Explore Quotes by Dalai Lama

Whether or not we follow any particular spiritual tradition, the benefits of love and kindness are obvious to anyone.

Too much of a self-centered attitude creates mistrust and suspicion in others, which can in turn lead to fear. But if you have more of an open mind, and you cultivate a sense of concern for others' well-being, then, no matter what others' attitudes are, you can keep your inner peace.

To foster inner awareness, introspection, and reasoning is more efficient than meditation and prayer.

If we can cultivate a concern for others, keeping in mind the oneness of humanity, we can build a more compassionate world.

The development of a kind heart, or feeling of closeness for all human beings, does not involve any of the kind of religiosity we normally associate with it...It is for everyone, irrespective of race, religion or any political affiliation.

When you hate someone intensely, 80% of what you think is delusion.

All religion teaches the virtues of love, altruism and patience, while showing us how to discipline and transform ourselves to achieve inner peace and a kind heart. Therefore, they are worthy of our respect.

Anger, jealousy, impatience, and hatred are the real troublemakers, with them problems cannot be solved.

Peace is not just the mere absence of violence or disturbance. It's when there is a possibility of conflict, but you deliberately avoid violence and adopt methods to solve the problem through peaceful means. That is real peace.

Peace can only last where human rights are respected, where the people are fed, and where individuals and nations are free. True peace with oneself and with the world around us can only be achieved through the development of mental peace.

It is important that when pursing our own self-interest we should be 'wise selfish' and not 'foolish selfish'. Being foolish selfish means pursuing our own interests in a narrow, shortsighted way. Being wise selfish means taking a broader view and recognizing that our own long-term individual interest lies in the welfare of everyone. Being wise selfish means being compassionate.

When we are motivated by compassion and wisdom, the results of our actions benefit everyone, not just our individual selves.

Compassion can be roughly defined in terms of a state of mind that is nonviolent, nonharming, and nonaggressive. It is a mental attitude based on the wish for others to be free of their suffering and is associated with a sense of commitment, responsibility, and respect towards others.

World peace must develop from inner peace.

Gratitude is something you show in relation to others.

Today is the right day to love, believe, do, and mostly, live.

Prayer alone will not make a happy life. A happy life must be built. You must act.

A calm mind is good for our physical health, but it also enables us to see things more realistically.

Friends, genuine friends, are attracted by a warm heart, not money, not power. A genuine friend considers you as just another human being, as a brother or sister, and shows affection on that level, regardless of whether you are rich or poor, or in a high position; that is a genuine friend.

Our purpose in life is to be happy. From the very core of our being, we simply desire contentment.

True compassion is not just an emotional response but a firm commitment founded on reason.