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Dalai Lama

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Famous Dalai Lama Quotes

“Within the framework of the Buddhist Path, reflecting on suffering has tremendous importance because -realizing the nature of suffering, you will develop greater resolve to put an end to the causes of suffering and the unwholesome deeds which lead to suffering. And it will increase your enthusiasm for engaging in the wholesome actions and deeds which lead to happiness and joy.”

EndsActionJoySufferingSpiritualityCausesRealizingPathGreaterImportanceIncreaseDeedsEnthusiasmBuddhistResolveEngagingFrameworkReflectingJoy And Happiness
Author:Dalai Lama
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“If a person's basic state of mind is serene and calm, then it is possible for this inner peace to overwhelm a painful physical experience. On the other hand, if someone is suffering from depression, anxiety, or any form of emotional distress, then even if he or she happens to be enjoying physical comforts, he will not really be able to experience the happiness that these could bring.”

IfsMindPersonsStatesHandsHappensAbleFormSufferingEnjoyMeditationEmotionalComfortAnxietyCalmPainfulInner PeaceState Of MindDistressBeing HappyPursuit Of HappinessSereneInner Peace And Happiness
Author:Dalai Lama
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“Hatred, jealousy and excessive attachment cause suffering and agitation. I feel compassion can help us overcome these disturbances and let us return to a calm state of mind. Compassion is not just being kind to your friend. That involves attachment because it is based on expectation. Compassion is when you do something good without any expectations - based on realizing that "the other person is also just like me".”

FeelsMindKindPersonsStatesHelpingSufferingCausesRealizingCompassionKindnessReturnExpectationsHatredOvercomingCalmLike MeBuddhistJealousyAttachmentPeace Of MindBe KindState Of MindJust BeingDisturbanceAgitation
Author:Dalai Lama
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“Lack of understanding of the true nature of happiness, it seems to me, is the principal reason why people inflict sufferings on others. They think either that the other's pain may somehow be a cause of happiness for themselves or that their own happiness is more important, regardless of what pain it may cause. But this is shortsighted. No one truly benefits from causing harm to another sentient being. . . . . In the long run causing others misery and infringing their rights to peace and happiness result in anxiety, fear, and suspicion within oneself.”

PeopleThinkingMayLongImportantReasonSeemsRunningPainSufferingCausesUnderstandingResultsCompassionRightsAnxietyBenefitsMiseryOneselfHarmReason WhyLong RunsSuspicionPrincipalTrue NaturePeace And HappinessSentient BeingsLack Of Understanding
Author:Dalai Lama
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“My own view, which does not rely solely on religious faith or even on an original idea, but rather on ordinary common sense, is that establishing binding ethical principles is possible when we take as our starting point the observation that we all desire happiness and wish to avoid suffering.”

DoeIdeasDesireSufferingWishReligiousMy OwnViewsCommonPrinciplesOrdinaryEthicsOriginalsStartingCommon SenseObservationRelyEthicalReligious FaithStarting PointBindingOriginal IdeasEthical Principles
Book:Ancient Wisdom, Modern World: Ethics for the New Millennium
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“No matter what part of the world we come from, we are all basically the same human beings. We all seek happiness and try to avoid suffering. We have the same basic human needs and concerns. All of us human beings want freedom and the right to determine our own destiny as individuals and as peoples. That is human nature.”

WorldWantNeedsTryingHumansMatterSufferingIndividualHuman BeingsDestinyHuman NatureConcernNo Matter WhatHuman RightsDetermineHuman NeedsBasic Human Needs
Author:Dalai Lama
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“It is in everybody's interest to seek those [actions] that lead to happiness and avoid those which lead to suffering. And because our interests are inextricably linked, we are compelled to accept ethics as the indispensable interface between my desire to be happy and yours.”

ActionPainHappinessJoyDesireSufferingInterestAcceptingEthicsIndispensableLinkedCompelledInterfaces
Book:Ancient Wisdom, Modern World: Ethics for the New Millennium
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“Human beings by nature want happiness and do not want suffering. With that feeling everyone tries to achieve happiness and tries to get rid of suffering, and everyone has the basic right to do this. In this way, all here are the same, whether rich or poor, educated or uneducated, Easterner or Westerner, believer or non-believer, and within believers whether Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and so on. Basically, from the viewpoint of real human value we are all the same.”

