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Dalai Lama

Dalai Lama Quotes

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Famous Dalai Lama Quotes

“Peace, in the sense of the absence of war, is of little value to someone who is dying of hunger or cold. It will not remove the pain of torture inflicted on a prisoner of conscience. It does not comfort those who have lost their loved ones in floods caused by senseless deforestation in a neighboring country. Peace can only last where human rights are respected, where the people are fed, and where individuals and nations are free.”

PeopleInspirationalHumansLittlesDoeWarCountryPainLastsValuesPassionIndividualLostNationsPeaceFreedomRightsDyingColdComfortConscienceHungerHuman RightsAbsenceBuddhistTortureRemoveFedsPrisonerLoved OnesFloodUbuntuBeing At PeaceMake Peace Not WarDeforestationPeace Not WarSomeone Who Is Dying
Author:Dalai Lama
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“Because we all share an identical need for love, it is possible to feel that anybody we meet, in whatever circumstances, is a brother or sister. No matter how new the face or how different the dress and behavior, there is no significant division between us and other people. It is foolish to dwell on external differences, because our basic natures are the same.”

PeopleInspirationalNeedsFeelsDifferentMatterFacesDifferencesShareBrotherCircumstancesBehaviorDressesFoolishSignificantBuddhistDivisionIdentical
Book:The Compassionate Life
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“To be kind, honest and have positive thoughts; to forgive those who harm us and treat everyone as a friend; to help those who are suffering and never to consider ourselves superior to anyone else: even if this advice seems rather simplistic, make the effort of seeing whether by following it you can find greater happiness.”

IfsKindHelpingSeemsHappinessSpiritualSufferingEffortGreaterSeeingAdviceHonestPositivePositive ThinkingForgivenessTreatsForgivingFollowingHarmHelping OthersSuperiorsBuddhistBeing HonestTreatmentBe KindPositive ThoughtsGood AdviceFriendliness
Author:Dalai Lama
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“Whether one is rich or poor, educated or illiterate, religious or nonbelieving, man or woman, black, white, or brown, we are all the same. Physically, emotionally, and mentally, we are all equal. We all share basic needs for food, shelter, safety, and love. We all aspire to happiness and we all shun suffering. Each of us has hopes, worries, fears, and dreams. Each of us wants the best for our family and loved ones. We all experience pain when we suffer loss and joy when we achieve what we seek. On this fundamental level, religion, ethnicity, culture, and language make no difference.”

MenWantInspirationalNeedsDreamPainJoySufferingCultureLanguageBlackDifferencesReligiousLossWhitePoorLevelsWorryRichShareAchieveEqualAnd LoveSafetyFundamentalsEducatedBuddhistOur FamilyChanging The WorldBrownLoved OnesShelterAspireEthnicityHaving HopeIlliterateBlack WhiteBasic NeedsRich Or PoorWorry FearCulture And LanguageFears And Dreams
Author:Dalai Lama
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“Whether you believe in God or not does not matter so much, whether you believe in Buddha or not does not matter so much; as a Buddhist, whether you believe in reincarnation or not does not matter so much. You must lead a good life. And a good life does not mean just good food, good clothes, good shelter. These are not sufficient. A good motivation is what is needed: compassion, without dogmatism, without complicated philosophy; just understanding that others are human brothers and sisters and respecting their rights and human dignity.”

BelieveHumansMeanDoeMatterPhilosophySpiritualMotivationUnderstandingCompassionRightsBrotherNeededClothesDignityComplicatedBuddhistSufficientBelieve In GodGood LifeShelterReincarnationBrothers And SistersHuman DignityGood FoodDogmatism
Author:Dalai Lama
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“Just as we take for granted the need to acquire proficiency in the basic academic subjects, I am hopeful that a time will come when we can take it for granted that children will learn, as part of the curriculum, the indispensability of inner values: love, compassion, justice, and forgiveness.”

LoveNeedsChildrenValuesPeaceJusticeCompassionLearningSubjectsForgivenessBuddhistGrantedAcquireHopefulAcademicIndispensableCurriculumTeaching ChildrenCore ValuesChildren LearningTaking Things For GrantedLove And ForgivenessProficiency
Author:Dalai Lama
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“As human beings we all want to be happy and free from misery. We have learned that the key to happiness is inner peace. The greatest obstacles to inner peace are disturbing emotions such as anger and attachment, fear and suspicion, while love and compassion, a sense of universal responsibility are the sources of peace and happiness.”

