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Dalai Lama

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Famous Dalai Lama Quotes

“To be kind, honest and have positive thoughts; to forgive those who harm us and treat everyone as a friend; to help those who are suffering and never to consider ourselves superior to anyone else: even if this advice seems rather simplistic, make the effort of seeing whether by following it you can find greater happiness.”

IfsKindHelpingSeemsHappinessSpiritualSufferingEffortGreaterSeeingAdviceHonestPositivePositive ThinkingForgivenessTreatsForgivingFollowingHarmHelping OthersSuperiorsBuddhistBeing HonestTreatmentBe KindPositive ThoughtsGood AdviceFriendliness
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“We may now have reached a point where this gap in our make-up has become unsustainable; partly because what in the past would have counted as material plenty has become the norm for the majority in much of the world; and partly because the slow retreat of religion that coincided with the spread of a capitalist economy has left a gaping hole in millions of people's lives. (Geoff Mulgan)”

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“We should reflect on the idea that since the beginning of time sentient beings have been mentally unstable because they have been slaves of delusion, they lack the eye of wisdom to see the path leading to nirvana and enlightenment, and they lack the necessary guidance of a spiritual teacher. Moment by moment they are indulging in negative actions, which will eventually bring about their downfall.”

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“Whether you believe in God or not does not matter so much, whether you believe in Buddha or not does not matter so much; as a Buddhist, whether you believe in reincarnation or not does not matter so much. You must lead a good life. And a good life does not mean just good food, good clothes, good shelter. These are not sufficient. A good motivation is what is needed: compassion, without dogmatism, without complicated philosophy; just understanding that others are human brothers and sisters and respecting their rights and human dignity.”

BelieveHumansMeanDoeMatterPhilosophySpiritualMotivationUnderstandingCompassionRightsBrotherNeededClothesDignityComplicatedBuddhistSufficientBelieve In GodGood LifeShelterReincarnationBrothers And SistersHuman DignityGood FoodDogmatism
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“Man surprised me most about humanity.Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health.And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.”

IfsMenDoeSpiritualHumanityOrderDiesEnjoyResultsSacrificeHard WorkMaking MoneyAnxiousLive In The PresentSurprise MeMakin MoneyMaking Sacrifices
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“In our concern for others, we worry less about ourselves. When we worry less about ourselves an experience of our own suffering is less intense. What does this tell us? Firstly, because our every action has a universal dimension, a potential impact on others' happiness, ethics are necessary as a means to ensure that we do not harm others. Secondly, it tells us that genuine happiness consists in those spiritual qualities of love, compassion, patience, tolerance and forgiveness and so on. For it is these which provide both for our happiness and others' happiness.”

MeanDoeActionHappinessSpiritualSufferingQualityCompassionWorryEthicsConcernUniversalImpactHarmToleranceGenuineIntenseDimensionsOthers HappinessConcern For OthersGenuine HappinessWorry Less
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“I really feel that some people neglect and overlook compassion because they associate it with religion. Of course, everyone is free to choose whether they pay religion any regard, but to neglect compassion is a mistake because it is the source of our own well-being.”

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“My call for a spiritual revolution is not a call for a religious revolution. Nor is it a reference to a way of life that is somehow otherworldly, still less to something magical or mysterious. Rather it is a call for a radical reorientation away from our habitual preoccupation with self. It is a call to turn toward the wider community of beings with whom we are connected, and for conduct which recognizes others' interests alongside our own.”

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“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
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“I believe compassion to be one of the few things we can practice that will bring immediate and long-term happiness to our lives. I'm not talking about the short-term gratification of pleasures like sex, drugs or gambling (though I'm not knocking them), but something that will bring true and lasting happiness. The kind that sticks.”

LifeBelieveKindLongHappinessSpiritualI BelieveSexTermPleasureTalkingCompassionPracticeOur LivesDrugSticksLong TermGamblingLastingShort TermGratificationKnockingNot TalkingLasting HappinessSex Drugs
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“The essence of all religions is love, compassion and tolerance. Kindness is my true religion. No matter whether you are learned or not, whether you believe in the next life or not, whether you believe in God or Buddha or some other religion or not, in day-to-day life you must be a kind person.”

BelieveKindPersonsMatterSpiritualNextCompassionKindnessEssenceToleranceBelieve In GodDay To DayTrue ReligionDay LifeDay To Day LifeNext LifeKind Person
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“Developing inner values is much like physical exercise. The more we train our abilities, the stronger they become. The difference is that, unlike the body, when it comes to training the mind, there is no limit to how far we can go.”

