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Dalai Lama

Dalai Lama Quotes

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Famous Dalai Lama Quotes

“Death is a part of all our lives. Whether we like it or not, it is bound to happen. Instead of avoiding thinking about it, it is better to understand its meaning. We all have the same body, the same human flesh, and therefore we will all die. There is a big difference, of course, between natural death and accidental death, but basically death will come sooner or later. If from the beginning your attitude is 'Yes, death is part of our lives,' then it may be easier to face.”

IfsThinkingHumansMayBodyBigsHappensFacesDiesCoursesNaturalDifferencesAttitudeOur LivesEasierBoundsFleshSooner Or LaterAvoidingNatural Death
Book:The Dalai Lama’s Little Book of Wisdom
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“I feel that a genuine, affectionate smile is very important in our day-to-day lives. How one creates that smile largely depends on one's own attitude. It is illogical to expect smiles from others if one does not smile oneself. Therefore, one can see that many things depend on one's own behaviour.”

IfsFeelsDoeImportantAttitudeDependsOneselfGenuineBehaviourDay To DayAffectionateIllogicalDay LifeDay To Day Life
Book:The Power of Compassion: A Collection of Lectures
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“It is our custom to say that someone is 'lucky' or 'unlucky' if they meet with fortunate or unfortunate circumstances, respectively. It is, however, too simplistic to think in terms of random 'luck.' Even from a scientific point of view, this is not a sufficient explanation.”

IfsThinkingTermViewsCircumstancesLuckyLuckRewardsPoint Of ViewFortunateExplanationSufficientCustomsUnfortunateUnluckyUnfortunate Circumstances
Book:Answers: Discussions with Western Buddhists
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“Our state of mind plays a major role in our day-to-day experiences as well as our physical and mental well-being. If a person has a calm and stable mind, this influences his or her attitude and behavior in relation to others. In other words, if someone remains in a peaceful and tranquil state of mind, external surroundings can cause them only a limited disturbance.”

IfsInspirationalMindWellsPersonsStatesPlayCausesAttitudeRolesInfluenceBehaviorMajorsRelationRemainsCalmPeacefulWell BeingState Of MindStableDay To DaySurroundingsTranquilDisturbance
Book:Path To Tranquility
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“If you want to change the world, first try to improve and bring about change within yourself. That will help change your family. From there it just gets bigger and bigger. Everything we do has some effect, some impact.”

IfsWorldWantInspirationalTryingFirstsHelpingEffectsBiggerImpactOur FamilyChanging The World
Book:Worlds in Harmony: Compassionate Action for a Better World: Easyread Large Bold Edition
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“Hardship, in forcing us to exercise greater patience and forbearance in daily life, actually makes us stronger and more robust. From the daily experience of hardship comes a greater capacity to accept difficulties without losing our sense of inner calm. Of course, I do not advocate seeking out hardship as a way of life, but merely wish to suggest that, if you relate to it constructively, it can bring greater inner strength and fortitude.”

IfsWayCoursesWishAcceptingGreaterExerciseLosingCapacityDifficultyStrongerCalmSeekingRelateDaily LifeInner StrengthHardshipFortitudeRobustForbearanceDaily Experience
Author:Dalai Lama
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“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
Author:Dalai Lama
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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
Author:Dalai Lama
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“Sensory experience does not offset the intense pain or pleasure we feel on a mental level; it may distract us, but doesn't overcome it. On the other hand, if we have peace of mind, even negative experiences do not upset us. Peace of mind is also good for our physical health. Medical experts have found that anger, hatred and fear eat into our immune system. Being calm and relaxed is better for our physical well-being.”

IfsFeelsMindWellsMayDoeHandsPainFoundPleasureLevelsNegativeHatredOvercomingCalmMedicalIntenseWell BeingUpsetExpertsPeace Of MindSpiritual WisdomRelaxedCalmnessImmuneSensoryImmune SystemPhysical HealthStay CalmJoy And PainNegative ExperiencesIntense Pain
Author:Dalai Lama
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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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“So long as space remains, So long sentient beings' suffering remain, I will remain, In order to help, in order to serve... I am nothing but a servant to provide to others. So if you provide some happiness, some comfort to others, then your life becomes meaningful. If your life creates problems or suffering to others, then there's no meaning to your existence.”

