The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate. He is a revered figure around the world for his teachings on compassion, peace, and non-violence. The Dalai Lama's quotes are often full of wisdom and insight, and they can offer guidance and inspiration to people of all faiths.
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| Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions. ― Dalai Lama |
The Dalai Lama's quotes are a reminder that we all have the power to make a difference in the world. By living our lives with compassion, peace, and non-violence, we can create a more just and peaceful world for all.
Here is a collection of Dalai Lama most famous quotes: Dalai Lama quotes about positivity, happiness, love, kindness, hope, religion, life, pain and optimism. Quotes and sayings on humanity, compassion, tranquility, mankind, strength, success and ethics by Dalai Lama.
Dalai Lama XIV Quotes and Sayings
If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.
Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.
Sleep is the best meditation.
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.
Love is the absence of judgment.
When you practice gratefulness, there is a sense of respect toward others.
Every day, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it. I am going to use all my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others; to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. I am going to have kind thoughts towards others, I am not going to get angry or think badly about others. I am going to benefit others as much as I can.
My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.
It is very important to generate a good attitude, a good heart, as much as possible. From this, happiness in both the short term and the long term for both yourself and others will come.
Know the rules well, so you can break them effectively.
Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.
Look at situations from all angles, and you will become more open.
Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them.
Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.
The best way to resolve any problem in the human world is for all sides to sit down and talk.
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| Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them. ― Dalai Lama |
If a problem is fixable, if a situation is such that you can do something about it, then there is no need to worry. If it's not fixable, then there is no help in worrying. There is no benefit in worrying whatsoever.
Silence is sometimes the best answer.
There is no need for temples, no need for complicated philosophies. My brain and my heart are my temples; my philosophy is kindness.
People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they're not on your road doesn't mean they've gotten lost.
Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck.
Home is where you feel at home and are treated well.
Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
Choose to be optimistic, it feels better.
More compassionate mind, more sense of concern for other's well-being, is source of happiness.
If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.
This is my simple religion. No need for temples. No need for complicated philosophy. Your own mind, your own heart is the temple. Your philosophy is simple kindness.
Because of lack of moral principle, human life becomes worthless. Moral principle, truthfulness, is a key factor. If we lose that, then there is no future.
If you can cultivate the right attitude, your enemies are your best spiritual teachers because their presence provides you with the opportunity to enhance and develop tolerance, patience and understanding.
When we meet real tragedy in life, we can react in two ways - either by losing hope and falling into self-destructive habits, or by using the challenge to find our inner strength.
All religions try to benefit people, with the same basic message of the need for love and compassion, for justice and honesty, for contentment.
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| Love is the absence of judgment. ― Dalai Lama |
World peace must develop from inner peace. Peace is not just mere absence of violence. Peace is, I think, the manifestation of human compassion.
We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.
Generally speaking, if a human being never shows anger, then I think something's wrong. He's not right in the brain.
Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
Only the development of compassion and understanding for others can bring us the tranquility and happiness we all seek.
Appearance is something absolute, but reality is not that way - everything is interdependent, not absolute.
I believe compassion to be one of the few things we can practice that will bring immediate and long-term happiness to our lives.
There is only one important point you must keep in your mind and let it be your guide. No matter what people call you, you are just who you are. Keep to this truth. You must ask yourself how is it you want to live your life. We live and we die, this is the truth that we can only face alone. No one can help us, not even the Buddha. So consider carefully, what prevents you from living the way you want to live your life?
The Chinese government wants me to say that for many centuries Tibet has been part of China. Even if I make that statement, many people would just laugh. And my statement will not change past history. History is history.
Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.
All suffering is caused by ignorance. People inflict pain on others in the selfish pursuit of their own happiness or satisfaction.
Even when we have physical hardships, we can be very happy.
The more you are motivated by Love, The more Fearless and Free your action will be.
A truly compassionate attitude toward others does not change even if they behave negatively or hurt you.
Disagreement is something normal.
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| In order to carry a positive action we must develop here a positive vision. ― Dalai Lama |
Give the ones you love wings to fly, roots to come back and reasons to stay.
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.
Death means change our clothes. Clothes become old, then time to come change. So this body become old, and then time come, take young body.
Hard times build determination and inner strength. Through them we can also come to appreciate the uselessness of anger. Instead of getting angry nurture a deep caring and respect for troublemakers because by creating such trying circumstances they provide us with invaluable opportunities to practice tolerance and patience.
We can live without religion and meditation, but we cannot survive without human affection.
In order to carry a positive action we must develop here a positive vision.
When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called yesterday and the other is called tomorrow. Today is the right day to love, believe, do and mostly live.
Calm mind brings inner strength and self-confidence, so that's very important for good health.
Peace does not mean an absence of conflicts; differences will always be there. Peace means solving these differences through peaceful means; through dialogue, education, knowledge; and through humane ways.
