Life can be pleasant or miserable. To lead a fruitful life, and to make it positive, practice analytical meditation.

I became the Dalai Lama not on a volunteer basis.

Man sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health.

One can overcome the forces of negative emotions, like anger and hatred, by cultivating their counter-forces, like love and compassion.

We can live without religion and meditation, but we cannot survive without human affection.

As our own peace of mind grows, so the atmosphere around us becomes more peaceful.

Because my main concern is the Tibetan Buddhist culture, not just political independence, I cannot seek self-rule for central Tibet and exclude the 4 million Tibetans in our two eastern provinces of Amdo and Kham.