I often tease young people about their concern for how they look; more important is inner beauty - compassion, affection and respect.
Interpretation
Inner beauty is more important than outward appearances.
This quote emphasizes the value of inner qualities such as compassion, affection, and respect over superficial concerns about physical appearance. The Dalai Lama suggests that these inner attributes truly define a person's beauty and worth, encouraging young people to prioritize their character and kindness rather than merely focusing on how they are perceived externally.
In practice
This quote could be shared during a seminar on self-esteem and self-acceptance.
Human beings are not intrinsically selfish, which isolates us from others. We are essentially social animals who depend on others to meet our needs. We achieve happiness, prosperity and progress through social interaction. Therefore, having a kind and helpful attitude contributes to our own and others' happiness.
Material objects give rise to physical happiness, while spiritual development gives rise to mental happiness. Since we experience both physical and mental happiness, we need both material and spiritual development. This is why, for our own good and that of society we need to balance material progress with inner development.
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.
The ultimate source of a happy life is warm-heartedness. This means extending to others the kind of concern we have for ourselves. On a simple level we find that if we have a compassionate heart we naturally have more friends. And scientists today are discovering that while anger and hatred eat into our immune system, warm-heartedness and compassion are good for our health.
My religion is kindness. _x000D_ A good mind, a good heart, _x000D_ warm feelings these are _x000D_ the most important things.
If a person's basic state of mind is serene and calm, then it is possible for this inner peace to overwhelm a painful physical experience. On the other hand, if someone is suffering from depression, anxiety, or any form of emotional distress, then even if he or she happens to be enjoying physical comforts, he will not really be able to experience the happiness that these could bring.
To create worry humans elongate fear with anticipation and memory, expand it in imagination and fuel it with emotion. The uniquely human mental process called worrying depends upon having a brain that can reason, remember, reflect, feel, and imagine. Only humans have a brain big enough to do this simultaneously and do it well.
You forgive yourself for every failure because you are trying to do the right thing. God knows that and you know it. Nobody else may know it.
Whoever survives a test, whatever it may be, must tell the story. That is his duty.
When choosing between two evils, I always like to try the one I've never tried before.
I notice a difference from the moment I meditate.
Fear of something is at the root of hate for others, and hate within will eventually destroy the hater.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.