MindBodySpiritualValuesDifferencesAbilityBuddhismDevelopmentBecomingExerciseLimitsTrainingStrongerTrainBuddhistDevelopingLimitationSpiritual WisdomLimitlessFinding HappinessPhysicalityPhysical ExerciseGetting StrongerTraining The Mind
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“We need to take action to develop compassion, to create inner peace within ourselves and to share that inner peace with our family and friends. Peace and warm-heartednes s can then spread through the community just as ripples radiate out across the water when you drop a pebble into a pond”

InspirationalNeedsWisdomActionSpiritualPeaceWaterChangeCommunityCompassionFamilyKindnessShareBuddhismFriendsWise WordsWords Of WisdomCreatingEmpathyTransformationSpreadWarmInner PeaceBuddhistDevelopingOur FamilySympathyFamily And FriendsMonkMaking ChangesDroppingWise Man Once SaidFinding PeacePondsRippleTibetanPebblesSpiritual TransformationPeace WithinRipple Effect
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“Material progress and a higher standard of living bring us greater comfort and health, but do not lead to a transformation of the mind, which is the only thing capable of providing lasting peace. Profound happiness, unlike fleeting pleasures, is spiritual in nature. It depends on the happiness of others and it is based on love and affection.”

LoveMindHappinessSpiritualPeacePleasureGreaterProgressMaterialsHealthDependsHigherComfortCapableStandardsTransformationProfoundAffectionBuddhistLastingProvidingFleetingStandards Of LivingSpiritual TransformationHigher StandardsLove And Affection
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“These days, in our materialistic culture, many people are led to believe that money is the ultimate source of happiness. Consequently, when they don’t have enough of it they feel let down. Therefore, it is important to let people know that they have the source of contentment and happiness within themselves, and that it is related to nurturing our natural inner values.”

PeopleKnowsLifeFeelsBelieveImportantEnoughHappinessSpiritualValuesCultureNaturalMoneyWiseSourceWise WordsWords Of WisdomUltimateHappyThese DaysRelatedContentmentMaterialismNurturingFinding HappinessMaterialisticTibetanLet DownMoney Can't Buy HappinessSource Of HappinessMoney Isn't EverythingHappiness Within
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“It’s in our interest to take care of others. Self-centrednes s is opposed to basic human nature. In our own interest as human beings we need to pay attention to our inner values. Sometimes people think compassion is only of help to others, while we get no benefit. This is a mistake. When you concern yourself with others, you naturally develop a sense of self-confidence . To help others takes courage and inner strength.”

PeopleThinkingNeedsHumansSelfSometimesHelpingWisdomCareSpiritualValuesInterestHuman BeingsPayAttentionMistakeCompassionCourageWiseHuman NatureDevelopmentConfidenceWise WordsWords Of WisdomBenefitsConcernConcernedCaringTake CareSelf ConfidenceHelping OthersSensesDevelopingPay AttentionInner StrengthSpiritual WisdomOpposingSense Of SelfEgoismCaring For OthersTibetan
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“Education is the proper way to promote compassion and tolerance in society. Compassion and peace of mind bring a sense of confidence that reduce stress and anxiety, whereas anger and hatred come from frustration and undermine our sense of trust. Because of ignorance, many of our problems are our own creation. Education, however, is the instrument that increases our ability to employ our own intelligence.”

WayMindProblemWisdomSpiritualPeaceAbilityEducationCompassionSocietyCreationIgnoranceTrustConfidenceWords Of WisdomAnxietyHatredIncreaseStressAngerInstrumentsIntelligenceToleranceSensesFrustrationPeace Of MindPromotingReducingTibetanUnderminingEmployingStress And AnxietyReduce Stress
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“Compassion and love constitute non-violence in action. They are the source of all spiritual qualities: forgiveness, tolerance, all the virtues. They give meaning to our activities and makes them constructive. There is nothing amazing about being rich or highly educated; only when the individual has a warm heart do these attributes become worthwhile.”

LoveGivingHeartActionSpiritualIndividualQualityCompassionKindnessVirtueRichViolenceSourceActivityForgivenessAnd LoveWarmToleranceEducatedBuddhistAttributesWorthwhileConstructiveNon ViolenceGood HeartBeing RichWarm Heart
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“Giving up attachment to the world does not mean that you set yourself apart from it. Generating a desire for others to be happy increases your humanity. As you become less attached to the world, you become more humane. As the very purpose of spiritual practice is to help others, you must remain in society.”

WorldGivingMeanDoeHelpingSpiritualDesirePurposeHumanityPracticeSocietyGiving UpIncreaseHelping OthersBuddhistAttachmentHumaneSpiritual Practice
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