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Famous Dalai Lama Quotes

“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
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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
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“Any issue, including political, economic and religious activities human beings pursue in this world, should be fully understood before we pass our judgement. Therefore, it is very important to know the causes. Whatever the issue, we should be able to see the complete picture. This will enable us to comprehend the whole story.”

KnowsWorldShouldHumansImportantWholeStoriesAblePoliticalCausesReligiousHuman BeingsIssuesEconomicThis WorldActivityUnderstoodIncludingPursueJudgement
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“The question of real, lasting world peace concerns human beings, so basic human feelings are also at its roots. Through inner peace, genuine world peace can be achieved. In this the importance of individual responsibility is quite clear; an atmosphere of peace must first be created within ourselves, then gradually expanded to include our families, our communities, and ultimately the whole planet.”

WorldFirstsHumansRealWholeFeelingsIndividualCommunityHuman BeingsResponsibilityClearPlanetsConcernRootsImportanceInner PeaceGenuineAtmosphereOur FamilyLastingOur CommunityIndividual Responsibility
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“Today we face many problems. Some are created essentially by ourselves based on divisions due to ideology, religion, race, economic status, or other factors. Therefore, the time has come for us to think on a deeper level, on the human level, and from that level we should appreciate and respect the sameness of others as human beings.”

ThinkingShouldHumansProblemTodayFacesHuman BeingsLevelsRaceEconomicAppreciateDeeperDuesFactorsIdeologyDivisionSamenessEconomic Status
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“We need a sense of the oneness of the 7 billion human beings alive today. When I meet people, I don't think about being different from them, about being Tibetan, Buddhist or even the Dalai Lama. I only think about being a human being. We all share the potential for positive and negative emotions, yet one of our special qualities is our human mind, our intelligence. If we use it well we'll be successful and happy.”

PeopleIfsThinkingNeedsMindHumansWellsDifferentUseTodayHuman BeingsEmotionQualitySuccessfulAliveShareSpecialNegativeIntelligenceBillionsOnenessBuddhistBeing SuccessfulPotentialHuman MindBeing DifferentLive For TodayTibetanHuman PotentialLamaDalaiNegative EmotionsTibetan Buddhist
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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.”

IfsHumansStillsProblemFacesHuman BeingsAttitudeCompassionEconomyShareEconomicSubjectsFellowsFortuneCompassionateDeclineUps & DownsGlobal EconomyEconomic Problems
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“Once you develop confidence in your own ability, you'll be able to make a real contribution to creating a better world. Self-confidence is very important. Not in the sense of blind pride, but as a realistic awareness of what you can do. As human beings we can transform ourselves by our good qualities and reducing our faults. Our intelligence enables us to judge what is good from what is harmful.”

WorldHumansImportantRealSelfAbleCan DoHuman BeingsAbilityQualityAwarenessJudgingPrideConfidenceCreatingBlindFaultsIntelligenceGoodSelf ConfidenceContributionRealisticReducingGood QualitySelf TransformationSelf Efficacy
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“When I look at birds and animals, their survival is without rules, without conditions, without organization. But mothers take good care of their offspring. That's nature. In human beings also, parents - particularly mothers - and children have a special bond. Mother's milk is a sign of this affection. We are created that way. The child's survival is entirely dependent on someone else's affection. So, basically, each individual's survival or future depends on society. We need these human values.”

WayNeedsHumansLooksChildrenCareMotherValuesIndividualParentHuman BeingsAnimalSpecialConditionsDependsSurvivalBirdOrganizationAffectionDependentMilkOffspringHuman ValuesMother And Child
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“Taking care of our planet is like taking care of our houses. Since we human beings come from Nature, there is no point in our going against nature, which is why I say the environment is not a matter of religion or ethics or morality. These are luxuries, since we can survive without them. But we will not survive if we continue to go against nature.”

IfsHumansMatterCareHouseHuman BeingsEnvironmentPlanetsMoralityEthicsLuxuryOur PlanetNo Point
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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
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“In the past, destruction of your neighbour might have been considered a victory, but today we are all interdependent. We live in a global economy; we face problems like climate change that affect us all. The 7 billion human beings alive today belong to one human family. In the context that others' interests are in our interest and our interest is in their interest, the use of force is self-destructive.”

HumansHas BeensSelfUseProblemMightTodayPastFacesForceInterestHuman BeingsEconomyAliveVictoryDestructionClimateClimate ChangeBillionsDestructiveBelongingGlobalizationMight Have BeenNeighbourWise Man Once SaidLive For TodaySelf DestructionInterdependenceGlobal EconomySelf DestructiveHuman FamilyUse Of Force
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“The most important thing in life is human affection. Without it one cannot achieve genuine happiness. And if we want a happier life, a happier family, happier neighbours or a happier nation, the key is inner quality. Even if the five billion human beings that inhabit the earth become millionaires, without inner development there cannot be peace or any lasting happiness.”

IfsWantHumansImportantEarthLife IsNationsHuman BeingsQualityFiveAchieveKeysDevelopmentImportant ThingsAffectionBillionsGenuineLastingThings In LifeNeighbourMillionaireMost Important Things In LifeHappier LifeLasting HappinessGenuine Happiness
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“There are five billion human beings and in a certain way I think we need five billion different religions, because there is such a large variety of dispositions. I believe that each individual should embark upon a spiritual path that is best suited to his or her mental disposition, natural inclination, temperament, belief, family and cultural background.”

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“The problem isn't materialism as such. Rather it is the underlying assumption that full satisfaction can arise from gratifying the senses alone. Unlike animals whose quest for happiness is restricted to survival and to the immediate gratification of sensory desires, we human beings have the capacity to experience happiness at a deeper level which, when achieved, can overwhelm unhappy experiences.”

HumansProblemDesireHuman BeingsAnimalLevelsSurvivalCapacitySatisfactionDeeperSensesUnhappyAriseAssumptionMaterialismQuestsGratificationSensoryImmediate Gratification
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“I think every human being, born from mother, and at least the next few years, you see, received immense affection from our mother. So the child's first experience in this lifetime at the beginning, I think that immense affection from other is in our blood. So therefore, the whole rest of life, other people show you smile, genuine sort of closeness feeling. You feel happy. Even animals also like that.”

PeopleThinkingFeelsYearsFirstsHumansChildrenWholeShowsFeelingsMotherNextBornHuman BeingsAnimalBloodLifetimeAffectionGenuineImmenseClosenessRest Of Life
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“We human beings are social beings. We come into the world as the result of others’ actions. We survive here in dependence on others. Whether we like it or not, there is hardly a moment of our lives when we do not benefit from others’ activities. For this reason, it is hardly surprising that most of our happiness arises in the context of our relationships with others.”

WorldHumansReasonMomentsActionHappinessSocialHuman BeingsResultsOur LivesActivityBenefitsAriseSurprisingOur RelationshipDependenceRelationships With OthersOthers HappinessDependence On OthersSocial Being
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