The Dalai Lama Quotes

The goal is not to be better than the other man, but your previous self.

If we can cultivate a concern for others, keeping in mind the oneness of humanity, we can build a more compassionate world.

The deep root of failure in our lives is to think, 'Oh how useless and powerless I am.' It is essential to think strongly and forcefully, 'I can do it,' without boasting or fretting.

Through money or power you cannot solve all problems. The problem in the human heart must be solved first.

My desire to devolve authority has nothing to do with a wish to shirk responsibility.

Look at situations from all angles, and you will become more open.

The very purpose of religion is to control yourself, not to criticise others.

It does not matter whether you are a theist or atheist, what matters is sincerity, forgiveness, and compassion.

Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

I always try to share with others the idea that in order to become compassionate it is not necessary to become religious.

Only the development of compassion and understanding for others can bring us the tranquility and happiness we all seek.

Tolerance and patience should not be read as signs of weakness. They are signs of strength.

Don't let a little dispute injure a great relationship.

What is the meaning of life? To be happy and useful.

Anger and hatred are the real enemies that we must confront and defeat, not the 'enemies' who appear from time to time in our lives.

The whole purpose of religion is to facilitate love and compassion, patience, tolerance, humility, and forgiveness.

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.

Real power has to do with one's ability to influence the hearts and minds of others.

The essence of Buddhism is if you can, help others. If not, then at least refrain from hurting others.

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. This is action out of compassion.

The ultimate authority must always rest with the individual's own reason and critical analysis.

Suffering increases your inner strength. Also, the wishing for suffering makes the suffering disappear.

Peace… starts within each one of us. When we have inner peace, we can be at peace with those around us.

Some mischievous people always there. Last several thousand years, always there. In future, also.

The purpose of all the major religious traditions is not to construct big temples on the outside, but to create temples of goodness and compassion inside, in our hearts.

From the scientific view, the theory of karma may be a metaphysical assumption -- but it is no more so than the assumption that all of life is material and originated out of pure chance

Although you may not always be able to avoid difficult situations,you can modify the extent to which you can suffer by how you choose to respond to the situation.

If we don't understand phenomena, we are more likely to do things to harm ourselves and others.

Disagreement is something normal.

With realization of one's own potential and self-confidence in one's ability, one can build a better world.

I have come to the conclusion that whether or not a person is a religious believer does not matter. Far more important is that they be a good human being.

The greatest antidote to insecurity & sense of fear is compassion. It brings one back to the basis of one's inner strength.

My earnest request is that you practice love and kindness whether you believe in a religion or not

There should be pluralism - the concept of many religions, many truths. But we must also be careful not to become nihilistic.

Fear, hatred, and suspicion narrow your mind - compassion opens it.

Where ignorance is our master, there is no possibility of real peace.

I have always had this view about the modern education system: we pay attention to brain development, but the development of warmheartedness we take for granted.

Calm mind brings inner strength and self-confidence, so that's very important for good health.

Cultivating inner discipline is something that takes time; expecting rapid results is simply a sign of impatience.

What we do and think in our own lives, then, becomes of extreme importance as it effects everything we're connected to.

No matter what activity or practice we are pursuing, there isn't anything that isn't made easier through constant familiarity and training (I think you can apply this to soccer as well)

Attachment constrains our vision so that we are not able to see things from a wider perspective.

The creation of a more peaceful and happier society has to begin from the level of the individual, and from there it can expand to one's family, to one's neighborhood, to one's community and so on.

If you can do something about a situation, why worry? And if you can't do something about a situation, why worry?

The more you nurture a feeling of loving kindness, the happier and calmer you will be.

True spirituality is a mental attitude you can practice at any time.

The message of love and compassion will travel far and wide if all who follow a spiritual path work together in harmony and mutual respect.

If we lose our hope, that's our real disaster!

Soul is at home in the deep, shaded valleys. Heavy torpid flowers saturated with black grow there. The rivers flow like warm syrup. They empty into huge oceans of soul.

Your education tends to develop the brain while it neglects the heart, so you have a longing for teachings that develop and strengthen the good heart.