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Dalai Lama

Dalai Lama Quotes

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Famous Dalai Lama Quotes

“In today's highly interdependent world, individuals and nations can no longer resolve many of their problems by themselves. We need one another. It is our collective and individual responsibility to protect and nurture the global family, to support its weaker members, and to preserve and tend to the environment in which we all live.”

WorldNeedsProblemTodayIndividualNationsResponsibilitySupportEnvironmentProtectMembersPreservesCollectivesResolveNurtureIndividual ResponsibilityResponsibility To Protect
Author:Dalai Lama
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“The compassion we feel normally is biased and mixed with attachment. Genuine compassion flows towards all living beings, particularly your enemies. If I try to develop compassion towards my enemy, it may not benefit him directly, he may not even be aware of it. But it will immediately benefit me by calming my mind. On the other hand, if I dwell on how awful everything is, I immediately lose my peace of mind.”

IfsFeelsTryingMindMayHandsLosesCompassionEnemyBenefitsFlowGenuineAwfulAttachmentPeace Of MindSpiritual WisdomCalmnessBiasedTibetanCalmingPower Of Positive ThinkingSpiritual Health
Author:Dalai Lama
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“Nowadays, we are confronted by a huge gap between rich and poor. This is not only morally wrong, but practically a mistake. It leads to the rich living in anxiety and the poor living in frustration, which has the potential to lead to more violence. We have to work to reduce this gap. It's truly unfair that some people should have so much while others go hungry.”

PeopleShouldPoorMistakeRichViolenceHugeAnxietyShould HaveHungryFrustrationGapsUnfairRich And PoorUnfairness
Author:Dalai Lama
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“Although you can find certain differences among the Buddhist philosophical schools about how the universe came into being, the basic common question addressed is how the two fundamental principles-external matter and internal mind or consciousness-although distinct, affect one another. External causes and conditions are responsible for certain of our experiences of happiness and suffering. Yet we find that it is principally our own feelings, our thoughts and our emotions, that really determine whether we are going to suffer or be happy.”

MindTwoMatterFeelingsSchoolHappinessCertainSufferingUniverseCausesDifferencesCommonEmotionConsciousnessPrinciplesConditionsPhilosophicalResponsibleFundamentalsDetermineBuddhistInternalsOur ThoughtsFundamental Principles
Book:Dzogchen: The Heart Essence of the Great Perfection
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“On love, not harming others, and respecting all beings. Even animals have these elements in their behavioral patterns. We should start by observing how animals act. They are honest and appreciate it when we are honest with them. If you present something nice to an animal in one hand while hiding a rope in the other, the creature will know your intention. Yet animals have no religion, no constitution. Basic nature has endowed them with the faculty of discernment. It is the same for humans.”

IfsKnowsShouldHumansHandsTruthAnimalNiceHonestCreaturesElementsAppreciateConstitutionIntentionPatternsFacultyHidingRopeObservingDiscernmentHarming Others
Author:Dalai Lama
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“The mind is key. If anything should be considered a god, so to speak, it is the mind, not money. A healthy positive mind is the utmost priority. But if we were to reverse the order of these priorities, what would happen? I find it hard to imagine how a person with great wealth, bad health, no friends, and no peace of mind could feel even slightly happy.”

IfsFeelsShouldMindPersonsHardHappensOrderSpeakWealthImagineKeysFriendsHealthyPrioritiesPeace Of MindReverseNo FriendsPositive MindBad Health
Book:Imagine All the People: A Conversation with the Dalai Lama on Money, Politics, and Life As It Could Be
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“Those who suffer from an exaggerated sense of their own ability and accomplishment are continually subject to frustration, disappointment, and rage when reality intrudes and the world doesn't validate their idealized view of themselves.”

WorldRealitySufferingAbilityViewsSubjectsPrideDisappointmentRageAccomplishmentFrustrationExaggerated
Book:The Art of Happiness, 10th Anniversary Edition: A Handbook for Living
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“In daily practice, reflect on the benefits of love, compassion and kindness, then reflect on the disadvantages of anger. Such continuous contemplation, the growing appreciation of love, has the effect of reducing our inclination towards hatred and increasing our respect for love. By this means even anger can be diminished.”

MeanCompassionPracticeKindnessGrowingEffectsBenefitsHatredAppreciationContemplationInspirational LoveDiminishInclinationReflectingReducingDisadvantagesKindness And Compassion
Author:Dalai Lama
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“Education is the best way to train ourselves that we will secure our own well-being by concerning ourselves with others. It is possible to create a better world, a more compassionate, more peaceful world, which is not only in everyone’s interest, but is everyone’s responsibility to achieve.”

WorldWayWellsInterestResponsibilityAchieveWords Of WisdomTrainHappyBest WayPeacefulSecureWell BeingCompassionateBeing HappyPersonal ResponsibilityWise Man Once SaidTibetanPeaceful World
Author:Dalai Lama
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“Whether we consider the individual, family, local, national or international level, peace must arise from inner peace. For example, making prayers for peace while continuing to harbor anger is futile. Training the mind and overcoming your anger is much more effective than mere prayer. Anger, hatred and jealousy never solve problems, only affection, concern and respect can do that.”

MindProblemIndividualCan DoPrayerLevelsExampleWords Of WisdomTrainingRespectConcernHatredOvercomingMereInternationalAffectionSolveInner PeaceAriseLocalsJealousyPeace Of MindSpiritual WisdomContinuingEffectivenessHarborsLove And AffectionTraining The MindHatred And Jealousy
Author:Dalai Lama
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“To help us bring benefit to others through our words and actions, it is useful to cultivate an attitude of sympathetic joy in others’ achievements and good fortune. This attitude is a powerful antidote against envy, which is not only a source of unnecessary suffering on the individual level but also an obstacle to our ability to reach out and engage with others.”

HelpingActionJoySufferingIndividualAbilityLevelsPowerfulAttitudeSourceAchievementBenefitsFortuneWordsObstaclesEnvyPositive AttitudeReach OutUnnecessaryGood FortuneAntidoteSympatheticOur WordsTibetanWords And ActionsUnnecessary Suffering
Author:Dalai Lama
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“The nature of the mind is such that if certain mental qualities are developed on a sound basis, they not only remain, but they also increase. In fact, once properly developed, the mind's good qualities eventually increase indefinitely. Therefore spiritual practice brings us long-term happiness and inner strength.”

IfsMindLongFactsSpiritualCertainSoundTermQualityPracticeBasesIncreaseHappyGoodLong TermInner StrengthBeing HappySpiritual PracticeGood Quality
Author:Dalai Lama
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