Top 100 Dalai Lama Quotes
#1. As human beings we have the same experience of destructive and constructive emotions. We also have a human mind capable of developing wisdom. We all have the same Buddha nature.
Dalai Lama
#2. Our enemies provide us with a precious opportunity to practice patience and love. We should have gratitude toward them.
Dalai Lama
#3. My responsibility is to save Tibet, to protect its ancient cultural heritage.
Dalai Lama
#4. Buddhism does not accept a theory of God, or a creator. According to Buddhism, one's own actions are the creator, ultimately. Some people say that, from a certain angle, Buddhism is not a religion but rather a science of mind.
Dalai Lama
#5. We all wish to live a happy life. In addition, we all have the same right to fulfil this goal. And we all have the potential to do so for the simple reason that future is not fixed, it can be changed. Therefore, we should live in hope that we really can overcome whatever problems we face.
Dalai Lama
#6. This generation has a responsibility to reshape the world. Start the task even if it will not be fulfilled in your lifetime. Even if it seems hopeless now, never give up. Offer a positive vision, with enthusiasm and joy, and an optimistic outlook.
Dalai Lama
#7. If you have a great deal of knowledge, but you're governed by negative emotions, then you tend to use your knowledge in negative ways. Therefore, while you are learning, don't forget the importance of warmheartedness.
Dalai Lama
#8. There needs to be understanding that anger never helps to solve a problem. It destroys our peace of mind and blinds our ability to think clearly. Anger and attachment are emotions that distort our view of reality.
Dalai Lama
#9. I appreciate any organization or individual people who sincerely make an effort to promote harmony between humanity, and particularly harmony between the various religions. I consider it very sacred work and very important work
Dalai Lama
#10. The essence of compassion is a desire to alleviate the suffering of others and to promote their well-being
Dalai Lama
#11. It is natural that we face obstacles in pursuit of our goals. But if we remain passive, making no effort to solve the problems we meet, conflicts will arise and hindrances will grow. Transforming these obstacles into opportunities is a challenge to our human ingenuity.
Dalai Lama
#12. A lack of transparency results in distrust and a deep sense of insecurity.
Dalai Lama
#13. 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.
Dalai Lama
#14. There is no need for temples, no need for complicated philosophies. My brain and my heart are my temples; my philosophy is kindness.
Dalai Lama
#15. I think mischievous people always there, ... Some kind of perfect world, that is impossible. Accept that reality. (For) those people who have genuine concern about humanity, make some effort-better than none.
Dalai Lama
#16. Our purpose in life is to be happy. From the very core of our being, we simply desire contentment.
Dalai Lama
#17. It is important to direct our intelligence with good intentions. Without intelligence, we cannot accomplish very much. Without good intentions, the way we exercise of our intelligence may have destructive results.
Dalai Lama
#18. If you become more concerned for the welfare of others, you will experience a sense of calm, inner-strength, and self confidence.
Dalai Lama
#19. By deceiving one another through false assumptions and misrepresentations there has been, in reality, a great lapse and delay in achieving the real goals.
Dalai Lama
#20. I have never been any place where I was not first invited. And upon invitation, if I feel that there is potential for making some contribution to humanity, I will comply in spite of being tired.
Dalai Lama
#21. We must work to resolve conflicts in a spirit of reconciliation and always keep in mind the interests of others. We cannot destroy our neighours! We cannot ignore their interests!
Dalai Lama
#22. I always emphasize that it is much safer and better to keep one's own religious faith. The other major religions are thousands of years old and have long traditions.
Dalai Lama
#23. Live a good, honourable life. Then when you get older and look back, you'll be able to enjoy it a second time.
Dalai Lama
#24. Some scientists believe climate change is the cause of unprecedented melting of the North Pole, and that effects these very uncertain weather patterns. I think we should listen to those scientists and experts.
Dalai Lama
#25. Everybody loves to talk about calmness and peace, whether in a family, national, or international context, but without inner peace how can we make real peace? World peace through hatred and force is impossible.
Dalai Lama
#26. Anger, hatred, fear, is very bad for our health
Dalai Lama
#27. Just as you have the instinctive natural desire to be happy and overcome suffering, so do all sentient beings; just as you have the right to fulfill this innate aspiration, so do all sentient beings. So on what exact grounds do you discriminate?