A lack of transparency results in distrust and a deep sense of insecurity.
In the practice of tolerance, one's enemy is the best teacher.
The way to change others' minds is with affection, and not anger.
Share your knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality.
Too much self-centered attitude, you see, brings, you see, isolation. Result: loneliness, fear, anger. The extreme self-centered attitude is the source of suffering.
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| If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito. ― Dalai Lama |
Compassion is the radicalism of our time.
A good friend who points out mistakes and imperfections and rebukes evil is to be respected as if he reveals the secret of some hidden treasure.
Open your arms to change but don't let go of your values.
Appearance is something absolute, but reality is not that way - everything is interdependent, not absolute. So that view is very helpful to maintain a peace of mind because the main destroyer of a peaceful mind is anger.
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.
Compassion is not religious business, it is human business, it is not luxury, it is essential for our own peace and mental stability, it is essential for human survival.
We are visitors on this planet. We are here for one hundred years at the very most. During that period we must try to do something good, something useful, with our lives. if you contribute to other people's happiness, you will find the true meaning of life.
My faith helps me overcome such negative emotions and find my equilibrium.
Irrespective of whether we are believers or agnostics, whether we believe in God or karma, moral ethics is a code which everyone is able to pursue.
When we are motivated by compassion and wisdom, the results of our actions benefit everyone, not just our individual selves or some immediate convenience. When we are able to recognize and forgive ignorant actions of the past, we gain strength to constructively solve the problems of the present.
The true hero is one who conquers his own anger and hatred.
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.
If there is no solution to the problem then don't waste time worrying about it. If there is a solution to the problem then don't waste time worrying about it.
True change is within; leave the outside as it is.
If you have fear of some pain or suffering, you should examine whether there is anything you can do about it. If you can, there is no need to worry about it; if you cannot do anything, then there is also no need to worry.
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| My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness. ― Dalai Lama |
We all have to live together, so we might as well live together happily.
Love and Compassion are the true religions to me. But to develop this, we do not need to believe in any religion.
To be kind, honest and have positive thoughts; to forgive those who harm us and treat everyone as a friend; to help those who are suffering and never to consider ourselves superior to anyone else: even if this advice seems rather simplistic, make the effort of seeing whether by following it you can find greater happiness.
It is necessary to help others, not only in our prayers, but in our daily lives. If we find we cannot help others, the least we can do is to desist from harming them.
We need to learn how to want what we have not to have what we want in order to get steady and stable happiness.
To remain indifferent to the challenges we face is indefensible. If the goal is noble, whether or not it is realized within our lifetime is largely irrelevant. What we must do therefore is to strive and persevere and never give up.
Every single being, even those who are hostile to us, is just as afraid of suffering as we are, and seeks happiness in the same way we do. Every person has the same right as we do to be happy and not to suffer. So let's take care of others wholeheartedly, of both our friends and our enemies. This is the basis for true compassion.
As a human being, anger is a part of our mind. Irritation also part of our mind. But you can do - anger come, go. Never keep in your sort of - your inner world, then create a lot of suspicion, a lot of distrust, a lot of negative things, more worry.
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.
A genuine, affectionate smile is very important in our day-to-day lives.
Out of 6 billion humans, the troublemakers are just a handful.
Someone else's action should not determine your response.
A disciplined mind leads to happiness, and an undisciplined mind leads to suffering.
If scientific analysis were conclusively to demonstrate certain claims in Buddhism to be false, then we must accept the findings of science and abandon those claims.
I think technology really increased human ability. But technology cannot produce compassion.
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| Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive. ― Dalai Lama |
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.
Inner peace is the key: if you have inner peace, the external problems do not affect your deep sense of peace and tranquility.... without this inner peace, no matter how comfortable your life is materially, you may still be worried, disturbed, or unhappy because of circumstances.
It is under the greatest adversity that there exists the greatest potential for doing good, both for oneself and others.
Computers make me totally blank out.
If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun. Not at the head, where a fatal wound might result. But at some other body part, such as a leg.
The three factors that seem to have the greatest influence on increasing our happiness are our ability to reframe our situation more positively, our ability to experience gratitude, and our choice to be kind and generous.
Of course, when I say that human nature is gentleness, it is not 100 percent so. Every human being has that nature, but there are many people acting against their nature, being false.
Human use, population, and technology have reached that certain stage where mother Earth no longer accepts our presence with silence.
Anger or hatred is like a fisherman's hook. It is very important for us to ensure that we are not caught by it.
I have found that the greatest degree of inner tranquility comes from the development of love and compassion. The more we care for the happiness of others, the greater is our own sense of well-being. Cultivating a close, warmhearted feeling for others automatically puts the mind at ease. It is the ultimate source of success in life.
In order to become prosperous, a person must initially work very hard, so he or she has to sacrifice a lot of leisure time.
