The Dalai Lama Quotes

It is lack of love for ourselves that inhibits our compassion toward others. If we make friends with ourselves, then there is no obstacle to opening our hearts and minds to others.

True friendship develops not as a result of money or power but on the basis of genuine human affection.

As you breathe in, cherish yourself. As you breathe out, cherish all Beings.

There is a saying in Tibetan, 'Tragedy should be utilized as a source of strength.' No matter what sort of difficulties, how painful experience is, if we lose our hope, that's our real disaster.

The true hero is one who conquers his own anger and hatred.

When reason ends, then anger begins. Therefore, anger is a sign of weakness.

It is our collective and individual responsibility to preserve and tend to the environment in which we all live.

Mutual respect is the foundation of genuine harmony.

The greater the level of calmness of our mind, the greater our peace of mind, the greater our ability to enjoy a happy and joyful life.

If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun.

All major religious traditions carry basically the same message, that is love, compassion and forgiveness the important thing is they should be part of our daily lives.

Sleep is the best meditation.

Today, more than ever before, life must be characterized by a sense of Universal responsibility, not only nation to nation and human to human, but also human to other forms of life.

Compassion is the radicalism of our time.

Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.

A positive state of mind is not merely good for you, it benefits everyone with whom you come into contact, literally changing the world.

Love is the absence of judgment.

We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.

True compassion is not just an emotional response but a firm commitment founded on reason.

My message is always the same: to cultivate and practice love, kindness, compassion and tolerance.

Because we all share this planet earth, we have to learn to live in harmony and peace with each other and with nature. This is not just a dream, but a necessity.

World peace must develop from inner peace. Peace is not just mere absence of violence. Peace is, I think, the manifestation of human compassion.

A tree with strong roots can withstand the most violent storm, but the tree can't grow roots just as the storm appears on the horizon.

The point of life is happiness.

Look at children... If they feel angry with someone, they express it, and then it is finished. They can still play with that person the following day.

The universe is a single atom: the convergence of science and spirituality.

Know the rules well, so you can break them effectively.

From a certain point of view our real enemy, the true troublemaker, is inside.

The world will be saved by the western woman.

Compassion is the wish for another being to be free from suffering; love is wanting them to have happiness.

By deceiving one another through false assumptions and misrepresentations there has been, in reality, a great lapse and delay in achieving the real goals.

Smile if you want a smile from another face.

Genuine happiness consists in those spiritual qualities of love, compassion, patience, tolerance and forgiveness and so on. For it is these which provide both for our happiness and others happiness.

There are two kinds of satisfaction or happiness: one mainly through mental peace; another physical comfort

You have to start giving first and expect absolutely nothing.

If you wish to experience peace, provide peace for another.

The wiser course is to think of others when pursuing our own happiness.

Forget the failures. Keep the lessons.

You must not hate those who do wrong or harmful things; but with compassion, you must do what you can to stop them — for they are harming themselves, as well as those who suffer from their actions.

Dangerous consequences will follow when politicians and rulers forget moral principles. Whether we believe in God or karma, ethics is the foundation of every religion.

The more we care for the happiness of others, the greater is our own sense of well-being.

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.

The more we take the welfare of others to heart and work for their benefit, the more benefit we derive for ourselves. This is a fact that we can see.

Open your arms to change but don't let go of your values.

Women have the capacity to lead us to a more peaceful world with compassion, affection, and kindness.

It is the state of mind of the person wielding the instrument that determines to what end it will be put.

The way to overcome negative thoughts and destructive emotions is to develop opposing, positive emotions that are stronger and more powerful.

Indulgence in resentment and vengeance will only further increase miseries to oneself and others in this life and in lives to come.

I think technology really increased human ability, but technology cannot produce compassion.

When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.