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Dalai Lama

Dalai Lama Quotes

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Famous Dalai Lama Quotes

“The universe that we inhabit and our shared perception of it are the results of a common karma. Likewise, the places that we will experience in future rebirths will be the outcome of the karma that we share with the other beings living there. The actions of each of us, human or nonhuman, have contributed to the world in which we live. We all have a common responsibility for our world and are connected with everything in it.”

WorldHumansActionUniverseResultsCommonResponsibilitySharePerceptionConnectedKarmaBuddhistOutcomesOur WorldRebirth
Book:For the Benefit of All Beings: A Commentary on the Way of the Bodhisattva
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“We humans have existed in our present form for about a hundred thousand years. I believe that if during this time the human mind had been primarily controlled by anger and hatred, our overall population would have decreased. But today, despite all our wars, we find that the human population is greater than ever. This clearly indicates to me that love and compassion predominate in the world. And this is why unpleasant events are "news"; compassionate activities are so much a part of daily life that they are taken for granted and , therefore, largely ignored.”

IfsWorldYearsMindBelieveHumansWarTodayFormI BelieveCompassionTakenGreaterEventsThousandActivityNewsHundredHatredPopulationDespiteBuddhistGrantedDaily LifeHuman MindControlledCompassionateThousand YearsIgnoredLove And CompassionTaken For GrantedHuman Population
Author:Dalai Lama
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“A wider of more altruistic attitude is very relevant in today's world. If we look at the situation from various angles, such as the complexity and inter-connectedness of the nature of modern existence, then we will gradually notice a change in our outlook, so that when we say 'others' and when we think of others, we will no longer dismiss them as something that is irrelevant to us. We will no longer feel indifferent.”

PeopleIfsThinkingWorldFeelsLooksHelpingWisdomTodayNatureChangeExistenceAttitudeSituationWiseModernWise WordsWords Of WisdomVariousHelping OthersIndifferenceComplexityRelevantIndifferentAltruismAngleIrrelevantOutlookRelevanceNoticingCaring For OthersConnectednessInterconnectedInterconnectednessToday's WorldDismissal
Author:Dalai Lama
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“It is time to fill the world with strong and powerful deeds. It is common knowledge that no great captain in the world has ever destroyed all of his enemies and lived with a sense of satisfaction. If one enemy is killed, two more will appear. It is important we cultivate love and compassion to all the sentient beings which is the way to bring peace to all.”

IfsWorldWayTwoImportantActionStrongPowerfulCommonActingCompassionEnemySatisfactionDeedsDestroyedCaptainsLove And CompassionSentient BeingsCommon Knowledge
Author:Dalai Lama
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“Nowadays the world is becoming increasingly materialistic, and mankind is reaching toward the very zenith of external progress, driven by an insatiable desire for power and vast possessions. Yet by this vain striving for perfection in a world where everything is relative,they wander even further away from inward peace and happiness of the mind.”

WorldMindDesirePeaceProgressMankindBecomingPerfectionStrivePossessionDrivenWanderVainReachingPeace Of MindRelativeInwardMaterialisticInsatiablePeace And HappinessZenithStriving For PerfectionDesire For Power
Author:Dalai Lama
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“All the world’s major religions, with their emphasis on love, compassion, patience, tolerance and forgiveness, can and do promote inner values. But the reality of the world today is that grounding ethics in religion is no longer adequate. This is why I believe the time has come to find a way of thinking about spirituality and ethics that is beyond religion.”

ThinkingWorldWayLoveRealityTodayValuesSpiritualityCompassionMajorsEthicsConvincedToleranceEmphasisAdequateWay Of ThinkingWorld TodayGrounding
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“Internal peace is an essential first step to achieving peace in the world. How do you cultivate it? It's very simple. In the first place by realizing clearly that all mankind is one, that human beings in every country are members of one and the same family.”

WorldFirstsHumansCountryRealizingHuman BeingsSimpleStepsAchieveMankindMembersEssentialsAchievementDiversityInternalsBrotherhoodFirst StepsUnity In DiversityAchieving PeaceInternal Peace
Author:Dalai Lama
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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
Author:Dalai Lama
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“I find that because of modern technological evolution and our global economy, and as a result of the great increase in population, our world has greatly changed: it has become much smaller. However, our perceptions have not evolved at the same pace; we continue to cling to old national demarcations and the old feelings of 'us' and 'them'.”

WorldFeelingsResultsEconomyModernChangedEvolutionPerceptionIncreasePopulationOur WorldPaceTechnologicalGlobal EconomyOld Feelings
Book:An Open Heart: Practicing Compassion in Everyday Life
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“When young we have a vivid sense of basic values like trust and warm-heartedness, which we tend to neglect in today's competitive world as we grow up, yet from birth we all have a need for affection. The emotions we experience today have not changed much over the last few thousand years, but the interest increasing numbers of people are showing in their inner world and how their emotions work is a sign of maturity.”

PeopleWorldNeedsYearsTodayLastsYoungValuesGrowsInterestNumbersEmotionGrowing UpChangedTrustBirthThousandAgingAffectionWarmBuddhistMaturityNeglectAffectedThousand YearsVividInner WorldCore Values
Author:Dalai Lama
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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
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“Since periods of great change, such as the present one, come so rarely in human history, it is up to each of us to make the best use of our time to help create a happier world.”