IfsLongHelpingProblemSufferingOrderSpaceExistenceComfortRemainsMeaningfulServantTortureSentient Beings
Author:Dalai Lama
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“The more adept we become at cultivating an altruistic attitude, the happier we will feel and the more comfortable will be the atmosphere around us. But if our emotions fluctuate wildly and we easily give in to hatred and jealousy, even our friends will avoid us. So even for people with no spiritual beliefs, it is important to have a peaceful mind.”

PeopleIfsGivingFeelsMindImportantSpiritualBeliefEmotionAttitudeComfortableHatredPeacefulJealousyAtmospherePeace Of MindSpiritual WisdomAltruismTibetanCultivatingAdeptFluctuationPeaceful MindSpiritual BeliefsHatred And Jealousy
Author:Dalai Lama
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“A compassionate attitude opens our inner door, and as a result it is much easier to communicate with others. If there is too much self-centered attitude, then fear, doubt and suspicion come and as a result our inner door closes. Then it is very difficult to communicate with others.”

IfsSelfDifficultResultsAttitudeDoubtToo MuchDoorsEasierCommunicateCompassionateSuspicionSelf CenteredNarcissisticWise Man Once SaidSelf AbsorbedEgocentricSocial Interaction
Author:Dalai Lama
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“Depression seems to be related to fear, anger and frustration. When you're in a bad mood, even if you meet with your friends, you don't take pleasure in their company. But when you're in a good mood, even if things go wrong, you can cope with them without difficulty. This is why putting yourself in a good mood, making a point of developing a sense of loving kindness gives you greater inner strength.”

IfsGivingSeemsPleasureCompanyKindnessGreaterDepressionDifficultyMoodDevelopingRelatedFrustrationInner StrengthBe KindWrongCopingWise Man Once SaidLoving KindnessBad MoodGood MoodAnger And Frustration
Author:Dalai Lama
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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
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.”

IfsHumansStillsProblemFacesHuman BeingsAttitudeCompassionEconomyShareEconomicSubjectsFellowsFortuneCompassionateDeclineUps & DownsGlobal EconomyEconomic Problems
Author:Dalai Lama
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“The way of presentation is different according to each religion. In theistic religions like Buddhism, Buddhist values are incorporated. In nontheistic religions, like some types of ancient Indian thought, the law of karma applies. If you do something good, you get a good result. Now, what we need is a way to educate nonbelievers. These nonbelievers may be critical of all religions, but they should be decent at heart.”

IfsWayNeedsShouldHeartMayDifferentLawValuesResultsBuddhismTypeAncientCriticalKarmaBuddhistIndianDecentEducatePresentationLaw Of Karma
Author:Dalai Lama
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“One Mongolian leader became a very, very brutal dictator and eventually became a murderer. Previously, he was a monk, and then he became a revolutionary. Under the influence of his new ideology, he actually killed his own teacher. Pol Pot's family background was Buddhist. Whether he himself was a Buddhist at a young age, I don't know. Even Chairman Mao's family background was Buddhist. So one day, if the Dalai Lama becomes a mass murderer, he will become the most deadly of mass murderers.”

IfsKnowsAgeYoungLeaderTeacherInfluenceOne DayMassBackgroundsIdeologyBuddhistRevolutionaryPotBrutalDictatorMurdererMonkYoung AgeChairmanLamaMaoDalaiChairman MaoFamily Background
Author:Dalai Lama
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“If the situation was such that there was only one learned lama or genuine practitioner alive, a person whose death would cause the whole of Tibet to lose all hope of keeping its Buddhist way of life, then it is conceivable that in order to protect that one person it might be justified for one or 10 enemies to be eliminated if there was no other way.”

IfsWayPersonsWholeMightOrderCausesLosesSituationEnemyAliveProtectGenuineBuddhistJustifiedLamaTibetThat One Person
Author:Dalai Lama
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“If one's cause is supported by sound reasoning, there is no point in using violence. It is those who have no motive other than selfish desire and who cannot achieve their goal through logical reasoning who rely on force.”

IfsDesireForceCausesSoundGoalViolenceAchieveSelfishRelyMotiveReasoningLogicalNo PointSelfish DesireLogical Reasoning
Book:Imagine All the People: A Conversation with the Dalai Lama on Money, Politics, and Life As It Could Be
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