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Dalai Lama

Dalai Lama Quotes

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Famous Dalai Lama Quotes

“If you want to change the world, first try to improve and bring about change within yourself. That will help change your family. From there it just gets bigger and bigger. Everything we do has some effect, some impact.”

IfsWorldWantInspirationalTryingFirstsHelpingEffectsBiggerImpactOur FamilyChanging The World
Book:Worlds in Harmony: Compassionate Action for a Better World: Easyread Large Bold Edition
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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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“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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“Any issue, including political, economic and religious activities human beings pursue in this world, should be fully understood before we pass our judgement. Therefore, it is very important to know the causes. Whatever the issue, we should be able to see the complete picture. This will enable us to comprehend the whole story.”

KnowsWorldShouldHumansImportantWholeStoriesAblePoliticalCausesReligiousHuman BeingsIssuesEconomicThis WorldActivityUnderstoodIncludingPursueJudgement
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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“The question of real, lasting world peace concerns human beings, so basic human feelings are also at its roots. Through inner peace, genuine world peace can be achieved. In this the importance of individual responsibility is quite clear; an atmosphere of peace must first be created within ourselves, then gradually expanded to include our families, our communities, and ultimately the whole planet.”

WorldFirstsHumansRealWholeFeelingsIndividualCommunityHuman BeingsResponsibilityClearPlanetsConcernRootsImportanceInner PeaceGenuineAtmosphereOur FamilyLastingOur CommunityIndividual Responsibility
Author:Dalai Lama
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“Once you develop confidence in your own ability, you'll be able to make a real contribution to creating a better world. Self-confidence is very important. Not in the sense of blind pride, but as a realistic awareness of what you can do. As human beings we can transform ourselves by our good qualities and reducing our faults. Our intelligence enables us to judge what is good from what is harmful.”

WorldHumansImportantRealSelfAbleCan DoHuman BeingsAbilityQualityAwarenessJudgingPrideConfidenceCreatingBlindFaultsIntelligenceGoodSelf ConfidenceContributionRealisticReducingGood QualitySelf TransformationSelf Efficacy
Author:Dalai Lama
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“In some places, there's the concept of one religion, one truth. In the Muslim world, there's the notion of Allah. The Western, multireligious modern society is some kind of a challenge to this. These, I feel, are the main causes [for terrorism], and, when combined with lots of anger and frustration, cause a huge amount of hate.”

WorldFeelsKindHateCausesChallengesModernHugeAmountConceptsWesternNotionTerrorismFrustrationModern SocietyMuslim WorldAnger And Frustration
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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“Peace must first be developed within an individual. And I believe that love, compassion, and altruism are the fundamental basis for peace. Once these qualities are developed within an individual, he or she is then able to create an atmosphere of peace and harmony. This atmosphere can be expanded and extended from the individual to his family, from the family to the community and eventually to the whole world.”

WorldFirstsBelieveWholeAbleIndividualI BelieveCommunityQualityCompassionBasesHarmonyFundamentalsWhole WorldAtmosphereAltruismPeace And Harmony
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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“I'm now nearly 79. At 16 I took responsibility for Tibet and lost my freedom. At 24 I lost my country and became a refugee. I've met difficulties, but as the saying goes: 'Wherever you're happy, you can call home, and whoever is kind to you is like your parents.' I've been happy and at home in the world at large. Living a meaningful life isn't just a matter of money; it's about dedicating your life to helping others.”

WorldKindCountryMatterHelpingHomeLostParentResponsibilityLike YouMetsDifficultyHappyMeaningfulHelping OthersDedicationBeing HappyRefugeeMeaningful LifeTibet
Author:Dalai Lama
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“Whether it is under the guise of survival and self-defence or directly expressed through dominion and greed, the failure to recognize the common humanity shared by us all lies at the heart of our difficulties. To overcome it, we should begin to develop, from the level of the individual through that of society to the world at large, what I call a sense of universal responsibility; a deep respect for every living being who lives on this one small planet and calls it home.”

WorldShouldHeartSelfHomeLyingHumanityIndividualLevelsCommonResponsibilityPlanetsSurvivalOvercomingUniversalDifficultyGreedDefenceDominionGuiseCommon HumanitySelf Defence
Author:Dalai Lama
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“We human beings are social beings. We come into the world as the result of others’ actions. We survive here in dependence on others. Whether we like it or not, there is hardly a moment of our lives when we do not benefit from others’ activities. For this reason, it is hardly surprising that most of our happiness arises in the context of our relationships with others.”

WorldHumansReasonMomentsActionHappinessSocialHuman BeingsResultsOur LivesActivityBenefitsAriseSurprisingOur RelationshipDependenceRelationships With OthersOthers HappinessDependence On OthersSocial Being
Author:Dalai Lama
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“Is this what you have in mind,' I asked the Dalai Lama, 'when you say in teachings that the buddhas and bodhisattvas of the world are the most selfish beings of all, that by cultivating altruism they actually achieve ultimate happiness for themselves?' Yes. That's wise selfish,' he replied. 'Helping others not means we do this at our own expense. Not like this. Buddhas and bodhisattvas, these people very wise. All their lives they only want one thing: to achieve ultimate happiness. How to do this? By cultivating compassion, by cultivating altruism.”

PeopleWorldWantMindMeanHelpingCompassionWiseOne ThingTeachingAchieveUltimateSelfishHelping OthersExpensesAltruismCultivatingLamaDalaiVery WiseBodhisattvaUltimate Happiness
Author:Dalai Lama
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“NEVER GIVE UP No matter what is going on Never give up Develop the heart Too much energy in your country Is spent developing the mind Instead of the heart Be compassionate Not just to your friends But to everyone Be compassionate Work for peace In your heart and in the world Work for peace And I say again Never give up No matter what is going on around you Never give up”

WorldGivingMindHeartCountryMatterEnergyToo MuchGiving UpNo Matter WhatDevelopingCompassionateNever Giving Up
Author:Dalai Lama
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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)”

PeopleWorldMayPastSpiritualLeftMillionsEconomyMaterialsMajoritySpreadHolesPlentyGapsCapitalistRetreatNormCapitalist Economy
Author:Dalai Lama
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“With the realization of ones own potential and self-confidence in ones ability, one can build a better world. According to my own experience, self-confidence is very important. That sort of confidence is not a blind one; it is an awareness of ones own potential. On that basis, human beings can transform themselves by increasing the good qualities and reducing the negative qualities.”

WorldHumansImportantSelfWisdomMy OwnHuman BeingsAbilityQualityWiseAwarenessSelf EsteemConfidenceWise WordsWords Of WisdomNegativeExperienceBasesBlindGoodSelf ConfidenceEsteemRealizationPotentialReducingWise Man Once SaidGood QualitySelf TransformationHuman PotentialUntapped Potential
Book:The Dalai Lama’s Little Book of Wisdom
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