DALAI LAMA QUOTES

“Love and compassion are necessities not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.”

• Dalai Lama XIV

Tags: compassion, humanity, survival

“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.        If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”

― Dalai Lama XIV, The Art of Happiness

“Only the development of compassion and understanding for others can bring us the tranquility and happiness we all seek.”

― Dalai Lama XIV

 “Only the development of compassion and understanding for others can bring us the tranquility and happiness we all seek.”

― Dalai Lama XIV

“A truly compassionate attitude toward others does not change even if they behave negatively or hurt you.”

― Dalai Lama XIV

“I believe compassion to be one of the few things we can practice that will bring immediate and long-term happiness to our lives.”

― Dalai Lama XIV

“Love and Compassion are the true religions to me. But to develop this, we do not need to believe in any religion.”

― Dalai Lama XIV

“We can reject everything else: religion, ideology, all received wisdom. But we cannot escape the necessity of love and compassion…. This, then, is my true religion, my simple faith.”

― Dalai Lama XIV

“Our own heart, our own mind, is the temple.The doctrine is compassion. Love for others and respect for their rights and dignity, no matter who or what they are: ultimately these are all we need.”

― Dalai Lama XIV

“The purpose of all the major religious traditions is not to construct big temples on the outside, but to create temples of goodness and compassion inside, in our hearts.”

― Dalai Lama XIV

“When we are motivated by compassion and wisdom, the results of our actions benefit everyone, not just our individual selves or some immediate convenience.”

― Dalai Lama XIV

When we are able to recognize and forgive ignorant actions of the past, we gain strength to constructively solve the problems of the present.”

― Dalai Lama XIV

“Compassion is not religious business, it is human business, it is not luxury, it is essential for our own peace and mental stability, it is essential for human survival.”

― Dalai Lama XIV

“ I believe that the proper utilization of time is this: if you can, serve other people, other sentient beings. If not, at least refrain from harming them. I think that is the whole basis of my philosophy.So, let us reflect what is truly of value in life, what gives meaning to our lives, and set our priorities on the basis of that. The purpose of our life needs to be positive.”

― Dalai Lama XIV

“For our life to be of value, I think we must develop basic good human qualities—warmth, kindness, compassion. Then our life becomes meaningful and more peaceful—happier.”

― Dalai Lama XIV

“You must not hate those who do wrong or harmful things; but with compassion, you must do what you can to stop them — for they are harming themselves, as well as those who suffer from their actions.”

― Dalai Lama XIV

“Every single being, even those who are hostile to us, is just as afraid of suffering as we are, and seeks happiness in the same way we do. Every person has the same right as we do to be happy and not to suffer. So let’s take care of others wholeheartedly, of both our friends and our enemies. This is the basis for true compassion.”

― Dalai Lama XIV

“I believe all suffering is caused by ignorance. People inflict pain on others in the selfish pursuit of their happiness or satisfaction. Yet true happiness comes from a sense of inner peace and contentment, which in turn must be achieved through the cultivation of altruism, of love and compassion and elimination of ignorance, selfishness and greed.”

― Dalai Lama XIV

“I have found that the greatest degree of inner tranquility comes from the development of love and compassion. The more we care for the happiness of others, the greater is our own sense of well-being. Cultivating a close, warmhearted feeling for others automatically puts the mind at ease. It is the ultimate source of success in life.”

― Dalai Lama XIV

“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.”

― Dalai Lama XIV

“The more time you spend thinking about yourself, the more suffering you will experience.”

― Dalai Lama XIV

“The topic of compassion is not at all religious business; it is important to know it is human business, it is a question of human survival.”

― Dalai Lama XIV

“Generosity is the most natural outward expression of an inner attitude of compassion and loving-kindness.”

― Dalai Lama XIV

“Now there are many, many people in the world, but relatively few with whom we interact, and even fewer who cause us problems. So when you come across such a chance for practicing patience and tolerance, you should treat it with gratitude. It is rare. Just as having unexpectedly found a treasure in your own house, you should be happy and grateful toward your enemy for providing you that precious opportunity. Because if you are ever to be successful in your practice of patience and tolerance, which are critical factors in counteracting negative emotions, it is due to your own efforts and also the opportunity provided by your enemy.”

― Dalai Lama XIV

“All major religious traditions carry basically the same message, that is love, compassion and forgiveness the important thing is they should be part of our daily lives.”

― Dalai Lama XIV

“ I feel, it is vital for us to find genuinely sustainable and universal approach to ethics, inner values, and personal integrity-an approach that can transcend religious, cultural, and racial differences and appeal to people at a sustainable, universal approach is what I call the project of secular ethics.

― Dalai Lama XIV

“It is by moving beyond narrow self-interest that we find meaning, purpose, and satisfaction in life.”

― Dalai Lama XIV

“Compassion is the wish to see others free from suffering.”

― Dalai Lama XIV

“Whether one believes in a religion or not, and whether one believes in rebirth or not, there isn’t anyone who doesn’t appreciate kindness and compassion.”

― Dalai Lama XIV

“One of the basic points is kindness. With kindness, with love and compassion, with his feeling that is the essence of brotherhood, sisterhood, one will have inner peace. This compassionate feeling is the basis of inner peace.”

― Dalai Lama XIV

“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.”

― Dalai Lama XIV

“unless the direction of science is guided by a consciously ethical motivation, especially compassion, its effects may fail to bring benefit. They may indeed cause great harm.”

― Dalai Lama XIV

The Comment for Today

For Your Heart  

“When something needs to be done in the world to rectify the wrongs, if one is really concerned with benefiting others, one needs to be engaged, involved. This is action out of compassion.”

– His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama

For Your Head

Enlightenment is the ultimate goal one aspires for on the Buddhist path. One is considered to be enlightened or awakened when one has succeeded in purifying afflictive emotions as well as obstruction to knowledge. A person who has attained enlightenment is called a Buddha or awakened one.

Visual Expressions

Skull Bone Offering . 17th century. Tibet House US Repatriation Art Collection.

Equanimity is a state of even-mindedness, an unbiased mind toward others. Normally, one’s attitute towards other persons is strongly affected by viewing them as friends, enemies, or strangers. Hence, one regard others as completely equal and gets rid of partiality towards them. With equanimity you have the same attitude towards friends, enemies, and strangers.   – Source Tibet House US.