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Dalai Lama

Dalai Lama Quotes

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Famous Dalai Lama Quotes

“Physically you are a human being, but mentally you are incomplete. Given that we have this physical human form, we must safeguard our mental capacity for judgment. For that, we cannot take out insurance; the insurance company is within: self-discipline, self-awareness, and a clear realization of the disadvantages of anger and the positive effects of kindness.”

HumansSelfFormGivenHuman BeingsCompanyKindnessClearEffectsAwarenessDisciplineJudgmentCapacitySelf AwarenessRealizationSelf DisciplineIncompleteDisadvantagesInsurance CompaniesHuman Form
Book:Path To Tranquility
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“We can never obtain peace in the world if we neglect the inner world and don't make peace with ourselves. World peace must develop out of inner peace. Without inner peace it is impossible to achieve world peace, external peace. Weapons themselves do not act. They have not come out of the blue. Man has made them. But even given those weapons, those terrible weapons, they cannot act by themselves. As long as they are left alone in storage they cannot do any harm. A human being must use them. Someone must push the button. Satan, the evil powers, cannot push that button. Human beings must do it.”

IfsMenWorldHumansLongMadeUseSpiritualEvilLeftGivenHuman BeingsImpossibleAchieveTerribleWeaponsBlueHarmInner PeaceSatanNeglectButtonsMaking PeaceLeft AloneInner WorldStorageGreat Spiritual
Author:Dalai Lama
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“We are all here on this planet, as it were, as tourists. None of us can live here forever. The longest we might live is a hundred years. So while we are here we should try to have a good heart and to make something positive and useful of our lives. Whether we live just a few years or a whole century, it would be truly regrettable and sad if we were to spend that time aggravating the problems that afflict other people, animals, and the environment. The most important things is to be a good human being.”

PeopleIfsShouldTryingYearsHumansHeartImportantWholeProblemMightWould BeHuman BeingsAnimalForeverEnvironmentOur LivesCenturyPlanetsHundredImportant ThingsLife ChangingTouristsGood HeartAggravatingGood Human Being
Book:Path To Tranquility
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“The process of dying begins with the dissolution of the elements within the body. It has eight stages, beginning with the dissolution of the earth element, then the water, fire and windelements. The color: appearance of a white vision, increase of the red element, black near-attainment, and finally the clear light of death.”

BodyLightEarthDeathProcessBlackWaterWhiteVisionClearFireStageDyingColorElementsRedIncreaseAppearanceEightAttainmentDissolution
Author:Dalai Lama
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“Ageing destroys youth, sickness destroys health, degeneration of life destroys all excellent qualities and death destroys life. Even if you are a great runner, you cannot run away from death. you cannot stop death with your wealth, through your magic performances or recitation of mantras or even medicines. Therefore, it is wise to prepare for your death.”

IfsRunningDeathWealthQualityWiseMagicDyingYouthPerformancesMedicineExcellentSicknessRunning AwayRunnersAgeingMantrasDegenerationRecitation
Author:Dalai Lama
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“From a Buddhist point of view, the actual experience of death is very important. Although how or where we will be reborn is generally dependent on karmic forces, our state of mind at the time of death can influence the quality of our next rebirth. So at the moment of death, in spite of the great variety of karmas we have accumulated, if we make a special effort to generate a virtuous state of mind, we may strengthen and activate a virtuous karma, and so bring about a happy rebirth.”

IfsMindMayImportantStatesMomentsDeathNextForceViewsEffortQualityInfluenceSpecialDyingPoint Of ViewKarmaBuddhistVarietySpiteDependentState Of MindVirtuousRebirthRebornActivate
Author:Dalai Lama
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“As a Buddhist, I view death as a normal process, a reality that I accept will occur as long as I remain in this earthly existence. Knowing that I cannot escape it, I see no point in worrying about it. I tend to think of death as being like changing your clothes when they are old and worn out, rather than as some final end. Yet death is unpredictable: We do not know when or how it will take place. So it is only sensible to take certain precautions before it actually happens.”

ThinkingKnowsLongEndsRealityHappensDeathCertainProcessViewsExistenceAcceptingWorryKnowingDyingNormalClothesFinalsBuddhistSensibleWornUnpredictableNo PointWorn OutPrecaution
Author:Dalai Lama
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“My own view, which does not rely solely on religious faith or even on an original idea, but rather on ordinary common sense, is that establishing binding ethical principles is possible when we take as our starting point the observation that we all desire happiness and wish to avoid suffering.”

