The Dalai Lama Quotes

In order to be happy we must first possess inner contentment; and inner contentment doesn't come from having all we want; but rather from wanting and appreciating being grateful for all we have.

If science proves facts that conflict with Buddhist understanding, Buddhism must change accordingly. We should always adopt a view that accords with the facts.

Unlike an external enemy, the inner enemy cannot regroup and launch a comeback once it has been destroyed from within.

Harmony can not thrive in a climate of mistrust, cheating, bullying; mean-spirited competition.

If we try to secure the well-being of others, we will, at the same time, create the conditions for our own.

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.

The question is not to know what is the meaning of life, but what meaning I can give to my life.

Have no discrepancy between what you say, what you are and what you do.

Some consider me as a living Buddha. That's nonsense. That's silly. That's wrong. If they consider me a simple Buddhist monk, however, that's probably okay.

Forgiveness doesn't mean forget what happened. If something is serious and it is necessary to take counter-measures, you have to take counter-measures.

If we continue to approach problems from the perspective of temporary expediency, future generations will face tremendous difficulties.

No material object, however beautiful or valuable, can make us feel loved, because our deeper identity and true character lie in the subjective nature of the mind.

The 20th century was the century of war and blood. The 21st century is the century of dialogue.

Even secular humanism has great spiritual resources; it is almost like a religion to me.

All sentient beings have the seed of the Buddha within them.

Do something that scares you every day. You have nothing to lose but fear itself.

Anger is the ultimate troublemaker. I feel you can express a strong disapproval or dislike of an object without losing your temper.

When, from the depths of your heart, you spontaneously wish all beings to find true, lasting happiness, this is great love.

All human beings have an innate desire to overcome suffering, to find happiness. Training the mind to think differently, through meditation, is one important way to avoid suffering and be happy.

According to Buddhist psychology most of our troubles stem from attachment to things that we mistakenly see as permanent.

Basically, from the viewpoint of real human value we are all the same.

Life can be pleasant or miserable. To lead a fruitful life, and to make it positive, practice analytical meditation.

Sin contains its own judgement and punishment.

Sometimes, whether a desire is excessive or negative depends on the circumstances or society in which you live in.

For change to happen in any community, the initiative must come from the individual.

So long as we are under the control of disturbing emotions, real happiness is hard to find.

Ultimately, the reason why love and compassion bring the greatest happiness is simply that our nature cherishes them above all else. The need for love lies at the very foundation of human existence.

Patience as we wait to take action is a kind of compassionate mind. Impatience on the other hand can be a source of failure.

Without freedom, creativity cannot flourish. The right to freedom is crucial to progress in any society; and the context is having a sense of global responsibility.

The purpose of life is to increase the warm heart.

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.

We need to make material progress, but we need inner development too ... remember that the real development we seek is not in the buildings but in our hearts and minds.

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.

Our every action has a universal dimension, a potential impact on others' happiness.

When seen from outer space, our beautiful blue planet has no national boundaries.

Ethics: The indispensable interface between my desire to be happy and yours.

All beings come from a mother's womb. We should have a clear realization of the oneness of all humanity.

Scientists are discovering that while anger and hatred eat into our immune system, warm-heartedness and compassion are good for our health.

There is often a big disparity between the way in which we perceive things and the way things really are.

There is soul music, soul food, and soul love.

We must have a pure, honest, and warm-hearted motivation, and on top of that, determination, optimism, hope, and the ability not to be discouraged. The whole of humanity depends on this motivation.

Different religions meet the needs of different people

In some cases is keeping your mouth shut the best answer.

The main cause of suffering is egoistic desire for one's own comfort and happiness.

Compassion instills a sense of calm, inner strength, and a deep confidence and satisfaction

Even modern medical researchers have come to the conclusion that peace of mind is vital for good health.

There are five billion human beings and in a certain way I think we need five billion different religions.

The most important thing is to have a sense of responsibility, commitment, and concern for each of our fellow human beings.

The only way to fail is to quit.

True friends share genuine closeness and remain friends irrespective of fluctuating fortunes.