Quotessence
Home / Authors / Dalai Lama
Dalai Lama

Dalai Lama Quotes

Author

Filter quotes by topic

AllIfsHumansCompassionMindBuddhistPeopleInspirationalSpiritualWayNeedsWorldThinkingSufferingHuman BeingsTibetanImportantHelpingPracticeProblemShould

Famous Dalai Lama Quotes

“True compassion is not just an emotional response, but a firm commitment founded on reason. Therefore, a truly compassionate attitude toward others does not change, even if they behave negatively. Through universal altruism, you develop a feeling of responsibility for others: the wish to help them actively overcome their problems.”

IfsDoeReasonHelpingFeelingsProblemWisdomWishChangeEmotionAttitudeResponsibilityCompassionWiseEmotionalDevelopmentWise WordsWords Of WisdomBehaviorCommitmentOvercomingUniversalResponseHelping OthersDevelopingFirmBehaveCompassionateBehaviourAltruismWise Man Once SaidCaring For OthersEmotional Response
Book:In My Own Words: An Introduction to My Teachings and Philosophy
Create image

“We can never obtain peace in the world if we neglect the inner world and don't make peace with ourselves. World peace must develop out of inner peace. Without inner peace it is impossible to achieve world peace, external peace. Weapons themselves do not act. They have not come out of the blue. Man has made them. But even given those weapons, those terrible weapons, they cannot act by themselves. As long as they are left alone in storage they cannot do any harm. A human being must use them. Someone must push the button. Satan, the evil powers, cannot push that button. Human beings must do it.”

IfsMenWorldHumansLongMadeUseSpiritualEvilLeftGivenHuman BeingsImpossibleAchieveTerribleWeaponsBlueHarmInner PeaceSatanNeglectButtonsMaking PeaceLeft AloneInner WorldStorageGreat Spiritual
Author:Dalai Lama
Create image

“We are all here on this planet, as it were, as tourists. None of us can live here forever. The longest we might live is a hundred years. So while we are here we should try to have a good heart and to make something positive and useful of our lives. Whether we live just a few years or a whole century, it would be truly regrettable and sad if we were to spend that time aggravating the problems that afflict other people, animals, and the environment. The most important things is to be a good human being.”

PeopleIfsShouldTryingYearsHumansHeartImportantWholeProblemMightWould BeHuman BeingsAnimalForeverEnvironmentOur LivesCenturyPlanetsHundredImportant ThingsLife ChangingTouristsGood HeartAggravatingGood Human Being
Book:Path To Tranquility
Create image

“Ageing destroys youth, sickness destroys health, degeneration of life destroys all excellent qualities and death destroys life. Even if you are a great runner, you cannot run away from death. you cannot stop death with your wealth, through your magic performances or recitation of mantras or even medicines. Therefore, it is wise to prepare for your death.”

IfsRunningDeathWealthQualityWiseMagicDyingYouthPerformancesMedicineExcellentSicknessRunning AwayRunnersAgeingMantrasDegenerationRecitation
Author:Dalai Lama
Create image

“From a Buddhist point of view, the actual experience of death is very important. Although how or where we will be reborn is generally dependent on karmic forces, our state of mind at the time of death can influence the quality of our next rebirth. So at the moment of death, in spite of the great variety of karmas we have accumulated, if we make a special effort to generate a virtuous state of mind, we may strengthen and activate a virtuous karma, and so bring about a happy rebirth.”

IfsMindMayImportantStatesMomentsDeathNextForceViewsEffortQualityInfluenceSpecialDyingPoint Of ViewKarmaBuddhistVarietySpiteDependentState Of MindVirtuousRebirthRebornActivate
Author:Dalai Lama
Create image

“Every noble work is bound to face problems and obstacles. It is important to check your goal and motivation thoroughly. One should be very truthful, honest, and reasonable. One's actions should be good for others, and for oneself as well. Once a positive goal is chosen, you should decide to pursue it all the way to the end. Even if it is not realized, at least there will be no regret.”