Dalai Lama
#28. Constructiveness is the human way.
Dalai Lama
#29. The very purpose of meditation is to discipline the mind and reduce afflictive emotions.
Dalai Lama
#30. If you serve others as fully as you can, what you do will be a source of inner joy.
Dalai Lama
#31. Sometimes religion becomes yet another source for more division and even open conflict. Because of that situation, I feel the different religious traditions have a great responsibility to provide peace of mind and a sense of brotherhood and sisterhood among humanity.
Dalai Lama
#32. If we don't understand phenomena, we are more likely to do things to harm ourselves and others.
Dalai Lama
#33. If one's cause is supported by sound reasoning, there is no point in using violence. It is those who have no motive other than selfish desire and who cannot achieve their goal through logical reasoning who rely on force.
Dalai Lama
#34. Nonviolence is the only way. Even if you achieve your goal by violent means there are always side effects, and these can be worse than the problem. Violence is against human nature.
Dalai Lama
#35. 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.
Dalai Lama
#36. In the Buddha's life story we see the three stages of practice: Morality comes first, then concentrated meditation, and then wisdom. And we see that the path takes time.
Dalai Lama
#38. Religion, any religion, no matter what sort of wonderful religion, never be universal. So now education is universal, so we have to sort of find ways and means through education system, from kindergarten up to university level, to make awareness these good things, the values, inner values.
Dalai Lama
#39. We consider that the lives of all beings are just as precious as our own, and through this we develop a sense of concern for others.
Dalai Lama
#40. If you can cultivate wholesome mental states prior to sleep and allow them to continue right into sleep without getting distracted, then sleep itself becomes wholesome.
Dalai Lama
#41. Use your human intelligence in the best way you can; transform your emotions in a positive way.
Dalai Lama
#42. Pain can change you, but that doesn't mean it has to be a bad change. Take that pain and turn it into wisdom.
Dalai Lama
#43. Genuine happiness comes from focusing on the happiness of others.
Dalai Lama
#44. Compassion, forgiveness, these are the real, ultimate sources of power for peace and success in life
Dalai Lama
#45. 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.
Dalai Lama
#46. 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.
Dalai Lama
#47. Tolerance is an important virtue of bodhisattvas .
Dalai Lama
#48. Ignorance is the source of hatred, and the way to get rid of ignorance is realization.
Dalai Lama
#49. Without the human community one single human being cannot survive.
Dalai Lama
#50. Where there is a mind, there are feelings such as pain, pleasure, and joy. No sentient being wants pain: all wants happiness instead.
Dalai Lama
#51. If you lose your temper, your sound sleep will go, and you will have to use a tranquilizer or sleeping pills? Then gradually, more white hair, wrinkles.
Dalai Lama
#52. Forgiveness is the most effective way of dealing with arguments; altruism and forgiveness bring humanity together so that no conflict, however serious, will go beyond the bounds of what is truly human.
Dalai Lama
#53. Action for Happiness encourages each of us to live more compassionately and put the happiness of others at the centre of our lives. This is the path to lasting peace and happiness
Dalai Lama
#54. 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.
Dalai Lama
#55. Values are related to our emotions, just as we practice physical hygiene to preserve our physical health, we need to observe emotional hygiene to preserve a healthy mind and attitudes.
Dalai Lama
#56. If you help and serve others, you will ultimately gain.
Dalai Lama
#57. I am increasingly convinced that the time has come to find a way of thinking about spirituality and ethics beyond religion altogether.
Dalai Lama
#58. The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness.
Dalai Lama
#59. The antidote to hatred in the heart, the source of violence, is tolerance.
Dalai Lama
#60. A genuine transformation that results from sustained concerted effort is long lasting because it has a firm foundation.
Dalai Lama
#61. My hope and wish is that one day, formal education will pay attention to what I call 'education of the heart'.
Dalai Lama
#62. Anger may bring extra energy, but it eclipses the best part of our brain: its rationality. The energy of anger is almost always unreliable.
Dalai Lama
#63. We share the earth not only with our fellow human beings, but with all the other creatures.
Dalai Lama
#64. Indulgence in resentment and vengeance will only further increase miseries to oneself and others in this life and in lives to come.
Dalai Lama
#65. Peace in the world depends on peace in the hearts of individuals; this depends on each of us practising ethics by disciplining our negative thoughts and emotions, and developing basic spiritual qualities.
