Dalai Lama

Instead of harboring fear and suspicion we need to think of other people not as ‘them’ but ‘us’.

There are techniques of Buddhism, such as meditation, that anyone can adopt.

There is no need for temples, no need for complicated philosophies. My brain and my heart are my temples; my philosophy is kindness.

Human beings, indeed all sentient beings, have the right to pursue happiness and live in peace and freedom.

Infinite altruism is the basis of peace and happiness. If you want altruism, you must control hate and you must practice patience. The main teachers of patience are our enemies.

Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.

To be aware of a single shortcoming in oneself is more useful than to be aware of a thousand in someone else.

We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.

Love and compassion are necessities not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.

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

Everyday, 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 my self, to expand my heart out to others.

Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck.

True enlightenment is nothing but the nature of ones own self being fully realized.

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.

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

A zero itself is nothing, but without a zero you cannot count anything; therefore, a zero is something, yet zero.

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.

If some people have the belief or view that the Dalai Lama has some miracle power, that's totally nonsense.

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

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.

The foundation of the Buddha’s teachings lies in compassion, and the reason for practicing the teachings is to wipe out the persistence of ego, the number-one enemy of compassion.

Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.

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.

Determination, with an optimistic attitude is the key to success.

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

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

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.

A sense of concern for others gives our lives meaning it is the root of all human happiness.

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.

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.

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.

In our struggle for freedom, truth is the only weapon we possess.

The basic condition of human life is happiness.

In the middle of every difficulty lies an opportunity for growth.

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

This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.

You need self confidence and determination feeling depressed and losing hope will never really help to correct any situation.

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

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

If you are mindful of death, it will not come as a surprise-you will not be anxious. You will feel that death is merely like changing clothes. Consequently, at that point you will be able to maintain your calmness of mind.

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.

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

With realization of ones own potential and self confidence in ones ability one can build a better world.

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.

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

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.

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

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!

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.

Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.

Appearance is something absolute, but reality is not that way - everything is interdependent, not absolute.

When selflessness is seen in objects, the seed of cyclic existence is destroyed.

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

Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.

The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness.

An open heart is an open mind.

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.

Calm mind brings inner strength and self confidence so thats very important for good health.

While revenge weakens society, forgiveness gives it strength.

Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

The ultimate way to solve human problems is with nonviolence.

Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.

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.

A lack of transparency results in distrust and a deep sense of insecurity.

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

Whether you call it Buddhism or another religion, self-discipline, that's important. Self-discipline with awareness of consequences.

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

Anger, hatred and jealousy never solve problems, only affection, concern and respect can do that.

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 pluralistic democratic societies there is the freedom to adopt the religion of your choice. This is good. This lets curious people like you run around on the loose

If every 8-year old in the world is taught meditation, we will eliminate violence from the world within one generation.

As you breathe in cherish yourself. As you breathe out cherish all Beings.

It is difficult to violently suppress people in the long run, as the example of the Soviet Union and the Eastern European countries has shown.

Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

Once a year go somewhere you have never been before.

True compassion is universal in scope. It is accompanied by a feeling of responsibility.

I always say that people should not rush to change religions. There is real value in finding the spiritual resources you need in your home religion.

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.

Mental happiness is more important than physical comfort. Physical comfort comes from the material. But material facilities cannot provide you with peace of mind.

For Tibetans, the real strength of our struggle is truth - not size, money, or expertise.

It is the enemy who can truly teach us to practice the virtues of compassion and tolerance.

It is worth remembering that the time of greatest gain in terms of wisdom and inner strength is often that of greatest difficulty.

If you don't love yourself, you cannot love others. You will not be able to love others. If you have no compassion for yourself then you are not able of developing compassion for others.

My faith helps me overcome such negative emotions and find my equilibrium.

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.

Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.

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

As long as I am alive, I am fully committed to amity between Tibetans and Chinese. Otherwise there's no use.

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.

I am just one human being.

Simplicity is extremely important for happiness. Having few desires, feeling satisfied with what you have, is very vital.

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

Reincarnation is not an exclusively Hindu or Buddhist concept, but it is part of the history of human origin. It is proof of the mindstream's capacity to retain knowledge of physical and mental activities. It is related to the theory of interdependent origination and to the law of cause and effect.

Through violence, you may solve one problem, but you sow seeds for another.

An enemy is indeed a precious teacher.

The purpose of our lives is to be happy.

Physical comforts cannot subdue mental suffering, and if we look closely, we can see that those who have many possessions are not necessarily happy. In fact, being wealthy often brings even more anxiety.

Do not let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace.

My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.