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Dalai Lama

Dalai Lama Quotes

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Famous Dalai Lama Quotes

“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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“In the past, the respect people had for religion meant that ethical practice was maintained through a majority following one religion or another. But this is no longer the case. We must therefore find some other way of establishing basic ethical principles.”

PeopleWayPastPrinciplesPracticeCasesEthicsMajorityFollowingEthicalRespect PeopleEthical Principles
Book:Ancient Wisdom, Modern World: Ethics for the New Millennium
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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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“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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“‎In today's materialistic world there is a risk of people becoming slaves to money, as though they were simply cogs in a huge money-making machine. This does nothing for human dignity, freedom, and genuine well-being. Wealth should serve humanity, and not the other way around.”

PeopleWorldWayShouldHumansWellsDoeTodayHumanityWealthRiskHugeBecomingDignityMachinesSlaveGenuineWell BeingMaking MoneyMaterialismWise Man Once SaidMaterialisticHuman DignityCogsMaterialistic World
Author:Dalai Lama
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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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“Yet even the rich have their own kind of suffering, anxiety, doubt, and fear. So in many cases, wealthy people aren't happy! And once those with material wealth encounter small difficulties, their amount of mental suffering is sometimes bigger than it is for those who have faced such difficulties every day.”

PeopleKindSometimesSufferingWealthCasesRichDoubtMaterialsAmountAnxietyBiggerDifficultyEncountersWealthyMaterial WealthDoubt And Fear
Author:Dalai Lama
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“Some people get the impression that Buddhism talks too much about suffering. In order to become prosperous, a person must initially work very hard, so he or she has to sacrifice a lot of leisure time. Similarly, the Buddhist is willing to sacrifice immediate comfort so that he or she can achieve lasting happiness.”

PeoplePersonsHardSufferingOrderToo MuchSacrificeAchieveWillingBuddhismComfortImpressionBuddhistLastingLeisureProsperousLeisure TimeLasting Happiness
Author:Dalai Lama
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“Some people say that the West has a cruel history. These people also may see the achievements of Western countries - in terms of the economy, education, health, and social achievements - as a result of exploitation of poorer countries, including Arab countries. Western nations get rich by using resources such as Arab oil. Meanwhile, the countries supplying them raw materials remain poor. Due to such injustices, jealousies are created.”

PeopleMayCountryNationsSocialTermPoorResultsEconomyRichMaterialsAchievementResourcesWestWesternIncludingInjusticeDuesOilExploitationGet RichRaw MaterialsCountry WesternUsing Resources
Author:Dalai Lama
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“Misunderstanding may arise by confusing the Buddhist and scientific definitions of death. Within the scientific system you spoke quite validly of the death of the brain and the death of heart. Different parts of the body can die separately. However, in the Buddhist system, the word death is not used in that way. You'd never speak of the death of a particular part of the body, but rather of the death of an entire person. When people say that a certain person died, we don't ask, "Well, which part died?"”

PeopleWayWellsHeartMayPersonsDifferentBodyUsedCertainDiesAsksSpeakBrainParticularDiedDefinitionsAriseBuddhistSpokesMisunderstandingConfusingParts Of The Body
Author:Dalai Lama
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“I just want to live as a simple Buddhist monk, but during the last thirty years I have made many friends around the world and I want to have close contact with these people. I want to contribute to harmony and peace of mind, for less conflict. Wherever the possibililty is, I'm ready. This is my life's goal.”

PeopleWorldWantYearsMindMadeLastsGoalSimpleReadyConflictHarmonyContactAround The WorldBuddhistThirtyPeace Of MindMonkThirty YearsMany FriendsBuddhist Monk
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
Author:Dalai Lama
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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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“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!”

PeopleNeedsTryingHelpingHandsRunningChoicesReligiousJusticeCompassionHonestyLike YouBenefitsMessagesDemocraticCuriousContentmentFormalLove And CompassionDemocratic SocietyAffiliation
Author:Dalai Lama
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