WorldLifeHumansHelpingUsePeriodsOur TimeHuman HistoryGreat Change
Book:Imagine All the People: A Conversation with the Dalai Lama on Money, Politics, and Life As It Could Be
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“I believe that to meet the challenge of our times, human beings will have to develop a greater sense of universal responsibility. We must all learn to work not just for our own self, family, or nation but for the benefit of all humankind. Universal responsibility is the key to human survival. It is the best foundation for world peace, the equitable use of natural resources, and through concern for future generations, the proper care of the environment.”

WorldBelieveHumansSelfHelpingUseCareI BelieveNationsNaturalChallengesHuman BeingsResponsibilityEnvironmentGreaterGenerationsKeysBenefitsSurvivalResourcesConcernUniversalFoundationHelping OthersOur TimeHumankindVolunteerFuture GenerationNatural ResourcesVolunteerismSense Of ResponsibilityEquitable
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“It is my dream that the entire Tibetan plateau should become a free refuge where humanity and nature can live in peace and in harmonious balance. It would be a place where people from all over the world could come to seek the true meaning of peace within themselves, away from the tensions and pressures of much of the rest of the world”

PeopleWorldShouldDreamWould BeHumanityBalancePressureContemplationTensionRefugeHarmoniousTibetanTrue MeaningPeace WithinHumanity And Nature
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“Today, the world is so small and so interdependent that the concept of war has become anachronistic, an outmoded approach. As a rule, we always talk about reform and changes. Among the old traditions, there are many aspects that are either ill-suited to our present reality or are counterproductive due to their shortsightedness. These, we have consigned to the dustbin of history. War too should be relegated to the dustbin of history.”

WorldShouldWarRealityTodayPeaceApproachConceptsAspectTraditionIllDuesReformCounterproductiveDustbinOld Traditions
Author:Dalai Lama
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“In today’s interconnected and globalized world, it is now commonplace for people of dissimilar world views, faiths and races to live side by side. It is a matter of great urgency, therefore, that we find ways to cooperate with one another in a spirit of mutual acceptance and respect.”

PeopleWorldWayMatterTodaySpiritHumanitySidesDifferencesViewsRaceAcceptanceBuddhismRespectBuddhistMutualCooperationHumankindGlobalizationCommonplaceUrgencyViewpointsUnity In DiversityInterconnectedWorld ViewCultural DiversityCultural DifferencesPeace And Unity
Author:Dalai Lama
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“Being concerned about other people is especially relevant in today's world. If we consider the complex inter-connected ness of our modern lives, how we depend on others and others depend on us, our outlook will change. We’ll begin to see 'others' not as somehow distant from us, but as people we are in touch with, people close to us; we will no longer feel indifferent to them.”

PeopleIfsWorldFeelsTodayChangeModernBuddhismDependsConcernedComplexesConnectedBuddhistIndifferenceRelevantIndifferentDependenceOutlookModern LifeModernityClosenessPeople In Your LifeInterconnectednessToday's World
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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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“While people are often content to criticize and blame others for what goes wrong, surely we should at least attempt to put forward constructive ideas. One thing is for certain: given human beings' love of truth, justice, peace, and freedom, creating a better, more compassionate world is a genuine possibility. The potential is there.”

PeopleWorldLoveInspirationalShouldHumansIdeasWisdomTruthCertainGivenPeaceJusticeFreedomHuman BeingsCompassionOne ThingPossibilityBuddhismWise WordsWords Of WisdomCreatingBlameGenuineBuddhistCriticizePotentialWrongCompassionateBeing HumanMonkAttemptingConstructiveWise Man Once SaidTibetanHuman PotentialCriticiseBlaming Others
Author:Dalai Lama
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“Although we are all the same in not wanting problems and wanting a peaceful life, we tend to create a lot of problems for ourselves. Encountering those problems, anger develops and overwhelms our mind, which leads to violence. A good way to counter this and to work for a more peaceful world is to develop concern for others. Then our anger, jealousy and other destructive emotions will naturally weaken and diminish.”

WorldWayLifeMindProblemWisdomPeaceEmotionViolenceBuddhismDevelopmentCreatingConcernAngerPeacefulBuddhistJealousyDestructiveOverwhelmingDiminishGood WayWeakeningPeaceful WorldPeaceful LifeConcern For Others
Author:Dalai Lama
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“In today's highly interdependent world, individuals and nations can no longer resolve many of their problems by themselves. We need one another. It is our collective and individual responsibility to protect and nurture the global family, to support its weaker members, and to preserve and tend to the environment in which we all live.”

WorldNeedsProblemTodayIndividualNationsResponsibilitySupportEnvironmentProtectMembersPreservesCollectivesResolveNurtureIndividual ResponsibilityResponsibility To Protect
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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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“Education is the best way to train ourselves that we will secure our own well-being by concerning ourselves with others. It is possible to create a better world, a more compassionate, more peaceful world, which is not only in everyone’s interest, but is everyone’s responsibility to achieve.”

WorldWayWellsInterestResponsibilityAchieveWords Of WisdomTrainHappyBest WayPeacefulSecureWell BeingCompassionateBeing HappyPersonal ResponsibilityWise Man Once SaidTibetanPeaceful World
Author:Dalai Lama
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