47 Quotes & Sayings By Dalai Lama

The Dalai Lama is a spiritual leader of the Tibetan people, the most powerful spiritual and political figure in Tibet, and one of the world's best-known Buddhists. The 14th and current Dalai Lama came into prominence in 1959 at a time when the ruling Communist party in Tibet was fearful that his growing popularity might weaken its position in the region. In response, it forced him into exile in India where he has lived since. There he has become a much sought-after public speaker on a wide range of topics, including science, ethics, social issues, and meditation Read more

In 1989 he became the head of the Tibetan government in exile based in Dharamsala, India.

1
Our lives are in constant flux, which generates many predicaments. But when these are faced with a calm and clear mind supported by spiritual practice, they can all be successfully resolved. When our minds are clouded by hatred, selfishness, jealousy, and anger, we lose not only control but also our judgment. At those wild moments, anything can happen, including war. Although the practice of compassion and wisdom is useful to us all, it is especially valuable for those responsible for running national affairs, in whose hands lie the power and opportunity to create a framework for world peace. Dalai Lama
2
Compassion can be roughly defined in terms of a state of mind that is nonviolent, non-harming, and nonaggressive. It is a mental attitude based on the wish for others to be free of their suffering and is associated with a sense of commitment, responsibility, and respect towards others. Dalai Lama
3
There is no need for temples, no need forcomplicated philosophies. My brain and my heart are my temples; my philosophie is kindness. Dalai Lama
4
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. Dalai Lama
5
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. Dalai Lama
6
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. Thanks to the teachings of Buddha, I have been able to take this second way. Dalai Lama
7
I find hope in the darkest of days, and focus in the brightest. I do not judge the universe. Dalai Lama
8
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. Dalai Lama
9
When you practice gratefulness, there is a sense of respect toward others. Dalai Lama
10
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. Dalai Lama
11
Sleep is the best meditation. Dalai Lama
12
Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive. Dalai Lama
13
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. Dalai Lama
14
Computers make me totally blank out. Dalai Lama
15
Calm mind brings inner strength and self-confidence, so that's very important for good health. Dalai Lama
16
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. Dalai Lama
17
More compassionate mind, more sense of concern for other's well-being, is source of happiness. Dalai Lama
18
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
19
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. Dalai Lama
20
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
21
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. Dalai Lama
22
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. Dalai Lama
23
Whether you call it Buddhism or another religion, self-discipline, that's important. Self-discipline with awareness of consequences. Dalai Lama
24
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
25
If you have a particular faith or religion, that is good. But you can survive without it. Dalai Lama
26
The best way to resolve any problem in the human world is for all sides to sit down and talk. Dalai Lama
27
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. Dalai Lama
28
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. Dalai Lama
29
My faith helps me overcome such negative emotions and find my equilibrium. Dalai Lama
30
Even an animal, if you show genuine affection, gradually trust develops... If you always showing bad face and beating, how can you develop friendship? Dalai Lama
31
My aim is to create a happy society with genuine friendship. Friendship between Tibetan and Chinese peoples is very essential. Dalai Lama
32
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. Dalai Lama
33
I think technology really increased human ability. But technology cannot produce compassion. Dalai Lama
34
Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible. Dalai Lama
35
I think governments can't do much. Dalai Lama
36
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. Dalai Lama
37
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. Dalai Lama
38
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
39
The purpose of our lives is to be happy. Dalai Lama
40
Generally speaking, if a human being never shows anger, then I think something's wrong. He's not right in the brain. Dalai Lama
41
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. Dalai Lama
42
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
43
Home is where you feel at home and are treated well. Dalai Lama
44
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. Dalai Lama
45
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. Dalai Lama
46
Some mischievous people always there. Last several thousand years, always there. In future, also. Dalai Lama