cannot. Basically, patience protects us from being discouraged.
First we must help; then, later we can talk about the causes of any tragedy. There is an Indian saying: if you are struck by a poisonous arrow, it is important first to pull it out. There is no time to ask who shot it, what sort of poison it is, and so on. First handle the immediate problem, and later investigate. Similarly, when we encounter human suffering, it is important to respond with compassion rather than to question the politics of those we help.
It is my fundamental belief that all human beings share the same basic aspirations: that we all want happiness and that we all share suffering. Asians, just like Americans, Europeans, and the rest of the world, share a desire to live life to its fullest, to better ourselves and the lives of our loved ones.
People who fight with other human beings out of anger, hatred, and strong emotion, even if they gain victory over their enemies in battle, are not in reality true heroes. What they are doing is slaying corpses, because human beings, being transient, will die. Whether or not these enemies die in the battle is another question, but they will die at some point. So, in reality they are slaying those already destined to die. The true hero is the one who gains victory over hatred and anger.
There are different types of attachment in relation to different objects: attachment toward form, appearance, sound, smell, tactile sensations, and so on. All of these individually are powerful enough to cause a lot of problems and difficulties. However, the strongest form of attachment seems to be sexual attachment. Here we find attachment toward all the five senses involved. Therefore, it is all the more powerful and has the potential for problems and destruction.
You need some relaxation, mental as well as physical. They all converge into the same point.
One thing can’t be doubted, the “possibility of a quality” is within us. It is called prajana. We can deny everything, except that we have the possibility of being better. Simply reflect on that.
In every part of the world, there are people who really speak about human rights, and speak about the rights of self-determination, and rights of animals. All of these are, I think, signs of positive change.
If you follow any (religious) practice, your mind becomes more compassionate and calm, more peaceful, and your mental function becomes more effective.
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.
I don’t know whether the universe, with its countless galaxies, stars, and planets, has a deeper meaning or not, but at the very least, it is clear that we humans who live on this earth face the task of making a happy life for ourselves. Therefore, it is important to discover what will bring about the greatest degree of happiness
I hope that you at this moment will think of yourself as a human being rather than as an American, Asian, European, African, or member of any particular country. These loyalties are secondary. If you and I find common ground as human beings, we will communicate on a basic level.
In one sense, we can say that other sentient beings are really the principal source of all our experiences of joy, happiness, and prosperity.
In order to have genuine faith, you need to have one truth, one religion. But that does not mean you lose respect for those of other traditions.
It is ironic that the more serious problems emanate from the more industrially advanced societies. Science and technology have worked wonders in many fields, but the bzasic human problems remain.
When we apply our reason in addressing a problem, we have to be vigilant in ensuring that we remain honest, self-aware, and unbiased; the danger otherwise is that we may fall victim to self-delusion.
We should not be too concerned with our fame or what people say about us, either bad or good because in reality fame could not make any serious difference to one’s life. Therefore, we should have our priorities right, and seek what is truly of value, what is truly of meaning to our life not just mere fame, which is, after all, empty sounds.
My plea is that we bring our spirituality, the full richness and simple wholesomeness of our basic human values, to bear upon the course of science and the direction of technology in human society. In essence, science and spirituality, though differing in their approaches, share the same end, which is the betterment of humanity.
In this ever-changing world there are two important things that we should keep in mind. The first is self-examination. We should reexamine our own attitude toward others and constantly check ourselves to see whether we are practicing properly. Before pointing our fingers at others we should point it toward ourselves. Second, we must be prepared to admit our faults and stand corrected.
It does not matter whether you are a theist or atheist, what matters is sincerity, forgiveness, and compassion.
To renounce the world means to give up your attachment to the world. It does not mean that you have to separate yourself from it. The very purpose of our doctrine is to serve others. In order to serve others you must remain in the society. You should not isolate yourself from the rest.
All major religion carry the same messages – message of love, compassion, forgiveness, tolerance, contentment and self-discipline. I have Muslim friends, Christian friends. All have these same values.
Gradually, having developed our minds, we generate the wish to free ourselves from samsara, as well as the altruistic intention to help others. Similarly, little by little we can discover the path of truth within ourselves with all its characteristics – seeing the nature of impermanence in objects, the nature of selflessness in phenomena and the nature of suffering in the afflictions of sentient beings. We create happiness and freedom from suffering by depending upon the path of cessation and of truth. Therefore, the Dharma is known by Buddhists as the true refuge.
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