Love and Compassion are the true religions to me. But to develop this, we do not need to believe in any religion.
Dalai LamaMeditation is valuable for all of humanity because it involves looking inward. People don't have to be religious to look inside themselves more carefully. It is constructive and worthwhile to analyze our emotions, including compassion and our sense of caring, so that we can become more calm and happy.
Dalai LamaAnger or hatred is like a fisherman's hook. It is very important for us to ensure that we are not caught by it.
Dalai LamaA lot of problems we are facing, essentially, man made problem. Own creation. Not due to lack of intelligence.
Dalai LamaWith the realization of ones own potential and self-confidence in ones ability, one can build a better world. According to my own experience, self-confidence is very important. That sort of confidence is not a blind one; it is an awareness of ones own potential. On that basis, human beings can transform themselves by increasing the good qualities and reducing the negative qualities.
Dalai LamaTo be extremely self-centred, only interested in your own satisfaction, always brings negative consequences in the long run.
Dalai LamaLove and compassion ... are the ultimate source of human happiness, and the need for them lies at the very core of our being.
Dalai LamaAll beings want to live in peace and happiness, undisturbed. Therefore the concept of human rights is universal.
Dalai LamaAs a human being, anger is a part of our mind. Irritation also part of our mind. But you can do - anger come, go. Never keep in your sort of - your inner world, then create a lot of suspicion, a lot of distrust, a lot of negative things, more worry.
Dalai LamaAll the world’s major religions, with their emphasis on love, compassion, patience, tolerance and forgiveness, can and do promote inner values. But the reality of the world today is that grounding ethics in religion is no longer adequate. This is why I believe the time has come to find a way of thinking about spirituality and ethics that is beyond religion.
Dalai LamaMan surprised me most about humanity.Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health.And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.
Dalai LamaIf the mind is tranquil and occupied with positive thoughts, the body will not easily fall prey to disease
Dalai LamaI call the light and high aspects of my being spirit and the dark and heavy aspects soul. Soul is at home in the deep, shaded valleys. Heavy torpid flowers saturated with black grow there. The rivers flow like warm syrup. They empty into huge oceans of soul. Spirit is a land of high white peaks and glittering jewel-like lakes and flowers. Life is sparse and sounds travel great distances. There is soul music, soul food, and soul love... People need to climb the mountain not simple because it is there But because the soulful divinity needs to be mated with the spirit.
Dalai LamaIf we can cultivate a concern for others, keeping in mind the oneness of humanity, we can build a more compassionate world.
Dalai LamaYour own pain is involuntary; you feel overwhelmed and have no control. When feeling the pain of others, there is an element of discomfort, but there also is a level of stability because you are voluntarily accepting pain. It gives you a sense of confidence.
Dalai LamaIf some people have the belief or view that the Dalai Lama has some miracle power, that's totally nonsense.
Dalai LamaDespite all philosophical differences, all major world religions have the same potential to create good human beings.
Dalai LamaIf science proves facts that conflict with Buddhist understanding, Buddhism must change accordingly. We should always adopt a view that accords with the facts.
Dalai LamaMany people today agree that we need to reduce violence in our society. If we are truly serious about this, we must deal with the roots of violence, particularly those that exist within each of us. We need to embrace 'inner disarmament,' reducing our own emotions of suspicion, hatred and hostility toward our brothers and sisters
Dalai LamaBy developing a sense of concern for others' well-being, then no matter what others' attitudes are, you can keep inner peace.
Dalai LamaCompassion can be put into practice if one recognizes the fact that every human being is a member of humanity and the human family regardless of differences in religion, culture, color and creed. Deep down there is no difference.
Dalai LamaCultivating inner discipline is something that takes time; expecting rapid results is simply a sign of impatience.
Dalai LamaBecause we all share an identical need for love, it is possible to feel that anybody we meet, in whatever circumstances, is a brother or sister. No matter how new the face or how different the dress and behavior, there is no significant division between us and other people. It is foolish to dwell on external differences, because our basic natures are the same.
Dalai LamaOur prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them.
Dalai LamaOld friends pass away, new friends appear. It is just like the days. An old day passes, a new day arrives. The important thing is to make it meaningful: a meaningful friend - or a meaningful day.
Dalai LamaTo remain indifferent to the challenges we face is indefensible. If the goal is noble, whether or not it is realized within our lifetime is largely irrelevant. What we must do therefore is to strive and persevere and never give up.
Dalai LamaLife can be pleasant or miserable. To lead a fruitful life, and to make it positive, practice analytical meditation.
Dalai Lamaunless 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 LamaA compassionate attitude helps you communicate more easily with your fellow human beings. As a result, you make more genuine friends and the atmosphere around you is more positive, which gives you greater inner strength. This inner strength helps you spontaneously concern yourself with others, instead of thinking only about yourself.
Dalai LamaSome people, sweet and attractive, and strong and healthy, happen to die young. They are masters in disguise teaching us about impermanence.
Dalai LamaWhenever there is a challenge, there is also an opportunity to face it, to demonstrate and develop our will and determination.
Dalai LamaThe more we care for the happiness of others, the greater is our own sense of well-being.
Dalai LamaOn the philosophical level, both Buddhism and modern science share a deep suspicion of any notion of absolutes, whether conceptualize as a transcendent being, as an eternal, unchanging principle such as soul, or as a fundamental substratum of reality. ... In the Buddhist investigation of reality, at least in principle, empirical evidence should triumph over scriptural authority, no matter how deeply venerated a scripture may be.
Dalai LamaThe many factors which divide us are actually much more superficial than those we share. Despite all of the things that differentiate us - race, language, religion, gender, wealth and so on - we are all equal concerning our fundamental humanity.
Dalai LamaAlthough you can find certain differences among the Buddhist philosophical schools about how the universe came into being, the basic common question addressed is how the two fundamental principles-external matter and internal mind or consciousness-although distinct, affect one another. External causes and conditions are responsible for certain of our experiences of happiness and suffering. Yet we find that it is principally our own feelings, our thoughts and our emotions, that really determine whether we are going to suffer or be happy.
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