Inspirational Quotes by The 14th Dalai Lama (Tibetan Buddhist Religious Leader)

I find hope in the darkest of days, and focus in the brightest. I do not judge the universe.
—The 14th Dalai Lama

We can live without religion and meditation, but we cannot survive without human affection.
—The 14th Dalai Lama
Topics: Religion, Friendship, Affection, Love, Meditation

If you think only of yourself, if you forget the rights and well-being of others, or, worse still, if you exploit others, ultimately you will lose. You will have no friends who will show concern for your well-being. Moreover, if a tragedy befalls you, instead of feeling concerned, others might even secretly rejoice. By contrast, if an individual is compassionate and altruistic, and has the interests of others in The Mind irrespective of whether that person knows a lot of people, wherever that person moves, he or she will immediately make friends. And when that person faces a tragedy, there will be plenty of people who will come to help.
—The 14th Dalai Lama
Topics: Selfishness

Sleep is the best meditation.
—The 14th Dalai Lama
Topics: Meditation

If one’s life is simple, contentment has to come. Simplicity is extremely important for happiness. Having few desires, feeling satisfied with what you have, is very vital: satisfaction with just enough food, clothing, and shelter to protect yourself from the elements. And finally, there is an intense delight in abandoning faulty states of mind and in cultivating helpful ones in meditation.
—The 14th Dalai Lama
Topics: Meditation

World economies are always so tenuous and we are subject to so many losses in life, but a compassionate attitude is something we can always carry with us.
—The 14th Dalai Lama
Topics: Compassion

Because we all share this small planet earth, we have to learn to live in harmony and peace with each other and with nature. That is not just a dream, but a necessity.
—The 14th Dalai Lama

Although it is difficult to pinpoint the physical base or location of awareness, it is perhaps the most precious thing concealed within our brains. And it is something that the individual alone can feel and experience. Each of us cherishes it highly, yet it is private
—The 14th Dalai Lama
Topics: Awareness, Science

Follow the three Rs:
Respect for self,
Respect for others and
Responsibility for all your actions.
—The 14th Dalai Lama

Every human action, whether it has become positive or negative, must depend on motivation.
—The 14th Dalai Lama
Topics: Motivation

Harmony among the major faiths has become an essential ingredient of peaceful coexistence in our world. It matters for the welfare of humanity as a whole.
—The 14th Dalai Lama

Every human should have the idea of taking care of the environment, of nature, of water. So using too much or wasting water should have some kind of feeling or sense of concern. Some sort of responsibility and with that, a sense of discipline
—The 14th Dalai Lama
Topics: Water

Be a good human being, a warm-hearted affectionate person. That is my fundamental belief. Having a sense of caring, a feeling of compassion will bring happiness of peace of mind to oneself and automatically create a positive atmosphere.
—The 14th Dalai Lama
Topics: Affection, Mind, Love, Kindness, Happiness, Peace

The more we take the welfare of others to heart and work for their benefit, the more benefit we derive for ourselves. This is a fact that we can see.
—The 14th Dalai Lama
Topics: Helpfulness

The foundation of the Buddha’s teachings lies in compassion, and the reason for practicing the teachings is to wipe out the persistence of ego, the number-one enemy of compassion.
—The 14th Dalai Lama
Topics: Ego

When you are discontent, you always want more, more, more. Your desire can never be satisfied. But when you practice contentment, you can say to yourself, ‘Oh yes—I already have everything that I really need.’
—The 14th Dalai Lama

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.
—The 14th Dalai Lama
Topics: Meditation

All major religions, when understood properly, have the same potential for good.
—The 14th Dalai Lama

We have bigger houses but smaller families:
We have more degrees but less sense;
more knowledge but less judgements;
more experts but more problems;
more medicines, but less healthiness.
We’ve been all the way to the moon and back,
but we have trouble crossing the street
to meet the new neighbour.
We build more computers
to hold more information,
to produce more copies than ever,
but we have less communication.
We have become long on quantity
but short on quality.
These are times of fast foods,
but slow digestion;
tall man, but short character;
steep profits, but shallow relationships.
It is time when there is much in the window
but nothing in the room.
—The 14th Dalai Lama
Topics: Humanity

Whenever possible, it is always good to act in kindness. It is always possible.
—The 14th Dalai Lama

Compassion automatically brings happiness and calmness. Then, even if you receive disturbing news, it will be easier to take, as your mind is still.
—The 14th Dalai Lama
Topics: Compassion

Every day, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it. I am going to use all my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others; to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. I am going to have kind thoughts towards others, I am not going to get angry or think badly about others. I am going to benefit others as much as I can.
—The 14th Dalai Lama

If a problem is fixable, if a situation is such that you can do something about it, then there is no need to worry. If it’s not fixable, then there is no help in worrying. There is no benefit in worrying whatsoever.
—The 14th Dalai Lama

Hard times build determination and inner strength. Through them we can also come to appreciate the uselessness of anger. Instead of getting angry nurture a deep caring and respect for troublemakers because by creating such trying circumstances they provide us with invaluable opportunities to practice tolerance and patience.
—The 14th Dalai Lama

Spend some time alone every day.
—The 14th Dalai Lama

In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don’t bring up the past.
—The 14th Dalai Lama

The ultimate authority must always rest with the individual’s own reason and critical analysis.
—The 14th Dalai Lama
Topics: Authority

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.
—The 14th Dalai Lama
Topics: Love, Peace, Compassion, Buddhism, Business

In Buddhism we have relative truth and absolute truth.
—The 14th Dalai Lama
Topics: One liners, Buddhism

Just as you have the instinctive natural desire to be happy and overcome suffering, so do all sentient beings; just as you have the right to fulfill this innate aspiration, so do all sentient beings. So on what exact grounds do you discriminate?
—The 14th Dalai Lama
Topics: Aspirations

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