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

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

Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

The purpose of our lives is to be happy.

My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

Sleep is the best meditation.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

Disagreement is something normal.

Even an animal, if you show genuine affection, gradually trust develops... If you always showing bad face and beating, how can you develop friendship?

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.

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

Generally speaking, if a human being never shows anger, then I think something's wrong. He's not right in the brain.

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

I always believe the rule by king or official leader is outdated. Now we must catch up with the modern world.

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 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!

I am a simple Buddhist monk - no more, no less.