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“Whether we consider the individual, family, local, national or international level, peace must arise from inner peace. For example, making prayers for peace while continuing to harbor anger is futile. Training the mind and overcoming your anger is much more effective than mere prayer. Anger, hatred and jealousy never solve problems, only affection, concern and respect can do that.”

MindProblemIndividualCan DoPrayerLevelsExampleWords Of WisdomTrainingRespectConcernHatredOvercomingMereInternationalAffectionSolveInner PeaceAriseLocalsJealousyPeace Of MindSpiritual WisdomContinuingEffectivenessHarborsLove And AffectionTraining The MindHatred And Jealousy
Author:Dalai Lama
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“The nature of the mind is such that if certain mental qualities are developed on a sound basis, they not only remain, but they also increase. In fact, once properly developed, the mind's good qualities eventually increase indefinitely. Therefore spiritual practice brings us long-term happiness and inner strength.”

IfsMindLongFactsSpiritualCertainSoundTermQualityPracticeBasesIncreaseHappyGoodLong TermInner StrengthBeing HappySpiritual PracticeGood Quality
Author:Dalai Lama
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“Until you have the inner discipline that brings calmness of mind, external facilities and conditions will never bring the joy and happiness you seek. On the other hand, if you possess this inner quality, calmness of mind, a degree of stability within, even if you lack the various external factors that you would normally require to be happy, it will still be possible to live a happy and joyful life.”

IfsMindStillsHandsJoyQualityConditionsDisciplineWords Of WisdomDegreesVariousHappyFactorsStabilityJoyfulSelf ControlSelf DisciplineBeing HappyCalmnessFacilityTrue HappinessWise Man Once SaidTibetanJoy And HappinessLife Well LivedStay CalmJoyful Life
Author:Dalai Lama
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“People often expect the other person to respond first in a positive way, instead of taking the initiative to create that possibility. I feel that's wrong; it can act as a barrier that just promotes a feeling of isolation from others. To overcome feelings of isolation and loneliness, your underlying attitude makes a tremendous difference - approaching others with the thought of compassion in your mind is the best way.”

PeopleWayFeelsMindFirstsPersonsFeelingsDifferencesAttitudeCompassionLonelinessPossibilityWords Of WisdomOvercomingBest WayIsolationBarriersWrongInitiativeWise Man Once SaidTibetanLoneliness And SolitudeIsolation And Loneliness
Author:Dalai Lama
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“Scientists are coming to recognise the effects of the mind on physical health. The sense of relaxation associated with inner peace involves not only being physically at ease. If you are nagged by worry or seething with anger, you’re not really relaxed. The key to relaxation is peace of mind. The relaxation gained from alcohol, drugs or just listening to music may seem attractive, but it doesn’t last.”

IfsMindMaySeemsLastsWorryEffectsKeysListeningDrugScientistAlcoholInner PeaceEaseAttractivePeace Of MindRelaxationRelaxedListening To MusicRecogniseJust ListenPhysical HealthSeething
Author:Dalai Lama
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“The more you think about your own self, the more self-centred you are, the more trouble even small problems can create in your mind. The stronger your sense of 'I', the narrower the scope of your thinking becomes; then even small obstacles become unbearable. On the other hand, if you concern yourself mainly with others, the broader your thinking becomes, and life's inevitable difficulties disturb you less.”

IfsThinkingMindSelfProblemHandsTroubleConcernDifficultyStrongerObstaclesInevitableScopeDisturbingUnbearableSelf CenteredEgoismCaring For OthersTibetanNarrow-mindedBroadmindednessSmall Problems
Author:Dalai Lama
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“If you have peace of mind, when you meet with problems and difficulties they won’t disturb your inner peace. You’ll be able to employ your human intelligence more effectively. But, if your mental state is disturbed, full of emotion, it is very difficult to cope with problems, because the mind that is full of emotion is biased, unable to see reality. So whatever you do will be unrealistic and naturally fail.”

IfsMindHumansStatesProblemRealityAbleDifficultEmotionFailingDifficultyIntelligenceInner PeacePeace Of MindDisturbedDisturbanceBiasedHuman Intelligence
Author:Dalai Lama
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“Like anyone else, I too have the potential for violence; I too have anger in me. However, I try to recall that anger is a destructive emotion. I remind myself that scientists now say that anger is bad for our health; it eats into our immune system. So, anger destroys our peace of mind and our physical health. We shouldn’t welcome it or think of it as natural or as a friend.”