WayWantTryingHumansRealFeelingsChristianSufferingValuesHuman BeingsPoorRichAchieveBelieverEducatedBuddhistViewpointsUneducatedHuman ValuesRich Or PoorWesternersReal HumanNon Believer
Author:Dalai Lama
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“One great question underlies our experience, whether we think about it or not: what is the purpose of life? From the moment of birth every human being wants happiness and does not want suffering. Neither social conditioning nor education nor ideology affects this. >From the very core of our being, we simply desire contentment. Therefore, it is important to discover what will bring about the greatest degree of happiness.”

ThinkingWantInspirationalHumansDoeImportantMomentsHappinessDesirePurposeSufferingSocialHuman BeingsBirthDegreesCoreIdeologyContentmentPurpose Of LifeConditioningWhat Is The Purpose Of Life
Book:Path To Tranquility
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“The great benefit of science is that it can contribute tremendously to the alleviation of suffering at the physical level, but it is only through the cultivation of the qualities of the human heart and the transformation of our attitudes that we can begin to address and overcome our mental suffering...”

HumansHeartScienceSufferingLevelsAttitudeQualityBenefitsOvercomingTransformationBuddhistAddressesHuman HeartCultivationSpiritual TransformationAttitude Adjustment
Author:Dalai Lama
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“There is no denying that consideration of others is worthwhile and that our happiness is inextricably bound up with the happiness of others. There is no denying that if society suffers, we ourselves suffer, and the more our hearts and minds are afflicted with ill-will, the more miserable we become. We can reject religion, ideology, received wisdom, but we cannot escape the need for love and compassion.”

IfsLoveNeedsMindHeartHappinessReligionSufferingCompassionKindnessSocietyBoundsIllIdeologyBuddhistMiserableConsiderationRejectsWorthwhileHeart And MindCaring For OthersLove And CompassionIll WillInteracting With Others
Author:Dalai Lama
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“We should practice by showing one another love and helping one another. It is a mistake to pursue happiness and to seek to the avoid suffering by deceiving and humiliating other people. We must try to achieve happiness and eliminate suffering by being good-hearted and well-behaved.”

PeopleInspirationalShouldTryingWellsHelpingWisdomHappinessSufferingMistakePracticeKindnessAchieveBuddhismWise WordsWords Of WisdomBe GoodHappyHelping OthersPursueBuddhistReachingBe KindDeceivingAvoidingHumiliationMonkHeartedPursuit Of HappinessTrue HappinessWise Man Once SaidFinding HappinessHelping HandLove One AnotherTibetanHumiliatingEliminatingGood HeartHumiliateHappiness And LoveFeeling HappyAuthentic HappinessHappy InspirationalGood Hearted
Author:Dalai Lama
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“It is not just a person's physical constitution, their intellegence, their education, or even their social conditioning that enables them to withstand hardship. Much more significant is their inner development. And while some may be able to survive through sheer willpower, the ones who suffer the least are those who have a high degree of patience and courage in the face of adversity.”

MayPersonsAbleFacesSufferingSocialDevelopmentDegreesConstitutionAdversitySignificantHardshipSheerWillpowerConditioningFacing Adversity
Author:Dalai Lama
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“If we develop concern for other people's welfare, share other people's suffering, and help them, ultimately we will benefit. If we think only of ourselves and forget about others, ultimately we will lose. The more we care for the happiness of others, the greater our own sense of well-being becomes.”

PeopleIfsThinkingWellsHelpingCareSufferingLosesForgetGreaterShareWords Of WisdomBenefitsConcernHappyWell BeingWelfareSpiritual WisdomBeing HappyCaring For OthersTibetanConcern For Others
Author:Dalai Lama
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“At a fundamental level, as human beings, we are all the same; each one of us aspires to happiness and each one of us does not wish to suffer. This is why, whenever I have the opportunity, I try to draw people's attention to what as members of the human family we have in common and the deeply interconnected nature of our existence and welfare.”

