I became the Dalai Lama not on a volunteer basis.

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.

We need material development, but we need to understand that by itself it doesn't bring peace of mind.

Each of us in our own way can try to spread compassion into people's hearts. Western civilizations these days place great importance on filling the human brain with knowledge, but no one seems to care about filling the human heart with compassion. This is what the real role of religion is.

Without your own effort it is impossible for blessings to come.

Now is the time when your action is practice.

Give the ones you love wings to fly, roots to come back and reasons to stay.