DoeIdeasDesireSufferingWishReligiousMy OwnViewsCommonPrinciplesOrdinaryEthicsOriginalsStartingCommon SenseObservationRelyEthicalReligious FaithStarting PointBindingOriginal IdeasEthical Principles
Book:Ancient Wisdom, Modern World: Ethics for the New Millennium
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“The death penalty fulfills a preventive function, but it is also very clearly a form of revenge. It is an especially severe form of punishment because it is so final. The human life is ended and the executed person is deprived of the opportunity to change, to restore the harm done or compensate for it.”

HumansPersonsDoneFormLife IsOpportunityFunctionFinalsRevengeHarmPunishmentHuman LifePenaltiesSevereDeprivedDeath PenaltyOpportunity To Change
Author:Dalai Lama
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“I find that because of modern technological evolution and our global economy, and as a result of the great increase in population, our world has greatly changed: it has become much smaller. However, our perceptions have not evolved at the same pace; we continue to cling to old national demarcations and the old feelings of 'us' and 'them'.”

WorldFeelingsResultsEconomyModernChangedEvolutionPerceptionIncreasePopulationOur WorldPaceTechnologicalGlobal EconomyOld Feelings
Book:An Open Heart: Practicing Compassion in Everyday Life
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“When young we have a vivid sense of basic values like trust and warm-heartedness, which we tend to neglect in today's competitive world as we grow up, yet from birth we all have a need for affection. The emotions we experience today have not changed much over the last few thousand years, but the interest increasing numbers of people are showing in their inner world and how their emotions work is a sign of maturity.”

PeopleWorldNeedsYearsTodayLastsYoungValuesGrowsInterestNumbersEmotionGrowing UpChangedTrustBirthThousandAgingAffectionWarmBuddhistMaturityNeglectAffectedThousand YearsVividInner WorldCore Values
Author:Dalai Lama
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“No matter what part of the world we come from, we are all basically the same human beings. We all seek happiness and try to avoid suffering. We have the same basic human needs and concerns. All of us human beings want freedom and the right to determine our own destiny as individuals and as peoples. That is human nature.”

WorldWantNeedsTryingHumansMatterSufferingIndividualHuman BeingsDestinyHuman NatureConcernNo Matter WhatHuman RightsDetermineHuman NeedsBasic Human Needs
Author:Dalai Lama
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“With a basic understanding of all humans as brothers and sisters, we can appreciate the usefulness of different systems and ideologies that can accommodate different individuals and groups with different cultural heritages, having different dispositions and tastes. Each person has the right to choose whatever is most suitable, on the basis of a deep understanding of all others as brothers and sisters.”

PeopleHumansPersonsDifferentWisdomIndividualUnderstandingWiseRightsRelationshipGroupsBrotherWise WordsWords Of WisdomTasteAppreciateBasesAppreciationIdeologyHeritageDispositionBrothers And SistersSisterWise Man Once SaidUsefulnessSuitableAccommodateFreedom To ChooseCultural HeritageDeep Understanding
Author:Dalai Lama
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“‎Interdependence is a fundamental law of nature. Even tiny insects survive by mutual cooperation based on innate recognition of their interconnectedness. It is because our own human existence is so dependent on the help of others that our need for love lies at the very foundation of our existence. Therefore we need a genuine sense of responsibility and a sincere concern for the welfare of others.”

LoveNeedsHumansHelpingWisdomLawLyingNatureExistenceResponsibilityWiseRelationshipWise WordsWords Of WisdomConcernFoundationFundamentalsTinyHelping OthersSensesGenuineRecognitionWelfareDependentMutualSincereCooperationInsectsInnateSurvivingLaws Of NatureHuman ExistenceInterdependenceCaring For OthersInterconnectednessSense Of ResponsibilityWe Need Each OtherLove LiesCollective ResponsibilityShared Responsibility
Author:Dalai Lama
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“Since periods of great change, such as the present one, come so rarely in human history, it is up to each of us to make the best use of our time to help create a happier world.”

WorldLifeHumansHelpingUsePeriodsOur TimeHuman HistoryGreat Change
Book:Imagine All the People: A Conversation with the Dalai Lama on Money, Politics, and Life As It Could Be
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“It is in everybody's interest to seek those [actions] that lead to happiness and avoid those which lead to suffering. And because our interests are inextricably linked, we are compelled to accept ethics as the indispensable interface between my desire to be happy and yours.”

ActionPainHappinessJoyDesireSufferingInterestAcceptingEthicsIndispensableLinkedCompelledInterfaces
Book:Ancient Wisdom, Modern World: Ethics for the New Millennium
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