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Dalai Lama

Dalai Lama Quotes

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Famous Dalai Lama Quotes

“It is our custom to say that someone is 'lucky' or 'unlucky' if they meet with fortunate or unfortunate circumstances, respectively. It is, however, too simplistic to think in terms of random 'luck.' Even from a scientific point of view, this is not a sufficient explanation.”

IfsThinkingTermViewsCircumstancesLuckyLuckRewardsPoint Of ViewFortunateExplanationSufficientCustomsUnfortunateUnluckyUnfortunate Circumstances
Book:Answers: Discussions with Western Buddhists
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“Our state of mind plays a major role in our day-to-day experiences as well as our physical and mental well-being. If a person has a calm and stable mind, this influences his or her attitude and behavior in relation to others. In other words, if someone remains in a peaceful and tranquil state of mind, external surroundings can cause them only a limited disturbance.”

IfsInspirationalMindWellsPersonsStatesPlayCausesAttitudeRolesInfluenceBehaviorMajorsRelationRemainsCalmPeacefulWell BeingState Of MindStableDay To DaySurroundingsTranquilDisturbance
Book:Path To Tranquility
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“If you want to change the world, first try to improve and bring about change within yourself. That will help change your family. From there it just gets bigger and bigger. Everything we do has some effect, some impact.”

IfsWorldWantInspirationalTryingFirstsHelpingEffectsBiggerImpactOur FamilyChanging The World
Book:Worlds in Harmony: Compassionate Action for a Better World: Easyread Large Bold Edition
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“Hardship, in forcing us to exercise greater patience and forbearance in daily life, actually makes us stronger and more robust. From the daily experience of hardship comes a greater capacity to accept difficulties without losing our sense of inner calm. Of course, I do not advocate seeking out hardship as a way of life, but merely wish to suggest that, if you relate to it constructively, it can bring greater inner strength and fortitude.”

IfsWayCoursesWishAcceptingGreaterExerciseLosingCapacityDifficultyStrongerCalmSeekingRelateDaily LifeInner StrengthHardshipFortitudeRobustForbearanceDaily Experience
Author:Dalai Lama
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“We are driven by self-interest, it’s necessary to survive. But we need wise self-interest that is generous and co-operative, taking others’ interests into account. Co-operation comes from friendship, friendship comes from trust, and trust comes from kind-heartedness. Once you have a genuine sense of concern for others, there’s no room for cheating, bullying or exploitation.”

NeedsKindSelfInterestRoomsWiseTrustConcernAccountsDrivenGenuineOperationsGenerousCheatingBullyingExploitationSelf InterestConcern For Others
Author:Dalai Lama
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“We have to think and see how we can fundamentally change our education system so that we can train people to develop warm-heartedness early on in order to create a healthier society. I don't mean we need to change the whole system, just improve it. We need to encourage an understanding that inner peace comes from relying on human values like, love, compassion, tolerance and honesty, and that peace in the world relies on individuals finding inner peace.”

PeopleThinkingWorldNeedsHumansMeanWholeValuesOrderIndividualUnderstandingCompassionHonestyFindingsTrainWarmToleranceInner PeaceRelyEncouragingWise Man Once SaidEducation SystemNeed A ChangeTibetanLike LoveHuman ValuesFinding Inner Peace
Author:Dalai Lama
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“When we think carefully, we see that the brief elation we experience when appeasing sensual impulses may not be very different from what the drug addict feels when indulging his or her habit. Temporary relief is soon followed by a craving for more. And in just the same way that taking drugs in the end only causes trouble, so, too, does much of what we undertake to fulfill our immediate sensory desires.”

ThinkingWayFeelsMayDoeDifferentEndsDesireCausesTroubleHabitDrugSensualImpulseReliefTemporaryAddictCravingSensoryDrug AddictForbearanceElationTemporary Relief
Book:Ancient Wisdom, Modern World: Ethics for the New Millennium
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“(Because) the notion of absolute truth is difficult to sustain outside the context of religion, ethical conduct is not something we engage in because it is somehow right in itself but because, like ourselves, all others desire to be happy and to avoid suffering. Given that this is a natural disposition, shared by all, it follows that each individual has a right to pursue this goal. Accordingly, I suggest that one of the things which determines whether an act is ethical or not is its effect on others' experience or expectation of happiness.”

DesireSufferingIndividualGivenDifficultGoalNaturalEffectsTruth IsExpectationsEthicsAbsolutesNotionDeterminePursueEthicalDispositionAbsolute Truth
Author:Dalai Lama
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“What is the relationship between spirituality and ethical practice? Since love and compassion and similar qualities all, by definition, presume some level of concern for others' well-being, they presume ethical restraint. We cannot be loving and compassionate unless at the same time we curb our own harmful impulses and desires.”

WellsDesireSpiritualityLevelsQualityCompassionPracticeEthicsConcernDefinitionsWell BeingImpulseEthicalCompassionateSpiritual WisdomRestraintCaring For OthersLove And CompassionCurbConcern For Others
Book:The Essence Of Wisdom
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“In the past, the respect people had for religion meant that ethical practice was maintained through a majority following one religion or another. But this is no longer the case. We must therefore find some other way of establishing basic ethical principles.”

PeopleWayPastPrinciplesPracticeCasesEthicsMajorityFollowingEthicalRespect PeopleEthical Principles
Book:Ancient Wisdom, Modern World: Ethics for the New Millennium
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“Everyone wants to be happy; happiness is a right. And while on a secondary level differences exist of nationality, faith, family background, social status and so on, more important is that on a human level we are the same. None of us wants to face problems, and yet we create them by stressing our differences. If we see each other just as fellow human beings, there'll be no basis for fighting or conflict between us.”

IfsWantHumansImportantProblemFacesFightingSocialDifferencesHuman BeingsLevelsConflictBasesStressFellowsHappyBackgroundsNationalityBeing ThereSamenessWant To Be HappySocial StatusFamily Background
Author:Dalai Lama
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“However capable and skillful an individual may be, left alone, he or she will not survive. When we are sick or very young or very old, we must depend on the support of others. There is no significant division between us and other people, because our basic natures are the same. If we wish to ensure everyone's peace and happiness, we need to cultivate a healthy respect for the diversity of our peoples and cultures, founded on an understanding of this fundamental sameness of all human beings.”

PeopleIfsNeedsHumansMayYoungCultureIndividualLeftWishUnderstandingHuman BeingsSupportDependsHealthyDiversityCapableSickFundamentalsSignificantDivisionLeft AloneSkillfulPeace And HappinessSameness
Author:Dalai Lama
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