Quotes by the Dalai Lama (Page 5 of 5)

As individuals we can influence our own families. Our families can influence our communities and our communities can influence our nations.

Anger and hatred are signs of weakness, while compassion is a sure sign of strength.

True change is within; leave the outside as it is.

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

Happiness is the highest form of health.

Giving in to anger, fear and suspicion disturbs our minds and our physical well-being, whereas trust and friendship are the basis of society.

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

If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.

Once a year go somewhere you have never been before.

We share the earth not only with our fellow human beings, but with all the other creatures.

Afflictive emotions -- our jealousy, anger, hatred, fear -- can be put to an end. When you realize that these emotions are only temporary, that they always pass on like clouds in the sky, you also realize they can ultimately be abandoned.

I defeat my enemies when I make them my friends.

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.

From adversity we can learn the value of patience.

Choose to be optimistic, it feels better.

Just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day.

Love is the absence of judgment.

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.

Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

A source of trouble is our unruly minds. We can counter that by developing a warm heart. We need to effect an inner transformation, to understand that love and affection are a real source of joy.

If you wish to make others happy, practice kindness.
If you wish to be happy, practice kindness.

The Dalai Lama is just a temporal leader of Tibet.

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.

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.

I became the Dalai Lama not on a volunteer basis.

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

If you have a particular faith or religion, that is good. But you can survive without it.

I think technology really increased human ability. But technology cannot produce compassion.

My main hope is eventually, in modern education field, introduce education about warm-heartedness, not based on religion, but based on common experience and a common sort of sense, and then scientific finding.

The basic Buddhist stand on the question of equality between the genders is age-old. At the highest tantric levels, at the highest esoteric level, you must respect women: every woman.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

I felt we must separate political responsibility. The Dalai Lama should not carry that burden. So that is my selfish reason -- to protect the old Dalai Lama tradition. It is safer without political involvement.

China has to go along with world trends. That's democracy, liberty, individual freedom. China sooner or later has to go that way. It cannot go backward.

One thing I want to make clear, as far as my own rebirth is concerned, the final authority is myself and no one else, and obviously not China's Communists.

I think governments can't do much.

World belongs to humanity, not this leader, that leader or that king or prince or religious leader. World belongs to humanity.

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.'

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.

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.

I think the self-burning itself on practice of non-violence. These people, you see, they easily use bomb explosive, more casualty people. But they didn't do that. Only sacrifice their own life. So this also is part of practice of non-violence.

I feel exhausted if I teach too long.

I think there's every reason this 21st century will be much happier.

I find hope in the darkest of days, and focus in the brightest. I do not judge the universe.

If you can, help others; if you cannot do that, at least do not harm them.

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.

In the practice of tolerance, one's enemy is the best teacher.

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.

Even when we have physical hardships, we can be very happy.

I think really, China, Chinese, I think they really have a long history of civilization, rich culture.

I am just one human being.

Today different ethnic groups and different nations come together due to common sense.

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

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.

Conversion is not my intention. Changing religion is not easy. You may develop some kind of confusion or difficulties.

My aim is to create a happy society with genuine friendship. Friendship between Tibetan and Chinese peoples is very essential.

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.

If you have religious faith, very good, you can add on secular ethics, then religious belief, add on it, very good. But even those people who have no interest about religion, okay, it's not religion, but you can train through education.

Logically, harmony must come from the heart... Harmony very much based on trust. As soon as use force, creates fear. Fear and trust cannot go together.

In order to become prosperous, a person must initially work very hard, so he or she has to sacrifice a lot of leisure time.

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.

We all have to live together, so we might as well live together happily.

The important thing is that men should have a purpose in life. It should be something useful, something good.

I have done one thing that I think is a contribution: I helped Buddhist science and modern science combine. No other Buddhist has done that. Other lamas, I don't think they ever pay attention to modern science. Since my childhood, I have a keen interest.

In most cases, my visits to the West are for promotion of human values and religious harmony.

Sleep is the best meditation.

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.

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

My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.

All religions try to benefit people, with the same basic message of the need for love and compassion, for justice and honesty, for contentment.

Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them.

We can live without religion and meditation, but we cannot survive without human affection.

Sometimes one creates a dynamic impression by saying something, and sometimes one creates as significant an impression by remaining silent.

Home is where you feel at home and are treated well.

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.

In order to carry a positive action we must develop here a positive vision.

When you practice gratefulness, there is a sense of respect toward others.

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

Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.