Dalai Lama quotes

Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.

I always say that people should not rush to change religions. There is real value in finding the spiritual resources you need in your home religion.

Some mischievous people always there. Last several thousand years, always there. In future, also.

Where ignorance is our master, there is no possibility of real peace.

Logically, harmony must come from the heart... Harmony very much based on trust. As soon as use force, creates fear. Fear and trust cannot go together.

Whether you call it Buddhism or another religion, self-discipline, that's important. Self-discipline with awareness of consequences.

My main hope is eventually, in modern education field, introduce education about warm-heartedness, not based on religion, but based on common experience and a common sort of sense, and then scientific finding.

Even when a person has all of life's comforts - good food, good shelter, a companion - he or she can still become unhappy when encountering a tragic situation.

I have done one thing that I think is a contribution: I helped Buddhist science and modern science combine. No other Buddhist has done that. Other lamas, I don't think they ever pay attention to modern science. Since my childhood, I have a keen interest.

Too much self-centered attitude, you see, brings, you see, isolation. Result: loneliness, fear, anger. The extreme self-centered attitude is the source of suffering.

Sleep is the best meditation.

Logically, harmony must come from the heart... Harmony very much based on trust. As soon as use force, creates fear. Fear and trust cannot go together.

When we meet real tragedy in life, we can react in two ways - either by losing hope and falling into self-destructive habits, or by using the challenge to find our inner strength. Thanks to the teachings of Buddha, I have been able to take this second way.

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

Appearance is something absolute, but reality is not that way - everything is interdependent, not absolute. So that view is very helpful to maintain a peace of mind because the main destroyer of a peaceful mind is anger.

Even an animal, if you show genuine affection, gradually trust develops... If you always showing bad face and beating, how can you develop friendship?

It is very important to generate a good attitude, a good heart, as much as possible. From this, happiness in both the short term and the long term for both yourself and others will come.

I always say that people should not rush to change religions. There is real value in finding the spiritual resources you need in your home religion.

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

In order to become prosperous, a person must initially work very hard, so he or she has to sacrifice a lot of leisure time.

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

The basic Buddhist stand on the question of equality between the genders is age-old. At the highest tantric levels, at the highest esoteric level, you must respect women: every woman.

My faith helps me overcome such negative emotions and find my equilibrium.

If you have religious faith, very good, you can add on secular ethics, then religious belief, add on it, very good. But even those people who have no interest about religion, okay, it's not religion, but you can train through education.

I think technology really increased human ability. But technology cannot produce compassion.

Because of lack of moral principle, human life becomes worthless. Moral principle, truthfulness, is a key factor. If we lose that, then there is no future.

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

The Chinese government wants me to say that for many centuries Tibet has been part of China. Even if I make that statement, many people would just laugh. And my statement will not change past history. History is history.

The Chinese government wants me to say that for many centuries Tibet has been part of China. Even if I make that statement, many people would just laugh. And my statement will not change past history. History is history.

Of course, when I say that human nature is gentleness, it is not 100 percent so. Every human being has that nature, but there are many people acting against their nature, being false.

The Chinese government wants me to say that for many centuries Tibet has been part of China. Even if I make that statement, many people would just laugh. And my statement will not change past history. History is history.

When we meet real tragedy in life, we can react in two ways - either by losing hope and falling into self-destructive habits, or by using the challenge to find our inner strength. Thanks to the teachings of Buddha, I have been able to take this second way.

Calm mind brings inner strength and self-confidence, so that's very important for good health.

My main hope is eventually, in modern education field, introduce education about warm-heartedness, not based on religion, but based on common experience and a common sort of sense, and then scientific finding.

There is no need for temples, no need for complicated philosophies. My brain and my heart are my temples; my philosophy is kindness.

I am sometimes sad when I hear the personal stories of Tibetan refugees who have been tortured or beaten. Some irritation, some anger comes. But it never lasts long. I always try to think at a deeper level, to find ways to console.

It is very important to generate a good attitude, a good heart, as much as possible. From this, happiness in both the short term and the long term for both yourself and others will come.