Dalai Lama
#66. Different people describe me in a different ways. Some describe me as the living Buddha. Nonsense. Some describe me as 'God-king.' Nonsense. Some consider me as a demon or a wolf in Buddhist robes. That also, I think nonsense.
Dalai Lama
#67. If we see pride among people who have no idea about Dharma, it is understandable. However, if afflictive emotions and haughtiness are present among Dharma practitioners, it is great disgrace to practice
Dalai Lama
#68. I don't think human affection and compassion are just religious concerns; they're indispensable factors in our day-to-day lives.
Dalai Lama
#69. Your friend, your enemy, your neutral all are equal. Genuine compassion is unbiased.
Dalai Lama
#70. As far as mental development is concerned, we should never be complacent. We can develop our minds infinitely - there is no limitation.
Dalai Lama
#72. Through violence, you may 'solve' one problem, but you sow the seeds for another.
Dalai Lama
#73. It is vital that when educating our children's brains that we do not neglect to educate their hearts.
Dalai Lama
#74. Reality is devoid of any intrinsic identity that can be captured by any one single proposition - that is what Buddha meant by "voidness."
Dalai Lama
#75. Once you encourage the thought of compassion in your mind, once it becomes active, then your attitude towards others changes automatically.
Dalai Lama
#76. 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.
Dalai Lama
#77. Old friends pass away, new friends appear. It is just like the days. An old day passes, a new day arrives. The important thing is to make it meaningful: a meaningful friend - or a meaningful day.
Dalai Lama
#78. When a certain community is destroyed, in reality it destroys a part of all of us. So there should be a clear recognition that the entire humanity is just one family. Any conflict within humanity should be considered as a family conflict. We must find a solution within this atmosphere.
Dalai Lama
#79. An enemy is indeed a precious teacher.
Dalai Lama
#80. Attachment constrains our vision so that we are not able to see things from a wider perspective.
Dalai Lama
#81. Open-minded people tend to be interested in Buddhism because Buddha urged people to investigate things - he didn't just command them to believe.
Dalai Lama
#82. Don't become a Buddhist. The world doesn't need Buddhist. Do practice Compassion. The world needs more compassion.
Dalai Lama
#83. In the final analysis, the hope of every person is simply peace of mind.
Dalai Lama
#84. Because of the great differences in our ways of thinking, it is inevitable that we have different religions and faiths. Each has its own beauty. And it is much better that we live together on the basis of mutual respect and mutual admiration.
Dalai Lama
#85. Buddhism strongly discourages blind faith and fanaticism.
Dalai Lama
#86. If we can cultivate a concern for others, keeping in mind the oneness of humanity, we can build a more compassionate world.
Dalai Lama
#87. Destructive thoughts and emotions undermine the very causes of peace and happiness. If you think clearly about it, it makes no sense to think you're seeking happiness, if you do nothing to restrain angry, spiteful, and malicious thoughts and emotions.
Dalai Lama
#88. It is maybe not the best choice to have a favorite anything.
Dalai Lama
#89. A balanced and skillful approach to life, taking care to avoid extremes, becomes a very important factor in conducting one's everyday existence.
Dalai Lama
#90. So the smart brain must be balanced with a warm heart, a good heart -a sense of responsibility, of concern for the well-being of others.
Dalai Lama
#91. I believe deeply that we must find, all of us together, a new spirituality.
Dalai Lama
#92. Passion is what gives sense to our life.
Dalai Lama
#93. 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.
Dalai Lama
#94. True compassion is universal in scope. It is accompanied by a feeling of responsibility.
Dalai Lama
#95. True friends share genuine closeness and remain friends irrespective of fluctuating fortunes.
Dalai Lama
#96. My main concern is meeting with public because my main commitment, main interest is promotion of human value, human affection, compassion and religious harmony.
Dalai Lama
#97. The female biologically [has] more potential to show affection and compassion.
Dalai Lama
#98. Most REAL change is slow. Happiness and joy are the purpose of life. If we know that the future will be very dark or painful, then we lose our determination to live. Therefore, life is something based on hope.
Dalai Lama
#99. Computers make me totally blank out.
Dalai Lama
#100. Unlike physical progress, which is subject to natural restrictions, the qualities of the mind can be developed limitlessly.
Dalai Lama
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