When you are discontent, you always want more, more, more. Your desire can never be satisfied. But when you practice contentment, you can say to yourself, 'Oh yes - I already have everything that I really need.'
Wherever you have friends that's your country, and wherever you receive love, that's your home.
If you can, help others; if you cannot do that, at least do not harm them.
I always tell people that religious institutions and political institutions should be separate. So while I'm telling people this, I myself continue with them combined. Hypocrisy!
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| Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other. ― Dalai Lama |
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.
Where ignorance is our master, there is no possibility of real peace.
I find hope in the darkest of days, and focus in the brightest. I do not judge the universe.
Even an animal, if you show genuine affection, gradually trust develops... If you always showing bad face and beating, how can you develop friendship?
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.
When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know. But if you listen, you may learn something new.
The very purpose of our life is to seek happiness.
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.
The important thing is that men should have a purpose in life. It should be something useful, something good.
Happiness is determined more by one's state of mind than by external events.
We human beings are social beings. We come into the world as the result of others actions. We survive here in dependence on others. Whether we like it or not, there is hardly a moment of our lives when we do not benefit from others activities. For this reason, it is hardly surprising that most of our happiness arises in the context of our relationships with others.
Today different ethnic groups and different nations come together due to common sense.
It is very rare or almost impossible that an event can be negative from all points of view.
The goal is not to be better than the other man, but your previous self.
The various features and aspects of human life, such as longevity, good health, success, happiness, and so forth, which we consider desirable, are all dependent on kindness and a good heart.
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| Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible. ― Dalai Lama |
I am sometimes sad when I hear the personal stories of Tibetan refugees who have been tortured or beaten. Some irritation, some anger comes. But it never lasts long. I always try to think at a deeper level, to find ways to console.
When we feel love and kindness toward others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us also to develop inner happiness and peace.
It is not enough to be compassionate, we must act.
The more time you spend thinking about yourself, the more suffering you will experience.
I always believe the rule by king or official leader is outdated. Now we must catch up with the modern world.
Life is as dear to a mute creature as it is to man. Just as one wants happiness and fears pain, just as one wants to live and not die, so do other creatures.
An open heart is an open mind.
With realization of one's own potential and self-confidence in one's ability, one can build a better world.
Even when a person has all of life's comforts - good food, good shelter, a companion - he or she can still become unhappy when encountering a tragic situation.
The more honest you are, the more open, the less fear you will have, because there's no anxiety about being exposed or revealed to others.
Our ancient experience confirms at every point that everything is linked together, everything is inseparable.
I don't think generally politician come from democratic country. I think not that thinking. But sometimes little bit short-sighted. They are mainly looking for their next vote.
Generosity is the most natural outward expression of an inner attitude of compassion and loving-kindness.
Seek to be an oasis of caring and concern as you live your life.
The topic of compassion is not at all religious business; it is important to know it is human business, it is a question of human survival.
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| I find hope in the darkest of days, and focus in the brightest. I do not judge the universe. ― Dalai Lama |
I think really, China, Chinese, I think they really have a long history of civilization, rich culture.
In order to lead a meaningful life, you need to cherish others, pay attention to human values and try to cultivate inner peace.
Happiness doesn't always come from a pursuit. Sometimes it comes when we least expect it.
Let us try to recognize the precious nature of each day.
I think there's every reason this 21st century will be much happier.
Whether you believe in God or not does not matter much, whether you believe in Buddha or not does not matter so much; as a Buddhist, whether you believe in reincarnation or not does not matter so much. You must lead a good life.
Sometimes one creates a dynamic impression by saying something, and sometimes one creates as significant an impression by remaining silent.
If some people have the belief or view that the Dalai Lama has some miracle power, that's totally nonsense. I am just one human being.
Anger is the ultimate destroyer of your own peace of mind.
Our attitude towards suffering becomes very important because it can affect how we cope with suffering when it arises.
World belongs to humanity, not this leader, that leader or that king or prince or religious leader. World belongs to humanity.
The ultimate source of happiness is not money and power, but warm-heartedness.
Compassion is the wish to see others free from suffering.
If you shift your focus from yourself to others, extend your concern to others, and cultivate the thought of caring for the well being of others, then this will have the immediate effect of opening up your life and helping you to reach out.
Learn and obey the rules very well so you will know how to break them properly.
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| Know the rules well, so you can break them effectively. ― Dalai Lama |
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.
Once a year go some place you've never been before.
We are but visitors on this planet. We are here for ninty or one hundred years at the very most. During that period, we must try to do something good, something useful with our lives. If you contibute to other people's happiness, you will find the true goal, the true meaning of life.
If I am only happy for myself, many fewer chances for happiness. If I am happy when good things happen to other people, billions more chances to be happy!