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

Too much self-centered attitude, you see, brings, you see, isolation. Result: loneliness, fear, anger. The extreme self-centered attitude is the source of suffering.

If you have religious faith, very good, you can add on secular ethics, then religious belief, add on it, very good. But even those people who have no interest about religion, okay, it's not religion, but you can train through education.

More compassionate mind, more sense of concern for other's well-being, is source of happiness.

Religion, any religion, no matter what sort of wonderful religion, never be universal. So now education is universal, so we have to sort of find ways and means through education system, from kindergarten up to university level, to make awareness these good things, the values, inner values.

The basic Buddhist stand on the question of equality between the genders is age-old. At the highest tantric levels, at the highest esoteric level, you must respect women: every woman.

The important thing is that men should have a purpose in life. It should be something useful, something good.

I think really, China, Chinese, I think they really have a long history of civilization, rich culture.

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.

Even an animal, if you show genuine affection, gradually trust develops... If you always showing bad face and beating, how can you develop friendship?

I totally disagree with the view that the Tibet struggle will die, and there will be no hope for Tibet, after the Dalai Lama passes away.

Appearance is something absolute, but reality is not that way - everything is interdependent, not absolute. So that view is very helpful to maintain a peace of mind because the main destroyer of a peaceful mind is anger.

Sleep is the best meditation.

The purpose of our lives is to be happy.

The best way to resolve any problem in the human world is for all sides to sit down and talk.

Generally speaking, if a human being never shows anger, then I think something's wrong. He's not right in the brain.

My main hope is eventually, in modern education field, introduce education about warm-heartedness, not based on religion, but based on common experience and a common sort of sense, and then scientific finding.

I have always had this view about the modern education system: we pay attention to brain development, but the development of warmheartedness we take for granted.

Death means change our clothes. Clothes become old, then time to come change. So this body become old, and then time come, take young body.

My aim is to create a happy society with genuine friendship. Friendship between Tibetan and Chinese peoples is very essential.

My main hope is eventually, in modern education field, introduce education about warm-heartedness, not based on religion, but based on common experience and a common sort of sense, and then scientific finding.

Religion, any religion, no matter what sort of wonderful religion, never be universal. So now education is universal, so we have to sort of find ways and means through education system, from kindergarten up to university level, to make awareness these good things, the values, inner values.

When you practice gratefulness, there is a sense of respect toward others.

All religions try to benefit people, with the same basic message of the need for love and compassion, for justice and honesty, for contentment.

I am sometimes sad when I hear the personal stories of Tibetan refugees who have been tortured or beaten. Some irritation, some anger comes. But it never lasts long. I always try to think at a deeper level, to find ways to console.

I always say that people should not rush to change religions. There is real value in finding the spiritual resources you need in your home religion.

As 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.

Death means change our clothes. Clothes become old, then time to come change. So this body become old, and then time come, take young body.

Computers make me totally blank out.

Calm mind brings inner strength and self-confidence, so that's very important for good health.

Too much self-centered attitude, you see, brings, you see, isolation. Result: loneliness, fear, anger. The extreme self-centered attitude is the source of suffering.

My aim is to create a happy society with genuine friendship. Friendship between Tibetan and Chinese peoples is very essential.

Conversion is not my intention. Changing religion is not easy. You may develop some kind of confusion or difficulties.

Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.

The basic Buddhist stand on the question of equality between the genders is age-old. At the highest tantric levels, at the highest esoteric level, you must respect women: every woman.

Whether one believes in a religion or not, and whether one believes in rebirth or not, there isn't anyone who doesn't appreciate kindness and compassion.

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.

Death means change our clothes. Clothes become old, then time to come change. So this body become old, and then time come, take young body.

Calm mind brings inner strength and self-confidence, so that's very important for good health.

China has to go along with world trends. That's democracy, liberty, individual freedom. China sooner or later has to go that way. It cannot go backward.

It is very important to generate a good attitude, a good heart, as much as possible. From this, happiness in both the short term and the long term for both yourself and others will come.

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.

I think governments can't do much.

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

If you have religious faith, very good, you can add on secular ethics, then religious belief, add on it, very good. But even those people who have no interest about religion, okay, it's not religion, but you can train through education.

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