QuoteProject
When a jealous person sees signs of other people's success and good fortune, his heart is pierced with envy. But someone who has learned to rejoice in the good fortune of others experiences only happiness. Seeing another person's beautiful house or attractive partner immediately makes him happy - the fact that they are not his own is irrelevant.
Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

Embracing the success of others leads to true happiness, while jealousy only brings pain.

This quote by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso emphasizes the contrasting emotions of jealousy and happiness in response to others' success. A jealous person suffers from the envy of others' good fortune, while someone who has cultivated a mindset of joy for others can experience genuine happiness regardless of their own circumstances.

Themes

JealousyHappinessSuccessEmpathyEnlightenment

In practice

Example use cases

In a motivational speech to inspire teamwork and camaraderie.

More from Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

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.
Geshe Kelsang GyatsoRead
Without inner peace, outer peace is impossible. We all wish for world peace, but world peace will never be acheived unless we first establish peace within our own minds. We can send so-called 'peacekeeping forces' into areas of conflict, but peace cannot be oppossed from the outside with guns. Only by creating peace within our own mind and helping others to do the same can we hope to achieve peace in this world.
Geshe Kelsang GyatsoRead
Happiness and suffering are states of mind, and so their main causes cannot be found outside the mind.
Geshe Kelsang GyatsoRead
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.
Geshe Kelsang GyatsoRead

Similar quotes

We, ignorant of ourselves, Beg often our own harms, which the wise powers Deny us for our good; so find we profit By losing of our prayers.
William ShakespeareRead
We are far more than our bodies and personalities. The inner spirit is always beautiful and lovable, no matter how our outer appearances may change.
Louise HayRead
Many of us spend our whole lives running from feeling with the mistaken belief that you can not bear the pain. But you have already borne the pain. What you have not done is feel all you are beyond that pain.
Khalil GibranRead
Only let the moving waters calm down, and the sun and moon will be reflected on the surface of your being.
Deepak ChopraRead
Ideas, we all know, are not born in people's heads. They begin somewhere out there, loose wisps of smoke swirling directionless in their search for a befitting mind.
Mia CoutoRead
The strong man is the one who is able to intercept at will the communication between the senses and the mind.
Napoleon BonaparteRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.