ThinkingTryingMindNaturalEmotionViolenceScientistWelcomeDestructivePeace Of MindRecallsImmuneAnger ManagementImmune SystemPhysical Health
Author:Dalai Lama
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“If your mental attitude is positive, even when threats abound, you won’t lose your inner peace. On the other hand, if your mind is negative, marked by fear, suspicion and feelings of helplessness, even among your best friends, in a pleasant atmosphere and comfortable surroundings, you won’t be happy.”

IfsMindFeelingsHandsLosesAttitudeComfortableNegativeThreatPositivityInner PeaceAtmospherePositive AttitudePleasantPeace Of MindSuspicionNegativitySurroundingsHelplessnessYour Best FriendMental AttitudeBad Attitude
Author:Dalai Lama
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“When we speak of a calm state of mind or peace of mind, we shouldn't confuse that with an insensitive state of apathy. Having a calm or peaceful state of mind doesn't mean being spaced out or completely empty. Peace of mind or a calm state of mind is rooted in affection and compassion and is sensitive and responsive to others.”

MindMeanStatesSpeakCompassionEmptyCalmAffectionPeacefulSensitivePeace Of MindState Of MindApathyRootedCalmnessInsensitiveResponsiveness
Author:Dalai Lama
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“When we are angry we are blind to reality. Anger may bring us a temporary burst of energy, but that energy is blind and it blocks the part of our brain that distinguishes right from wrong. To deal with our problems, we need to be practical and realistic. If we are to be realistic, we need to use our human intelligence properly, which means we need a calm mind.”

IfsNeedsMindHumansMayMeanUseProblemRealityEnergyDealsBrainBlindAngryCalmIntelligencePracticalsBlockTemporaryWrongRealisticAnger ManagementPracticalityHuman IntelligenceStay CalmEmotional EnergyCalm Mind
Author:Dalai Lama
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“We don’t need more money, we don’t need greater success or fame, we don’t need the perfect body or even the perfect mate-right now, at this very moment, we have a mind, which is all the basic equipment we need to achieve complete happiness.”

NeedsMindMomentsBodyPerfectGreaterAchieveRight NowFameMatesMore MoneyEquipmentComplete Happiness
Book:The Art of Happiness, 10th Anniversary Edition: A Handbook for Living
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“Compassion can be roughly defined in terms of a state of mind that is nonviolent, nonharming, and nonaggressive. It is a mental attitude based on the wish for others to be free of their suffering and is associated with a sense of commitment, responsibility, and respect towards others.”

MindStatesSufferingWishTermAttitudeResponsibilityCompassionCommitmentDefinedState Of MindMental Attitude
Book:The Art of Happiness, 10th Anniversary Edition: A Handbook for Living
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“Too much of a self-centered attitude creates mistrust and suspicion in others, which can in turn lead to fear. But if you have more of an open mind, and you cultivate a sense of concern for others' well-being, then, no matter what others' attitudes are, you can keep your inner peace.”

IfsMindWellsSelfMatterTurnsAttitudeToo MuchConcernNo Matter WhatInner PeaceWell BeingSpiritual WisdomSuspicionOpen MindSelf CenteredMistrustTibetanConcern For Others
Author:Dalai Lama
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“Scientists may study mainly matter but they cannot ignore the human mind, or consciousness: spiritual practitioners may be engaging mainly in developing the mind but they cannot completely ignore their physical needs. It is for this reason that I have always stressed the importance of combining both mental and the material approach to achieving happiness for humankind.”

NeedsMindHumansMayMatterReasonSpiritualConsciousnessStudyAchieveMaterialsApproachScientistImportanceDevelopingHuman MindHumankindEngagingStressedCombiningAchieving Happiness
Book:MindScience: An East-West Dialogue
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“To my mind, there are two things that, in life, you can do about death. Either you can choose to ignore it, in which case you may have some success in making the idea of it go away for a limited period of time, or you can confront the prospect of your own death and try to analyze it and, in so doing, try to minimize some of the inevitable suffering that it causes. Neither way can you actually overcome it.”

WayTryingMindMayTwoIdeasDeathSufferingCausesCan DoCasesPeriodsOvercomingInevitableTwo ThingsGoing Away
Author:Dalai Lama
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“It is not enough to be compassionate. You must act. There are two aspects to action. One is to overcome the distortions and afflictions of your own mind, that is, in terms of calming and eventually dispelling anger. This is action out of compassion. The other is more social, more public. When something needs to be done in the world to rectify the wrongs, if one is really concerned with benefitting others, one needs to be engaged, involved.”

IfsWorldNeedsMindTwoDoneEnoughActionSocialTermCompassionInvolvedConcernedAspectOvercomingEngagedCompassionateAfflictionDistortionCalmingRectifyDispellingBenefiting Others
Author:Dalai Lama
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