The Dalai Lama Quotes

Happiness comes through taming the mind; without taming the mind there is no way to be happy

When we encounter suffering, it is important to respond w/ compassion rather than to question the politics of those we help.

My message is the practice of compassion, love and kindness.

Violence will only increase the cycle of violence.

Whether we are rich or poor, educated or uneducated, whatever our nationality, colour, social status or ideology may be, the purpose of our lives is to be happy

Our greatest duty and our main responsibility is to help others. But please, if you can't help them, would you please not hurt them.

First one must change. I first watch myself, check myself, then expect changes from others.

You need self-confidence and determination: feeling depressed and losing hope will never really help to correct any situation.

We are all basically the same human beings, who seek happiness and try to avoid suffering. Everybody is my peer group. Your feeling "I am of no value" is wrong. Absolutely wrong.

There are techniques of Buddhism, such as meditation, that anyone can adopt.

We can benefit others through our actions by being warm and generous toward them, by being charitable, and by helping those in need.

Let us try to recognize the precious nature of each day.

If a problem can be solved it will be. If it can not be solved there is no use worrying about it.

When you are warm-hearted, there is no room for anger, jealousy or insecurity.

If you focus only on yourself and neglect others, you will lose; but you will gain if you value others as much as you cherish yourself.

Consider that not only do negative thoughts and emotions destroy our experience of peace, they also undermine our health.

Most of our troubles are due to our passionate desire for and attachment to things that we misapprehend as enduring entities.

Anger is the real destroyer of our good human qualities; an enemy with a weapon cannot destroy these qualities, but anger can. Anger is our real enemy.

Buddha urged people to investigate things - he didn't just command them to believe.

Compassion is of little value if it just remains an idea. It must motivate how we respond to others and be reflective in all our thoughts and actions

Just as rust, which arose from the iron itself, wears out the iron, likewise, performing an action without examination would destroy us by projecting us into a negative state of existence.

Once a positive goal is chosen, you should decide to pursue it all the way to the end. Even if it is not realized, at least there will be no regret.

Prayer alone will not make a happy life. A happy life must be built. You must act.

If we make consistent effort, based on proper education, we can change the world.

It's not enough to be compassionate. You must act.

I am increasingly convinced that the time has come to find a way of thinking about spirituality and ethics beyond religion altogether.

Compassion is the wish to see others free from suffering.

I believe that we are fundamentally the same and have the same basic potential.

If others are happy, we will be happy. If others suffer, ultimately we all suffer.

Compassion automatically brings happiness and calmness. Then, even if you receive disturbing news, it will be easier to take, as your mind is still.

Compassion naturally creates a positive atmosphere, and as a result you feel peaceful and content.

I don't think generally politician come from democratic country. I think not that thinking. But sometimes little bit short-sighted. They are mainly looking for their next vote.

One has to try to develop one's inner feelings, which can be done simply by training one's mind. This is a priceless human asset and one you don't have to pay income tax on!

It is our enemies who provide us with the challenge we need to develop the qualities of tolerance, patience and compassion.

The real test of compassion is not what we say in abstract discussions but how we conduct ourselves in daily life.

I am convinced that everyone can develop a good heart and a sense of universal responsibility with or without religion.

Happiness is the highest form of health.

Today different ethnic groups and different nations come together due to common sense.

It is difficult to violently suppress people in the long run, as the example of the Soviet Union and the Eastern European countries has shown.

Number of people have said to me, after hearing your thinking, their mind becomes much more happier.

I totally disagree with the view that the Tibet struggle will die, and there will be no hope for Tibet, after the Dalai Lama passes away.

I want to be just a pure spiritual leader.

Brute force, no matter how strongly applied, can never subdue the basic human desire for freedom.

In the final analysis, the hope of every person is simply peace of mind.

Education is the way to achieve far-reaching results, it is the proper way to promote compassion and tolerance in society.

Unlike physical progress, which is subject to natural restrictions, the qualities of the mind can be developed limitlessly.

If an individual has a calm state of mind, that person's attitudes and views will be calm and tranquil even in the presence of great agitation.

Appearance is something absolute, but reality is not that way - everything is interdependent, not absolute.

Even when we have physical hardships, we can be very happy.

It is not only our right as members of the global human family to protest when our brothers and sisters are being treated brutally, but it is also our duty to do whatever we can to hep them.