The Dalai Lama Quotes

Wisdom and inner peace must be created by yourself.

The key point is kindness. With kindness one will have inner peace. Through inner peace, world peace can one day be a reality.

The need for love lies at the very foundation of human existence.

Genuine happiness and compassion go hand in hand.

The jealousy that arises from another's achievement is overcome by developing an awareness of and admiration for one's own and other's achievement.

The truly good gaze upon everything with love and understanding.

There is...a tendency to think of the spiritual life as primarily introspective, divorced from the concerns of everyday life....Faith that does not translate into actions is no faith at all.

Without changing one's self, without peace in one's self, world peace is not possible.

In some cases, in order to protect global issues some sacrifice for national interest is worth it in the long run. Global warming, these things, they suffer everybody.

On occasions when u feel most hopeless, u must take powerful effort. We must persist in face of failure.

Meet hostility and suspicion with kindness. Helping others out of love is always the best option.

Tibet is not like Kuwait. Kuwait has oil.

I believe deeply that we must find, all of us together, a new spirituality.

Furthermore, I shall explain the nature of dharmata: Such a nature as this cannot be determined to be any one thing. So however you label it, that is how it appears.

[Animals] appreciate others' affection, they also have the sort of ability to show their own affection. And then as soon as we're born, child, no religious faith.

The affection is mainly biological factor. Then further sort of strengthening, that religion helps.

Medical science begin to notice for good health, peace of mind, self-confidence, optimism is something very important. And also preventive measure.

Every sort of seven billion human being have to think about the well-being of humanity.

Spirituality actually must be above politics. Or some other sort of business.

If you the owner of the dog, really showing not just food but real affection, then dog very much appreciate. Isn't it?

But when it comes to democratic political parties, I prefer that monks and nuns not join them - in order to ensure proper democratic practice.

The Dalai Lama should not be partisan either, should remain above.

I must have dialogue with the Chinese government, and dialogue requires compromise. Therefore, I'm speaking for genuine self-rule, not for independence.

I am a firm believer in the importance of democracy, not only as the ultimate goal, but also as an essential part of the process.

Buddhism strongly discourages blind faith and fanaticism.

Humanity happy, I get benefit. Humanity in state of trouble, or violence, I cannot escape from that.

I could justify violence only in this extreme case, to save the last living knowledge of Buddhism itself.

Since we became Buddhist, we have lived in peace with them. We did not invade them. We did not want them to invade us. We have never declared war on China.

The antidote to hatred in the heart, the source of violence, is tolerance.

I have found a much greater appreciation of Buddhism because I couldn't take it for granted here in exile.

Buddha was speaking about reality. Reality may be one, in its deepest essence, but Buddha also stated that all propositions about reality are only contingent.

I am basically optimistic.

We are working as hard as we can; we are preparing ourselves as carefully as we can; we fully intend to make our contribution to the world in the coming century.

If there were really serious consequences if I did not accept, then of course I would do whatever was necessary. But in general I really prefer some freedom.

Although under particular circumstances, the violence method - any method - can be justified, nevertheless once you commit violence, then counterviolence will be returned.

One scientist had discussions about love and compassion. Usually, he felt irritation. After our meeting, for some months, anger never come.

From that viewpoint, America, free country, democratic country, so more opportunity. Still is more sort of Alive. This is my feeling.

I do not want to carry any public position.

The person who received maximum affection from mother, that person also sort of cultivated the potential showing affection to others.

We don't need to respond with desperate violence.

For Tibetans, the real strength of our struggle is truth - not size, money, or expertise.

I consider others as just brothers and sisters. Nothing barrier.

Perhaps our teachings seem less religious and more technical, like psychology, so they are easier for secular people to use.

If I were to die today, I would have some concern for Tibet. But I know that I have personally done as much as I can to use my existence for others. So I have no regret.

I make small mistakes every day. But major mistakes? It doesn't seem so. I've examined my service to the Tibetan people and to humanity, and I've done as much as I can in my life.

Without mutual tolerance emerging as the foundation, terrible situations like those of Tibet and Sri Lanka, Bosnia and Rwanda, can never be effectively improved.

I am simply just one monk. That's all.

I don't want to be a prisoner in a palace, living in such a constricted way - too tight!

We have made a great effort to maintain all levels of Buddhist education; it has helped us have a kind of renaissance, really.

Spiritually, yes, now many people knows Tibetans in spiritual field are very, very advanced but in material field is very, very backward.