WantHumansHappinessFreedomHuman BeingsEmotionResponsibilityCompassionSourceBuddhismKeysUniversalMiseryObstaclesInner PeaceBuddhistAttachmentSuspicionDisturbingLove And CompassionPeace And HappinessWant To Be HappyKey To HappinessInner Peace And HappinessGreatest ObstaclesI Want To Be HappySpiritual Peace
Author:Dalai Lama
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“Within the framework of the Buddhist Path, reflecting on suffering has tremendous importance because -realizing the nature of suffering, you will develop greater resolve to put an end to the causes of suffering and the unwholesome deeds which lead to suffering. And it will increase your enthusiasm for engaging in the wholesome actions and deeds which lead to happiness and joy.”

EndsActionJoySufferingSpiritualityCausesRealizingPathGreaterImportanceIncreaseDeedsEnthusiasmBuddhistResolveEngagingFrameworkReflectingJoy And Happiness
Author:Dalai Lama
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“The universe that we inhabit and our shared perception of it are the results of a common karma. Likewise, the places that we will experience in future rebirths will be the outcome of the karma that we share with the other beings living there. The actions of each of us, human or nonhuman, have contributed to the world in which we live. We all have a common responsibility for our world and are connected with everything in it.”

WorldHumansActionUniverseResultsCommonResponsibilitySharePerceptionConnectedKarmaBuddhistOutcomesOur WorldRebirth
Book:For the Benefit of All Beings: A Commentary on the Way of the Bodhisattva
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“In Buddhism, both learning and practice are extremely important, and they must go hand in hand. Without knowledge, just to rely on faith, faith, and more faith is good but not sufficient. So the intellectual part must definitely be present. At the same time, strictly intellectual development without faith and practice, is also of no use. It is necessary to combine knowledge born from study with sincere practice in our daily lives. These two must go together.”

TwoImportantUseHandsTogetherBornPracticeLearningStudyBuddhismDevelopmentIntellectualBuddhistSufficientRelyDaily LifeSincereHand In HandIntellectual Development
Author:Dalai Lama
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“From one point of view we can say that we have human bodies and are practicing the Buddha's teachings and are thus much better than insects. But we can also say that insects are innocent and free from guile, where as we often lie and misrepresent ourselves in devious ways in order to achieve our ends or better ourselves. From this perspective, we are much worse than insects.”

WayHumansEndsBodyLyingOrderViewsTeachingAchievePerspectivePoint Of ViewInnocentBuddhistInsectsHuman BodyDeviousGuile
Author:Dalai Lama
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“When the days become longer and there is more sunshine, the grass becomes fresh and, consequently, we feel very happy. On the other hand, in autumn, one leaf falls down and another leaf falls down. The beautiful plants become as if dead and we do not feel very happy. Why? I think it is because deep down our human nature likes construction, and does not like destruction. Naturally, every action which is destructive is against human nature. Constructiveness is the human way. Therefore, I think that in terms of basic human feeling, violence is not good. Non-violence is the only way.”

IfsThinkingWayFeelsHumansDoeFeelingsHandsActionBeautifulFallTermViolenceHuman NatureDestructionDown AndPlantLikesBuddhistGrassDestructiveSunshineAutumnConstructionVery HappyLeafsFalling DownDeep DownNon Violence
Author:Dalai Lama
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“We humans have existed in our present form for about a hundred thousand years. I believe that if during this time the human mind had been primarily controlled by anger and hatred, our overall population would have decreased. But today, despite all our wars, we find that the human population is greater than ever. This clearly indicates to me that love and compassion predominate in the world. And this is why unpleasant events are "news"; compassionate activities are so much a part of daily life that they are taken for granted and , therefore, largely ignored.”

IfsWorldYearsMindBelieveHumansWarTodayFormI BelieveCompassionTakenGreaterEventsThousandActivityNewsHundredHatredPopulationDespiteBuddhistGrantedDaily LifeHuman MindControlledCompassionateThousand YearsIgnoredLove And CompassionTaken For GrantedHuman Population
Author:Dalai Lama
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