PeopleTryingHumansDoeWisdomSufferingOpportunityWishHuman BeingsLevelsCommonExistenceAttentionMembersDrawsFundamentalsWelfareAspireInterconnectedSamenessHuman Family
Author:Dalai Lama
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“Although you can find certain differences among the Buddhist philosophical schools about how the universe came into being, the basic common question addressed is how the two fundamental principles-external matter and internal mind or consciousness-although distinct, affect one another. External causes and conditions are responsible for certain of our experiences of happiness and suffering. Yet we find that it is principally our own feelings, our thoughts and our emotions, that really determine whether we are going to suffer or be happy.”

MindTwoMatterFeelingsSchoolHappinessCertainSufferingUniverseCausesDifferencesCommonEmotionConsciousnessPrinciplesConditionsPhilosophicalResponsibleFundamentalsDetermineBuddhistInternalsOur ThoughtsFundamental Principles
Book:Dzogchen: The Heart Essence of the Great Perfection
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“Those who suffer from an exaggerated sense of their own ability and accomplishment are continually subject to frustration, disappointment, and rage when reality intrudes and the world doesn't validate their idealized view of themselves.”

WorldRealitySufferingAbilityViewsSubjectsPrideDisappointmentRageAccomplishmentFrustrationExaggerated
Book:The Art of Happiness, 10th Anniversary Edition: A Handbook for Living
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“To help us bring benefit to others through our words and actions, it is useful to cultivate an attitude of sympathetic joy in others’ achievements and good fortune. This attitude is a powerful antidote against envy, which is not only a source of unnecessary suffering on the individual level but also an obstacle to our ability to reach out and engage with others.”

HelpingActionJoySufferingIndividualAbilityLevelsPowerfulAttitudeSourceAchievementBenefitsFortuneWordsObstaclesEnvyPositive AttitudeReach OutUnnecessaryGood FortuneAntidoteSympatheticOur WordsTibetanWords And ActionsUnnecessary Suffering
Author:Dalai Lama
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“The simple recognition that everyone else wants to be happy and not to suffer, just as I do, serves as a constant reminder against selfishness and partiality. It reminds us there is little to be gained from being kind and generous while hoping to win something in return. Actions motivated by a desire to earn a good name for ourselves are still selfish, even if they appear to be acts of kindness.”

IfsWantKindLittlesStillsActionDesireSufferingWinningNamesSimpleKindnessReturnWords Of WisdomConstantHappySelfishRecognitionSelfishnessGenerousBe KindMotivatedBeing HappyRemindersWise Man Once SaidEgoismTibetanActs Of KindnessWant To Be HappyRandom Acts Of KindnessSelfish PeoplePartiality
Author:Dalai Lama
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“All living beings have experience of pleasure and pain, and we are among them. What makes human beings different is that we have a powerful intelligence and a much greater ability to achieve happiness and avoid suffering. Real happiness and friendship come not from money or even knowledge, but from warm-heartednes s. Once we recognize this we will be more inclined to cultivate it.”

HumansDifferentRealPainSufferingHuman BeingsAbilityPleasurePowerfulGreaterAchieveWarmBeing DifferentPain And PleasureReal Happiness
Author:Dalai Lama
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“Whether we like it or not, we have all been born into this world as part of one great human family. Rich or poor, educated or uneducated, belonging to one nation or another, to one religion or another, adhering to this ideology or that, ultimately each of is just a human being like everyone else. We all desire happiness and do not want suffering.”

WorldWantHumansDesireSufferingNationsBornHuman BeingsPoorRichThis WorldEducatedIdeologyBelongingUnity In DiversityUneducatedCultural DiversityHuman FamilyRich Or PoorCommon Humanity
Author:Dalai Lama
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“We can't be useful to ourselves unless we're useful to others .... Anyone concerned only by his own well-being will suffer eventually. Anyone concerned with the well-being of others takes care of himself without even thinking about it. Even if we decide to remain selfish. let us be intelligently selfish - let us help others.”

IfsThinkingWellsHelpingCareSufferingWords Of WisdomConcernedTake CareSelfishHelping OthersWell BeingCaring For OthersTibetan
Author:Dalai Lama
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