Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama Quotes

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Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them.

- Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama

Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.

- Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama

What is the meaning of life? To be happy and useful.

- Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama

I find hope in the darkest of days, and focus in the brightest. I do not judge the universe.

- Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama

If you have a particular faith or religion, that is good. But you can survive without it.

- Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama

The need for love lies at the very foundation of human existence.

- Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama

The greatest degree of inner tranquility comes from the development of love and compassion. The more we care for the happiness of others, the greater is our own sense of well-being.

- Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lamat

We can't say that all religions are the same, different religions have different views and fundamental differences. But it does not matter, as all religions are meant to help in bringing about a better world with better and happier human beings. On this level, I think that through different philosophical explanations and approaches, all religions have the same goal and the same potential.

- Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama

In the practice of tolerance, one's enemy is the best teacher.

- Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama

If we ourselves remain angry and then sing world peace, it has little meaning. First, our individual self must learn peace. This we can practice. Then we can teach the rest of the world.

- Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama

A good motivation is what is needed: compassion without dogmatism, without complicated philosophy; just understanding that others are human brothers and sisters and respecting their human rights and dignities. That we humans can help each other is one of our unique human capacities.

- Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama

To be aware of a single shortcoming in oneself is more useful than to be aware of a thousand in someone else.

- Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama

Sleep is the best meditation.

- Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama

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

- Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama

The basic thing is that everyone wants happiness, no one wants suffering. And happiness mainly comes from our own attitude, rather than from external factors. If your own mental attitude is correct, even if you remain in a hostile atmosphere, you feel happy.

- Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama

I believe that to meet the challenges of our times, human beings will have to develop a greater sense of universal responsibility. Each of us must learn to work not just for oneself, one's own family or nation, but for the benefit of all humankind. Universal responsibility is the key to human survival. It is the best foundation for world peace.

- Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama

Compassion is the radicalism of our time.

- Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama

Human beings by nature want happiness and do not want suffering. With that feeling everyone tries to achieve happiness and tries to get rid of suffering, and everyone has the basic right to do this. In this way, all here are the same, whether rich or poor, educated or uneducated, Easterner or Westerner, believer or non-believer, and within believers whether Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and so on. Basically, from the viewpoint of real human value we are all the same.

- Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama

Whether you believe in God or not does not matter so much, whether you believe in Buddha or not does not matter so much. You must lead a good life.

- Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama

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.

- Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.

- Tenzin Gyatso, 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.

- Tenzin Gyatso, 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.

- Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama

Responsibility does not only lie with the leaders of our countries or with those who have been appointed or elected to do a particular job. It lies with each of us individually. Peace, for example, starts within each one of us. When we have inner peace, we can be at peace with those around us.

- Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama

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Peace, in the sense of the absence of war, is of little value to someone who is dying of hunger or cold. It will not remove the pain of torture inflicted on a prisoner of conscience. It does not comfort those who have lost their loved ones in floods caused by senseless deforestation in a neighboring country. Peace can only last where human rights are respected, where the people are fed, and where individuals and nations are free.

- Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama

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