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Dalai Lama Quotes

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Famous Dalai Lama Quotes

“We are driven by self-interest, it’s necessary to survive. But we need wise self-interest that is generous and co-operative, taking others’ interests into account. Co-operation comes from friendship, friendship comes from trust, and trust comes from kind-heartedness. Once you have a genuine sense of concern for others, there’s no room for cheating, bullying or exploitation.”

NeedsKindSelfInterestRoomsWiseTrustConcernAccountsDrivenGenuineOperationsGenerousCheatingBullyingExploitationSelf InterestConcern For Others
Author:Dalai Lama
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“We have to think and see how we can fundamentally change our education system so that we can train people to develop warm-heartedness early on in order to create a healthier society. I don't mean we need to change the whole system, just improve it. We need to encourage an understanding that inner peace comes from relying on human values like, love, compassion, tolerance and honesty, and that peace in the world relies on individuals finding inner peace.”

PeopleThinkingWorldNeedsHumansMeanWholeValuesOrderIndividualUnderstandingCompassionHonestyFindingsTrainWarmToleranceInner PeaceRelyEncouragingWise Man Once SaidEducation SystemNeed A ChangeTibetanLike LoveHuman ValuesFinding Inner Peace
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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“We need to find secular ways to cultivate warm-heartedness. We need secular ways to educate ourselves about inner values. The source of a happy life is within us. Trouble makers in many parts of the world are often quite well educated, so it is not just education that we need. We need to pay attention to inner values.”

WorldWayNeedsWellsLife IsValuesPayAttentionTroubleSourceWarmEducatedPay AttentionMakersEducateHappy LifeSecularWell EducatedTrouble Maker
Author:Dalai Lama
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“Our most valuable teachers are our enemies.While our friends can help us in many ways, only our enemies can provide us with the challenge we need to develop tolerance, patience, and compassionthree virtues essential for building character, developing peace of mind, and bringing us true happiness.”

WayNeedsMindCharacterHelpingChallengesEnemyVirtueTeacherBuildingEssentialsValuableToleranceDevelopingPeace Of MindTrue HappinessBuilding Character
Author:Dalai Lama
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“According to Buddhism, individuals are masters of their own destiny. And all living beings are believed to possess the nature of the Primordial Buddha Samantabhadra, the potential or seed of enlightenment, within them. So our future is in our own hands. What greater free will do we need?”

NeedsHandsIndividualDestinyGreaterMastersBuddhismEnlightenmentSeedsFree WillOur Future
Book:Dzogchen: The Heart Essence of the Great Perfection
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“Everyone wants a happy life without difficulties or suffering. We create many of the problems we face. No one intentionally creates problems, but we tend to be slaves to powerful emotions like anger, hatred and attachment that are based on misconceived projections about people and things. We need to find ways of reducing these emotions by eliminating the ignorance that underlies them and applying opposing forces.”

PeopleWayWantNeedsProblemFacesSufferingForcePowerfulEmotionIgnoranceHatredDifficultySlaveAttachmentPeace Of MindHappy LifeSpiritual WisdomBeing HappyProjectionReducingOpposingEliminatingBe A SlaveEmotional EnergyPowerful Emotions
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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“I'm sure all of us agree that we need to overcome violence, but we first need to examine whether it has any value. From a strictly practical perspective, on certain occasions violence appears to be useful. We can solve a problem quickly by force. But this success is often at the expense of the rights and welfare of others. Although one problem has been solved, the seed of another has been planted.”

NeedsFirstsHas BeensProblemCertainValuesForceRightsViolencePerspectiveOvercomingAgreeSolveSeedsPracticalsOccasionsWelfareExpenses
Author:Dalai Lama
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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
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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“Many people today agree that we need to reduce violence in our society. If we are truly serious about this, we must deal with the roots of violence, particularly those that exist within each of us. We need to embrace 'inner disarmament,' reducing our own emotions of suspicion, hatred and hostility toward our brothers and sisters”

PeopleIfsNeedsTodayDealsEmotionViolenceSeriousBrotherRootsHatredAgreeEmbraceOur SocietySuspicionBrothers And SistersHostilityReducingDisarmament
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“We all have the potential to show others love and affection, but as we progress in our materialistic world, these values tend to remain dormant. We can develop them on the basis of common sense, common experience and scientific findings. The response to the recent tragedy in the Philippines is an example of how such values are awakened; people helped simply because others are suffering and in need of support.”

PeopleWorldNeedsShowsSufferingValuesCommonSupportProgressExampleFindingsBasesTragedyResponseAffectionCommon SenseAwakenedMaterialisticPhilippinesDormantLove And AffectionCommon ExperienceMaterialistic World
Author:Dalai Lama
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“We need to employ a secular approach to ethics, secular in the Indian sense of respecting all religious traditions and even the views of non-believers in an unbiased way. Secular ethics rooted in scientific findings, common experience and common sense can easily be introduced into the secular education system. If we can do that there is a real prospect of making this 21st century an era of peace and compassion.”

IfsWayNeedsRealCan DoReligiousViewsCommonCompassionCenturyFindingsApproachEthicsTraditionBelieverCommon SenseErasIndianRootedSecular21st CenturyRespecting OthersEducation SystemCultural DiversityInspirational EducationReligious TraditionsNon BelieverUnbiasedCommon ExperienceSecular Humanism
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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“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
Author:Dalai Lama
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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
Author:Dalai Lama
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“All religions try to benefit people, with the same basic message of the need for love and compassion, for justice and honesty, for contentment. So merely changing formal religious affiliations will often not help much. On the other hand, in pluralistic, democratic societies, there is the freedom to adopt the religion of your choice. This is good. This lets curious people like you run around on the loose!”

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Author:Dalai Lama
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“This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.”

InspirationalNeedsHeartPhilosophyWisdomSpiritualReligionSpiritualityReligiousSimpleBrainCompassionKindnessAwarenessLife PhilosophyBuddhismWise WordsMy HeartWords Of WisdomEnlightenmentComplicatedAwakeningBuddhistUpliftingBelieve In YourselfTemplesEnlightenedBe KindSpiritual WisdomMonkSimple LifeSpiritual AwakeningWise Man Once SaidLove And KindnessTibetanSpiritual JourneyPhilosophy Of ReligionKindness And CompassionActs Of KindnessTibetGoodness And KindnessInspirational KindnessPhilosophy And ReligionReligious LeadersRandom Acts Of KindnessGenerosity And KindnessKindness GenerosityReligious TraditionsEastern PhilosophyHeart And BrainNo CompassionSmall Acts Of KindnessSpiritual HappinessBrain ScienceSimple Acts Of KindnessGood SpiritualComplicated WorldHeart Opening
Author:Dalai Lama
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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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“Because we all share an identical need for love, it is possible to feel that anybody we meet, in whatever circumstances, is a brother or sister. No matter how new the face or how different the dress and behavior, there is no significant division between us and other people. It is foolish to dwell on external differences, because our basic natures are the same.”

PeopleInspirationalNeedsFeelsDifferentMatterFacesDifferencesShareBrotherCircumstancesBehaviorDressesFoolishSignificantBuddhistDivisionIdentical
Book:The Compassionate Life
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