Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Quotes

Since the real purpose of meditation is to increase our capacity to help others, taking time each day to meditate is not selfish. We have to manage our time and energy in such a way that we can be of maximum benefit to others, and to do this we need time alone to recover our strength, collect our thoughts, and see things in perspective

If we want to cook food we need to leave the stove on continuously and not keep turning it on and off. If the heat is continuous, no matter whether it is high or low our food will eventually be cooked. Similarly, if we continuously apply effort, even if it is only a small effort, it is certain that we shall eventually experience the fruits of our practice.

It is through our anger and hatred that we transform people into enemies.

All the happiness there is in the world arises from wishing others to be happy.

Our mind is like a field, and performing actions is like sowing seeds in that field.

This impure world that we presently experience exists only in relation to our impure mind.

Many people are very intelligent in accomplishing worldly attainments. This intelligence is not wisdom because worldly attainments such as a high position, reputation, wealth and success in business are deceptive. If we die tomorrow they will disappear tomorrow, and nothing will be left for our future. Wisdom, however, will never deceive us.

We need modern ideas, but we also need ancient wisdom. If we deny ancient wisdom we are making a big mistake.

Faith is like pure eyes that enable us to see a pure and perfect world beyond the suffering world of samsara.

When a fully qualified Mahayana disciple relies completely upon a fully qualified Mahayana Spiritual Guide the attainment of enlightenment is easy.

We underestimate the value of patience. It is possible that people might sometimes interrupt our meditation sessions or Dharma study, but they can never take away our opportunity to train in inner virtues such as patience. It is this mental training, rather than outer virtuous activities, that is the essence of Dharma practice.

Today we can see many different forms of Buddhism, such as Zen and Theravada Buddhism. All these different aspects are practices of Buddha's teachings, and all are equally precious; they are just different presentations.

Listening is a lamp that dispels the darkness of ignorance.

We are all interconnected in a web of kindness from which it is impossible to separate ourself.

All objects whether pleasant, unpleasant or neutral, are mere appearances to the mind just like things experienced in a dream

If we transform our ordinary mind into love and compassion we will naturally act in a positive way.

A practice that is suitable for one person is not necessarily suitable for someone else, and a practice that is appropriate for one person at one time is not necessarily appropriate for that same person at another time. Buddha did not expect us to put all his teachings into practice right away--they are intended for a great variety of practitioners of different levels and dispositions.

Patience is a mind that is able to accept fully and happily, whatever occurs. It is much more than just gritting our teeth and putting up with things. Being patient means to welcome wholeheartedly whatever arises, having given up the idea that things should be other than what they are.

If everyone practiced cherishing others, many of the major problems of the world would be solved in a few years.

Buddha's teachings are scientific methods to solve the problems of all living beings permanently.

Enlightenment is the inner light of wisdom that is permanently free from all mistaken appearance, and whose function is to bestow mental peace upon each and every living being every day.

When we learn to accept difficult circumstances patiently, the real problem disappears.

Going for refuge to Buddha,Dharma, and Sangha means that we apply effort to receiving Buddha's blessings, to putting Dharma into practice, and to receiving help from Sangha.

The path to enlightenment is really very simple - all we need to do is stop cherishing ourself and learn to cherish others. All other spiritual realisations will naturally follow from this.

We should understand that our problems do not exist outside of ourself, but are part of our mind that experiences unpleasant feelings.

Happiness and suffering are states of mind, and so their main causes cannot be found outside the mind.

Everything we have and everything we enjoy, including our very life, is due to the kindness of others. In fact, every happiness there is in the world arises as a result of others' kindness.

Happiness is a state of mind, so the real source of happiness must lie within the mind, not in external conditions.

The more we control our mind, the more our inner peace increases and the happier we become

Being patient means to welcome wholeheartedly whatever arises.

Without improving our mind there is no way to solve our human problems.

Whenever we strive to make progress in our meditations, contemplations and so forth we are practicing effort.

When we look at external things, we can usually distinguish those that are useful and valuable from those that are not. We must learn to look at our mind in the same way.

Whenever we practise meditation, whether or not our meditation is clear, we are performing a virtuous mental action that is a cause of our future happiness and peace of mind.

We should realize that our deadliest enemies are anger and other delusions. Since these delusions are deeply ingrained mental habits, working to overcome them is not always easy.

Just as full sunlight completely dispels all darkness but even a few rays provide a measure of light, so, if we complete the practice of training the mind, we will totally dispel the darkness of our ignorance, but if we engage in only some parts of the practice, this will still help to reduce our ignorance and self-cherishing .

Patience is a strength, not a weakness; and if by practicing patience we stop retaliating to harm and criticism, people will gradually come to understand that our real nature is very special

Normally we divide the external world into that which we consider to be good or valuable, bad or worthless, or neither. Most of the time these discriminations are incorrect or have little meaning. For example, our habitual way of categorizing people as friends, enemies, and strangers depending on how they make us feel is both incorrect and a great obstacle to developing impartial love for all living beings. Rather than holding so tightly to our discriminations of the external world, it would be much more beneficial if we learned to discriminate between valuable and worthless states of mind.

In reality, our mind is the creator of all the things we experience.

I have not met one living being that has not been the mother of all the rest.

Just as eagles soar through the vast expanse of the sky without meeting any obstructions, needing only minimal effort to maintain their flight, so advanced meditators concentrating on emptiness can meditate on emptiness for a long time with little effort. Their minds soar through space-like emptiness, undistracted by any other phenomenon. When we meditate on emptiness we should try to emulate these meditators.

We all wish for world peace, but world peace will never be achieved unless we first establish peace within our own minds.

Love is the real nuclear bomb that destroys all our enemies, because when we love all living beings, we have no enemies.

The solution to all the problems of daily life is to cherish others.

Everything we now enjoy has been provided through the kindness of other beings, past or present.

Whenever we see anyone in a high or low position, male or female, they differ only in appearance, dress, behavior, and status. In essence they are all equal--they all experience problems in their lives.

Anger is one of the most common and destructive delusions, and it afflicts our mind almost every day. To solve the problem of anger, we first need to recognize the anger within our mind, acknowledge how it harms both ourself and others, and appreciate the benefits of being patient in the face of difficulties.

A Temple is one of the best ways of benefiting other living beings - it is the best form of public service.