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Dalai Lama

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Famous Dalai Lama Quotes

“Our lives are in constant flux, which generates many predicaments. But when these are faced with a calm and clear mind supported by spiritual practice, they can all be successfully resolved. When our minds are clouded by hatred, selfishness, jealousy, and anger, we lose not only control but also our judgment. At those wild moments, anything can happen, including war. Although the practice of compassion and wisdom is useful to us all, it is especially valuable for those responsible for running national affairs, in whose hands lie the power and opportunity to create a framework for world peace.”

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Author:Dalai Lama
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“When the only bond between close friends is attachment, then even a minor issue may cause one's projections to change. As soon as our projections change, the attachment disappears, because that attachment was based solely on projection and expectation. It is possible to have compassion without attachment, and similarly, to have anger without hatred.”

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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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“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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“We are beset by problems and if we look for their source, we find they arise because of our selfishness, because we tend to pursue our own interests at the expense of others. Our various religious traditions exist to help us reduce these problems. They all teach ways to overcome suffering through cultivating love and compassion, tolerance, patience and contentment.”

IfsWayLooksHelpingProblemSufferingInterestReligiousCompassionTeachSourceTraditionOvercomingVariousToleranceArisePursueSelfishnessContentmentExpensesLove And CompassionCultivatingReligious Traditions
Author:Dalai Lama
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“Once we have a firm practice of compassion our state of mind becomes stronger which leads to inner peace, giving rise to self-confidence, which reduces fear. This makes for constructive members of the community. Self-centredness on the other hand leads to distance, suspicion, mistrust and loneliness, with unhappiness as the result.”

GivingMindSelfStatesHandsCommunityResultsCompassionPracticeLonelinessConfidenceMembersStrongerDistanceSelf ConfidenceInner PeaceFirmUnhappinessPeace Of MindState Of MindSuspicionConstructiveSelf CenteredMistrust
Author:Dalai Lama
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“Compassion is something we can count on. Even if we face economic problems and our fortunes decline, we can still share our compassion with our fellow human beings. National and global economies are subject to many ups and downs, but through them all we can retain a compassionate attitude that will carry us through.”

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Author:Dalai Lama
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“For a person who cherishes compassion and love, the practice of tolerance is essential, and for that, and enemy is indispinsable. So we should be grateful to our enemies, for it is they who can best help us to develop a tranquil mind.”

ShouldMindPersonsHelpingCompassionEnemyPracticeEssentialsAnd LoveGratefulToleranceCherishBe GratefulTranquil
Book:In My Own Words: An Introduction to My Teachings and Philosophy
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“The lessons we have begun to learn make me hopeful, that human beings will become friendlier, more harmonious, less harmful. Compassion and the seeds of peace will be able to flourish. At the same time, every individual is responsible to help guide our global family in the right direction. Good wishes alone are not enough; we have to take responsibility. Large human movements spring from individual human initiatives”

HumansEnoughHelpingAbleIndividualWishHuman BeingsResponsibilityCompassionMovementLessonsSpringResponsibleSeedsGuidesHopefulInitiativeTaking ResponsibilityPersonal ResponsibilityHarmoniousRight DirectionFlourishingCaring For OthersFriendlinessPeace And UnityGood Wishes
Author:Dalai Lama
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“For the moment a lot of attention is given to economic concerns, and these problems at hand easily eclipse all others. But the remedies proposed for these problems all come out of outmoded ways of thinking... The remedy? Compassion. The logical feeling that we find in ourselves if we search deeply enough that has to be exercised toward all other living creatures.”

IfsThinkingWayEnoughMomentsFeelingsProblemHandsGivenAttentionCompassionEconomicCreaturesConcernLogicalRemedyWay Of ThinkingEclipseLiving Creatures
Author:Dalai Lama
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“An important distinction can be made between religion and spirituality. Religion [is] concerned with faith in the claims to salvation of one faith tradition... Spirituality is concerned with qualities of the human spirit, love and compassion, patience, tolerance, forgiveness, contentment, a sense of responsibility, a sense of harmony, that bring happiness both to self.”

HumansMadeImportantSelfSpiritSpiritualityQualityResponsibilityCompassionConcernedTraditionClaimsHarmonyPatienceSalvationToleranceDistinctionContentmentHuman SpiritTrue HappinessWise Man Once SaidLove And CompassionSense Of ResponsibilitySpirit Love
Author:Dalai Lama
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“Peace must first be developed within an individual. And I believe that love, compassion, and altruism are the fundamental basis for peace. Once these qualities are developed within an individual, he or she is then able to create an atmosphere of peace and harmony. This atmosphere can be expanded and extended from the individual to his family, from the family to the community and eventually to the whole world.”

WorldFirstsBelieveWholeAbleIndividualI BelieveCommunityQualityCompassionBasesHarmonyFundamentalsWhole WorldAtmosphereAltruismPeace And Harmony
Author:Dalai Lama
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“We need to employ a secular approach to ethics, secular in the Indian sense of respecting all religious traditions and even the views of non-believers in an unbiased way. Secular ethics rooted in scientific findings, common experience and common sense can easily be introduced into the secular education system. If we can do that there is a real prospect of making this 21st century an era of peace and compassion.”

IfsWayNeedsRealCan DoReligiousViewsCommonCompassionCenturyFindingsApproachEthicsTraditionBelieverCommon SenseErasIndianRootedSecular21st CenturyRespecting OthersEducation SystemCultural DiversityInspirational EducationReligious TraditionsNon BelieverUnbiasedCommon ExperienceSecular Humanism
Author:Dalai Lama
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“The purpose of our life needs to be positive. We weren't born with the purpose of causing trouble, harming others. For our life to be of value, I think we must develop basic good human qualities - warmth, kindness, compassion. Then our life becomes meaningful and more peaceful - happier.”

ThinkingNeedsHumansPurposeValuesBornQualityCompassionKindnessOur LivesTroublePositivityMeaningfulPeacefulBe KindWarmthGood LifeHappy LifeBeing PositiveArt Of HappinessHuman QualitiesHarming OthersCausing Trouble
Book:The Art of Happiness, 10th Anniversary Edition: A Handbook for Living
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“Ultimately, the decision to save the environment must come from the human heart. The key point is a call for a genuine sense of universal responsibility that is based on love, compassion and clear awareness.”

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Book:Worlds in Harmony: Compassionate Action for a Better World: Easyread Comfort Edition
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