IfsWayShouldWellsImportantEndsProblemActionFacesMotivationGoalHonestRegretAdversityBoundsOneselfObstaclesBe GoodNobleChecksChosenPursueReasonableTruthfulNo RegretsGoals And Motivation
Book:Path To Tranquility
Create image

“If one's life is simple, contentment has to come. Simplicity is extremely important for happiness. Having few desires, feeling satisfied with what you have, is very vital: satisfaction with just enough food, clothing, and shelter to protect yourself from the elements.”

IfsImportantEnoughFeelingsLife IsDesireSimpleProtectElementsSimplicitySatisfactionSatisfiedContentmentClothingsShelterMinimalismSimple LivingProtect YourselfLiving A Simple LifeSimple Things In LifeLife Is SimpleContentment And PeaceSimplicity In Art
Author:Dalai Lama
Create image

“I believe that the basic nature of human beings is gentle and compassionate. It is therefore in our own interest to encourage that nature, to make it live within us, to leave room for it to develop. If on the contrary we use violence, it is as if we voluntarily obstruct the positive side of human nature and prevent its evolution.”

IfsBelieveHumansUseI BelieveSidesInterestHuman BeingsRoomsHealingViolenceHuman NatureEvolutionConflictContraryGentleCompassionateConflict ResolutionConflict Of Interest
Author:Dalai Lama
Create image

“It is important to have determination and optimism and patience. If you lack patience, even when you face some small obstacle, you lose courage. There is a Tibetan saying, "Even if you have failed at something nine times, you have still given it effort nine times." I think that's important. Use your brain to analyze the situation. Do not rush through it, but think. Once you decide what to do about that obstacle, then there's a possibility that you will achieve your goal.”

IfsThinkingInspirationalStillsImportantUseFacesGivenGoalLosesEffortBrainSituationAchievePossibilityDeterminationOptimismObstaclesNineGraduationTibetanAchieving Your Goals
Author:Dalai Lama
Create image

“The most important thing is practice in daily life; then you can know gradually the true value of religion. Doctrine is not meant for mere knowledge, but for the improvement of our minds. In order to do that, it must be part of our life. If you put religious doctrine in a building and when you leave the building depart from the practices, you cannot gain its value.”

IfsKnowsMindImportantValuesOrderReligiousPracticeOur LivesBuildingGainsImportant ThingsMereImprovementDoctrineDaily LifeTrue Value
Book:Kindness, Clarity, and Insight
Create image

“From the viewpoint of absolute truth, what we feel and experience in our ordinary daily life is all delusion. Of all the various delusions, the sense of discrimination between oneself and others is the worst form, as it creates nothing but unpleasantness for both sides. If we can realize and meditate on ultimate truth, it will cleanse our impurities of mind and thus eradicate the sense of discrimination. This will help to create true love for one another. The search for ultimate truth is, therefore, vitally important.”

IfsFeelsMindImportantHelpingFormLife IsSidesRealizingWorstTruth IsOrdinaryUltimateAbsolutesOneselfVariousDiscriminationDelusionDaily LifeBoth SidesViewpointsAbsolute TruthImpurityUltimate Truth
Author:Dalai Lama
Create image

“The first beneficiary of compassion is always oneself. When compassion, or warmheartedness, arises in us and our focus shifts away from our own narrow self-interest, it is as if we open an inner door. It reduces fear, boosts confidence and brings us inner strength. By reducing distrust, it opens us to others and brings us a sense of connection to others, and sense of purpose and meaning in life.”