Wherever I go meeting the public... spreading a message of human values, spreading a message of harmony, is the most important thing.
Self satisfaction alone cannot determine if a desire or action is positive or negative. The demarcation between a positive and a negative desire or action is not whether it gives you a immediate feeling of satisfaction, but whether it ultimately results in positive or negative consequences.
As you breathe in, cherish yourself. As you breathe out, cherish all Beings.
I am confident I will set foot again in Tibet in my lifetime.
There are going to be frustrations in life. The question is not: How do I escape? It is: How can I use this as something positive?
The enemy is the necessary condition for practicing patience.
I believe each human being has the potential to change, to transform one's own attitude, no matter how difficult the situation.
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.
A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.
Unless the direction of science is guided by a consciously ethical motivation, especially compassion, its effects may fail to bring benefit. They may indeed cause great harm.
It is not enough to be compassionate. You must act.
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.
You are so anxious about the future that you do not enjoy the present. You therefore do not live in the present or the future. You live as if you are never going to die, and then die having never really lived.
I always tell my Western friends that it is best to keep your own tradition. Changing religion is not easy and sometimes causes confusion. You must value your tradition and honor your own religion.
Because we all share an identical need for love, it is possible to feel that anybody we meet,in whatever circumstances, is a brother or sister.
Instead of wondering WHY this is happening to you, consider why this is happening to YOU.
I believe the very purpose of our life is to seek happiness. Whether one believes in religion or not, whether one believes in that religion or this religion, we are all seeking something better in life. So, I think, the very motion of our life is towards happiness.
It is our collective and individual responsibility to preserve and tend to the environment in which we all live.
Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
Rather, genuine compassion is based on the rationale that all human beings have an innate desire to be happy and overcome suffering, just like myself. And, just like myself, they have the natural right to fulfill this fundamental aspiration.
The purpose of our lives is to be happy.
The enemy is a very good teacher.
Within all beings there is the seed of perfection. However, compassion is required in order to activate that seed which is inherent in our hearts and minds.
Everybody wants a happy life and a peaceful mind, but we have to produce peace of mind through our own practice.
The planet does not need more successful people. The planet desperately needs more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers and lovers of all kinds.
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.
True spirituality is a mental attitude you can practice at any time.
The essence of any religion is good heart. Sometimes I call love and compassion a universal religion. This is my religion.
The ultimate authority must always rest with the individual's own reason and critical analysis.
The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness.
The world has also learned that economic growth, by itself, cannot close the gap between rich and poor.
When selflessness is seen in objects, the seed of cyclic existence is destroyed.
The purpose of religion is to control yourself, not to criticise others.
If you can, serve other people, other sentient beings. If not, at least refrain from harming them. I think that is the whole basis of my philosophy.
Only through the development of mutual respect, and in a spirit of truth, can friendship come about. By these means it is possible to move human minds, but never by force.
If something can be done about the situation, what need is there for dejection? And if nothing can be done about it, what use is there for being dejected?
The world will be saved by the Western woman.
One of the basic points is kindness. With kindness, with love and compassion, with his feeling that is the essence of brotherhood, sisterhood, one will have inner peace. This compassionate feeling is the basis of inner peace.
However, if we can transform our attitude towards suffering, adopt an attitude that allows us greater tolerance of it, then this can do much to help counteract feelings of mental unhappiness, dissatisfaction, and discontent.
We must recognize that the suffering of one person or one nation is the suffering of humanity.
Like a lamp, dispelling the darkness of ignorance.
Despite all philosophical differences, all major world religions have the same potential to create good human beings.
According to Buddhist psychology most of our troubles stem from attachment to things that we mistakenly see as permanent.
But for all its benefits in offering moral guidance and meaning in life, in today's secular world religion alone is no longer adequate as a basis for ethics.
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.
And I think some suffering, maybe even intense suffering, is a necessary ingredient for life, certainly for developing compassion.
The ultimate source of comfort and peace is within ourselves.
If at the beginning and end of our lives we depend upon the kindness of others, why in the middle of our lives should we not act kindly toward them? It is the pragmatic choice.
My earnest request is that you practice love and kindness whether you believe in a religion or not.
What we need today is an approach to ethics which makes no recourse to religion and can be equally acceptable to those with faith and those without: a secular ethics.
I will not propose to you that my way is best. The decision is up to you. If you find some point which may be suitable to you, then you can carry out experiments for yourself. If you find that it is of no use, then you can discard it.
A compassionate concern for others' well-being is the source of happiness.
When our minds are clouded by hatred, selfishness, jealousy, and anger, we lose not only control but also our judgment.
Compassion naturally creates a positive atmosphere, and as a result you feel peaceful and content.
Don't let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace.
No matter what is happening, no matter what is going on around you, never give up.
Every day, think as you wake up, I am fortunate to be alive. I have a precious human life. I am not going to waste it.