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Dalai Lama

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Famous Dalai Lama Quotes

“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
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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
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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
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“Today we face many problems. Some are created essentially by ourselves based on divisions due to ideology, religion, race, economic status, or other factors. Therefore, the time has come for us to think on a deeper level, on the human level, and from that level we should appreciate and respect the sameness of others as human beings.”

ThinkingShouldHumansProblemTodayFacesHuman BeingsLevelsRaceEconomicAppreciateDeeperDuesFactorsIdeologyDivisionSamenessEconomic Status
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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
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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
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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.”

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“For the moment a lot of attention is given to economic concerns, and these problems at hand easily eclipse all others. But the remedies proposed for these problems all come out of outmoded ways of thinking... The remedy? Compassion. The logical feeling that we find in ourselves if we search deeply enough that has to be exercised toward all other living creatures.”

IfsThinkingWayEnoughMomentsFeelingsProblemHandsGivenAttentionCompassionEconomicCreaturesConcernLogicalRemedyWay Of ThinkingEclipseLiving Creatures
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“In the past, destruction of your neighbour might have been considered a victory, but today we are all interdependent. We live in a global economy; we face problems like climate change that affect us all. The 7 billion human beings alive today belong to one human family. In the context that others' interests are in our interest and our interest is in their interest, the use of force is self-destructive.”

HumansHas BeensSelfUseProblemMightTodayPastFacesForceInterestHuman BeingsEconomyAliveVictoryDestructionClimateClimate ChangeBillionsDestructiveBelongingGlobalizationMight Have BeenNeighbourWise Man Once SaidLive For TodaySelf DestructionInterdependenceGlobal EconomySelf DestructiveHuman FamilyUse Of Force
Author:Dalai Lama
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“The real troublemakers are anger, jealousy, impatience, and hatred. With them, problems cannot be solved. Though we may have temporary success, ultimately our hatred or anger will create futher difficulties. Anger makes for swift solutions. Yet, when we face problems with compassion, sincerity, and good motivation, our solutions may take longer, but ultimately they are better.”

MayRealProblemFacesMotivationCompassionSolutionsHatredDifficultyTemporarySincerityImpatienceTroublemaker
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“The problem isn't materialism as such. Rather it is the underlying assumption that full satisfaction can arise from gratifying the senses alone. Unlike animals whose quest for happiness is restricted to survival and to the immediate gratification of sensory desires, we human beings have the capacity to experience happiness at a deeper level which, when achieved, can overwhelm unhappy experiences.”

HumansProblemDesireHuman BeingsAnimalLevelsSurvivalCapacitySatisfactionDeeperSensesUnhappyAriseAssumptionMaterialismQuestsGratificationSensoryImmediate Gratification
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“Up to now my involvement in the Tibetan freedom struggle has been part of my spiritual practice, because the issues of the survival of the Buddha Teaching and the freedom of Tibet are very much related. In this particular struggle, there is no problem with many monks and nuns, including myself, joining.”

Has BeensProblemSpiritualPracticeStruggleIssuesTeachingParticularSurvivalIncludingRelatedNo ProblemMonkInvolvementJoiningNunTibetanSpiritual PracticeTibet
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“I think the problem is these basic sort of human values from our - from the beginning, from birth, are not sort of properly nurtured. So then our mind, our brain, through education and also difference of experiences, that eventually, these basic values or what are called dominant, not have the catching up our intelligence, experience growth, that also should grow. Then our life become more human.”

ThinkingShouldMindHumansProblemValuesGrowsGrowthDifferencesBrainOur LivesBirthDominantCatchingHuman ValuesCatching Up
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“In a free country, America, or India, and Japan, and many places, democracy country, free country, but still within the sort of rule of law, some injustice, some sort of problems, some discrimination, and also some sort of scandals or the corruptions. These things, you see, they are always in my mind, I think many people agree, lack of moral principle.”

PeopleThinkingMindStillsCountryProblemAmericaLawMoralPrinciplesDemocracyIndiaAgreeInjusticeCorruptionDiscriminationJapanScandalRule Of LawMoral PrinciplesFree Country
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“One problem with our current society is that we have an attitude towards education as if it is there to simply make you more clever, make you more ingenious... Even though our society does not emphasize this, the most important use of knowledge and education is to help us understand the importance of engaging in more wholesome actions and bringing about discipline within our minds. The proper utilization of our intelligence and knowledge is to effect changes from within to develop a good heart.”

IfsInspirationalMindHeartDoeImportantHelpingUseProblemActionAttitudeEffectsDisciplineImportanceCurrentsCleverOur SocietyEngagingIngeniousGood HeartEducation And KnowledgeUtilizationUse Of Knowledge
Author:Dalai Lama
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“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
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“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
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“The problems we face today, violent conflicts, destruction of nature, poverty, hunger, and so on, are human-created problems which can be resolved through human effort, understanding and the development of a sense of brotherhood and sisterhood. We need to cultivate a universal responsibility for one another and the planet we share.”

NeedsHumansGodProblemTodayFacesSpiritualityPeaceUnderstandingEffortResponsibilityPovertySharePlanetsDevelopmentConflictDestructionUniversalHungerViolentBrotherhoodSisterhoodSense Of ResponsibilityEnding PovertyRoot CauseHunger PovertyDestruction Of Nature
Author:Dalai Lama
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“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
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