IfsFirstsHeartSelfPurposeFearInterestCompassionFocusDoorsStrengthBuddhismConfidenceConnectionsOneselfSensesAriseBuddhistMeaning Of LifeInner StrengthDistrustSelf InterestReducingReductionFinding HappinessBoostMeaning LifeConfidence BoostingBeneficiariesPurpose And Meaning
Author:Dalai Lama
Create image

“Being concerned about other people is especially relevant in today's world. If we consider the complex inter-connected ness of our modern lives, how we depend on others and others depend on us, our outlook will change. We’ll begin to see 'others' not as somehow distant from us, but as people we are in touch with, people close to us; we will no longer feel indifferent to them.”

PeopleIfsWorldFeelsTodayChangeModernBuddhismDependsConcernedComplexesConnectedBuddhistIndifferenceRelevantIndifferentDependenceOutlookModern LifeModernityClosenessPeople In Your LifeInterconnectednessToday's World
Author:Dalai Lama
Create image

“There is no denying that consideration of others is worthwhile and that our happiness is inextricably bound up with the happiness of others. There is no denying that if society suffers, we ourselves suffer, and the more our hearts and minds are afflicted with ill-will, the more miserable we become. We can reject religion, ideology, received wisdom, but we cannot escape the need for love and compassion.”

IfsLoveNeedsMindHeartHappinessReligionSufferingCompassionKindnessSocietyBoundsIllIdeologyBuddhistMiserableConsiderationRejectsWorthwhileHeart And MindCaring For OthersLove And CompassionIll WillInteracting With Others
Author:Dalai Lama
Create image

“If humanity is to survive, happiness and inner balance are crucial. Otherwise the lives of our children and their children are more likely to be unhappy, desperate and short. Material development certainly contributes to happiness - to some extent - and a comfortable way of life. But this is not sufficient. To achieve a deeper level of happiness we cannot neglect our inner development.”

IfsWayChildrenHumanityLevelsAchieveMaterialsDevelopmentBalanceComfortableOur ChildrenDeeperUnhappySufficientDesperateNeglectCrucial
Author:Dalai Lama
Create image

“The quality of everything we do: our physical actions, our verbal actions, and even our mental actions, depends on our motivation. That's why it's important for us to examine our motivation in our day to day life. If we cultivate respect for others and our motivation is sincere, if we develop a genuine concern for others’ well-being, then all our actions will be positive.”

IfsInspirationalWellsImportantWisdomMotivationalCareActionMotivationQualityPositiveBuddhismDependsWise WordsWords Of WisdomRespectConcernEverydayPositivityCaringGenuineBuddhistDevelopingWell BeingDaily LifeSelf MotivationSincereMotivatedDay To DayEveryday LifeMonkOur ActionsRespecting OthersWise Man Once SaidBeing PositiveExaminingCaring For OthersTibetanCultivatingDay LifeBe RespectfulDay To Day LifeConcern For OthersGenuine Concern
Author:Dalai Lama
Create image

“Happiness arises as a result of different causes and conditions. If you harm someone out of anger, you may feel some superficial satisfaction, but deep down you know it was wrong. Your confidence will be undermined. However, if you have an altruistic attitude, you’ll feel comfortable and confident in the presence of others.”

IfsKnowsFeelsMayDifferentHappinessCausesResultsAttitudeConditionsConfidenceComfortableAngerSatisfactionHarmAriseBuddhistWrongAltruismSuperficialDeep Down
Author:Dalai Lama
Create image

“Love, compassion and concern for others are real sources of happiness. If you have these in abundance, you will not be disturbed even by the most uncomfortable circumstances. If you nurse hatred, however, you will not be happy even in the lap of luxury. Thus, if we really want happiness, we must widen the sphere of love. This is both religious thinking and basic common sense.”

IfsThinkingWantLoveRealHappinessReligiousCommonCompassionSourceBuddhismCircumstancesConcernHatredCommon SenseLuxuryBuddhistUncomfortableAbundanceSpheresNurseBeing HappyLapDisturbedBasicsHappiness And LoveSource Of HappinessHappy InspirationalConcern For Others
Author:Dalai Lama
Create image