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Dalai Lama

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Famous Dalai Lama Quotes

“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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“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
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“As human, we all have the same human potential, unless there is some sort of retarded brain function. The wonderful human brain is the source of our strength and the source of our future, provided we utilize it in the right direction. If we use the brilliant human mind in the wrong way, it is really a disaster.”

IfsWayMindHumansUseBrainWonderfulSourceFunctionBrilliantDisasterHuman MindOur FutureWrong WayRight DirectionHuman BrainHuman PotentialRetardedBrain Function
Book:The Power of Compassion: A Collection of Lectures
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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
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.”

HumansHeartDecisionResponsibilityCompassionClearEnvironmentAwarenessKeysUniversalGenuineHuman HeartSave The Environment
Book:Worlds in Harmony: Compassionate Action for a Better World: Easyread Comfort Edition
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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.”

ThinkingWayNeedsShouldBelieveHumansDifferentSpiritualCertainIndividualBeliefI BelieveNaturalHuman BeingsPathFiveBillionsBackgroundsVarietyDispositionInclinationTemperamentSpiritual PathDifferent Religions
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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 met an American lady many years ago, much distant. Then I told her about my own difficult experiences and I showed some genuine concern. She responded, "Why are you so concerned about me?" We need more patience. At a fundamental level, we are the same human brothers and sisters. Then forget it. The human mind is very strange. Like that.”

NeedsYearsMindHumansDifficultMy OwnForgetLevelsStrangeBrotherMetsConcernConcernedYears AgoFundamentalsGenuineHuman MindBrothers And SistersForget ItGenuine ConcernDifficult Experiences
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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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“I think the problem is these basic sort of human values from our - from the beginning, from birth, are not sort of properly nurtured. So then our mind, our brain, through education and also difference of experiences, that eventually, these basic values or what are called dominant, not have the catching up our intelligence, experience growth, that also should grow. Then our life become more human.”

ThinkingShouldMindHumansProblemValuesGrowsGrowthDifferencesBrainOur LivesBirthDominantCatchingHuman ValuesCatching Up
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“I can do what my energy, my time, to my other sort of commitment. And then also emotional, religious harmony. So in these two field, now that more or less I think the spirituality or human values in these fields, I may consider my only professional field. The political, national struggle, these are not my profession.”

ThinkingHumansMayI CanTwoPoliticalValuesSpiritualityEnergyCan DoReligiousStruggleFieldsEmotionalCommitmentHarmonyProfessionMy TimeHuman Values
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“The invitation come from some institution who really involving so-called my own profession, these fields. And then different universities or education sort of institution, I feel that is the place where the awareness of these things to start and to spread a more human community. So then on that level, yes, I have some obligation.”

FeelsHumansDifferentCommunityMy OwnLevelsAwarenessFieldsInstitutionsUniversitySpreadProfessionObligationInvitationsInvolving
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“Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.”

LoveLifeInspirationalNeedsHumansMotivationalSpiritualSuccessHumanityCompassionKindnessMeditationMankindLove YouPositiveBuddhismSurvivalYogaValuableLuxuryBuddhistWellnessCompassionateInspirational LoveSpiritual WisdomHumankindLove And KindnessTibetanLove And CompassionZen BuddhismKindness And CompassionLoving KindnessTibetHuman LoveLove Is All You NeedLove AlwaysArt Of HappinessReligious TraditionsLearning To LoveCommon HumanityGift Of LoveHuman WisdomFaith In HumanityHuman CompassionDaily BuddhistCompassion For YourselfPeace And ToleranceLove For HumanityZen BuddhistCompassionate LoveWill To SurviveHumanity And Nature
Author:Dalai Lama
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“Every day, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it. I am going to use all my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others; to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. I am going to have kind thoughts towards others, I am not going to get angry or think badly about others. I am going to benefit others as much as I can.”

ThinkingLifeInspirationalHumansHeartKindI CanUseInspirationTodaySpiritualEnergyAliveAchieveMy HeartWasteBenefitsEnlightenmentWake UpAngryFortunateHuman LifeI Am AliveKind ThoughtsFortunate 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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