Tenzin Gyatso (b.1935,) the 14th Dalai Lama, originallly Lhamo Dhondup, is the most prominent spiritual leader of the Tibetan Buddhist community. He is the secular leader of the Tibetan people and the leader of the Gelugpa school of Tibetan Buddhism. a global figure he is recognized for his advocacy of Buddhism and of the rights of the people of Tibet.
The 14th Dalai Lama lives in exile in Dharamshala, India, ever since the Chinese occupied Tibet in 1959. As one of the most respected men of our times, the Dalai Lama is a champion of the fundamental human values of compassion, love, altruism, and nonviolence.
The Dalai Lama is the 1989 recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize for his adherence to the Buddhist principle of nonviolence in the Tibetan struggle, and for advocating for peace amid the Chinese government’s oppression of Tibet. The Nobel committee praised “his consistent resistance to the use of violence in his people’s struggle to regain their liberty” and stated that his award was “in part a tribute to the memory of Mahatma Gandhi.”
The Dalai Lama’s autobiographies include My Land and My People (1962) and Freedom in Exile (1990.) His books on Buddhist teachings include The Art of Happiness (1998) and The Book of Joy (2016; with Archbishop Desmond Tutu.) Essayist Pico Iyer’s The Open Road: The Global Journey of the Fourteenth Dalai Lama (2008) is an intimate portrait.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by The 14th Dalai Lama
When we feel love and kindness toward others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us also to develop inner happiness and peace.
—The 14th Dalai Lama
Topics: Kindness
Now you are on the Buddhist way. Keep up your meditation, as there is no instant illumination. The mind moves slowly into this. Do not become attached to your method. When, in the course of your meditation, your consciousness will have expanded and been transformed, you will then recognize that all the ways are valid ways.
—The 14th Dalai Lama
Topics: Meditation, Mind, Buddhism
I have observed that religious practice is not a precondition either of ethical conduct or of happiness itself. I have also suggested that, whether a person practices religion or not, the spiritual qualities of love and compassion, patience, tolerance, forgiveness, humility and so on are indispensable
—The 14th Dalai Lama
Topics: Compassion
On a certain day, month and year one should observe the ceremony of tree-planting. Thus, one fulfils one’s responsibilities, serves one’s fellow-beings which not only brings happiness but benefits all.
—The 14th Dalai Lama
I believe that the very purpose of life is to be happy. From the very core of our being, we desire contentment. In my own limited experience I have found that 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 helps remove whatever fears or insecurities we may have and gives us the strength to cope with any obstacles we encounter. It is the principal source of success in life. Since we are not solely material creatures, it is a mistake to place all our hopes for happiness on external development alone. The key is to develop inner peace.
—The 14th Dalai Lama
Topics: Give, Buddhism, Believe, Happy, Life, Purpose, Mind, Happiness, Contentment, Success, Peace, Sin, Desire, War, Heart, Mistake, Fear, Experience, Great
Don’t let a little dispute injure a great relationship.
—The 14th Dalai Lama
This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.
—The 14th Dalai Lama
Topics: Love, Kindness, Religion, Buddhism, Philosophy
Every noble work is bound to face problems and obstacles. It is important to check your goal and motivation thoroughly. One should be very truthful, honest, and reasonable. One’s actions should be good for others, and for oneself as well. Once a positive goal is chosen, you should decide to pursue it all the way to the end. Even if it is not realized, at least there will be no regret.
—The 14th Dalai Lama
Topics: Regret, Disappointment, Remorse
The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness.
—The 14th Dalai Lama
Topics: Appreciation
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.
—The 14th Dalai Lama
Topics: Religion
Today, more than ever before, life must be characterized by a sense of Universal responsibility, not only nation to nation and human to human, but also human to other forms of life.
—The 14th Dalai Lama
Topics: Responsibility
Dangerous consequences will follow when politicians and rulers forget moral principles. Whether we believe in God or karma, ethics is the foundation of every religion.
—The 14th Dalai Lama
Topics: Karma
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
Sleep is the best meditation.
—The 14th Dalai Lama
Topics: Meditation
In Buddhism we have relative truth and absolute truth.
—The 14th Dalai Lama
Topics: One liners, Buddhism
In the Buddha’s life story we see the three stages of practice: Morality comes first, then concentrated meditation, and then wisdom. And we see that the path takes time.
—The 14th Dalai Lama
Topics: Meditation
If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun.
—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
It is my belief that whereas the twentieth century has been a century of war and untold suffering, the twenty-first century should be one of peace and dialogue. As the continued advances in information technology make our world a truly global village, I believe there will come a time when war and armed conflict will be considered an outdated and obsolete method of settling differences among nations and communities.
—The 14th Dalai Lama
Topics: The Future
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
I feel that a genuine, affectionate smile is very important in our day-to-day lives. How one creates that smile largely depends on one’s own attitude. It is illogical to expect smiles from others if one does not smile oneself. Therefore, one can see that many things depend on one’s own behaviour.
—The 14th Dalai Lama
Topics: Attitude
We begin from the recognition that all beings cherish happiness and do not want suffering. It then becomes both morally wrong and pragmatically unwise to pursue only one’s own happiness oblivious to the feelings and aspirations of all others who surround us as members of the same human family. The wiser course is to think of others when pursuing our own happiness.
—The 14th Dalai Lama
Topics: Purpose, Happiness
We live very close together. So, our prime purpose in life is to help others. And if we can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.
—The 14th Dalai Lama
Topics: Helping, Sacrifice, Service
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
In the practice of tolerance, one’s enemy is the best teacher.
—The 14th Dalai Lama
Topics: Teaching, Teachers, Tolerance
Every human action, whether it has become positive or negative, must depend on motivation.
—The 14th Dalai Lama
Topics: Motivation
Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.
—The 14th Dalai Lama
Topics: Love, Buddhism
All major religions, when understood properly, have the same potential for good.
—The 14th Dalai Lama
I truly believe that compassion provides the basis of human survival.
—The 14th Dalai Lama
Topics: Compassion
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 to your enemy for providing that precious opportunity.
—The 14th Dalai Lama
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