Inspirational Quotes
Words to motivate, inspire, and guide you.
Dalai Lama Quotes
AngerLetting GoNegative EmotionsInner Peace 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.
RealityInterdependencePeace of MindAnger 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.
AmityPeaceCommitmentReconciliation As long as I am alive, I am fully committed to amity between Tibetans and Chinese. Otherwise there's no use.
HappinessMaterialismSufferingAnxiety Physical comforts cannot subdue mental suffering, and if we look closely, we can see that those who have many possessions are not necessarily happy. In fact, being wealthy often brings even more anxiety.
Human ValuesHarmony Wherever I go meeting the public... spreading a message of human values, spreading a message of harmony, is the most important thing.
Non-violenceSacrifice I think the self-burning itself on practice of non-violence. These people, you see, they easily use bomb explosive, more casualty people. But they didn't do that. Only sacrifice their own life. So this also is part of practice of non-violence.
LoveCompassionForgivenessUnityPractice 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.
Universal ResponsibilityInterconnectednessEmpathy Today, more than ever before, life must be characterized by a sense of Universal responsibility, not only nation to nation and human to human, but also human to other forms of life.
EducationValue 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.
DeathChangeRebirthAging 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.
ScienceInnovationBuddhismIntegration 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.
Human NatureGentlenessAuthenticity 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.
MischiefEnduranceHuman Nature Some mischievous people always there. Last several thousand years, always there. In future, also.
CompassionWell-beingHappiness More compassionate mind, more sense of concern for other's well-being, is source of happiness.
BeliefMisconceptionSkepticismTruth If some people have the belief or view that the Dalai Lama has some miracle power, that's totally nonsense.
HopePerseveranceStruggle 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.
ReasonCritical ThinkingIndividualismAutonomy The ultimate authority must always rest with the individual's own reason and critical analysis.
LibertyResiliencePerseveranceJustice It is difficult to violently suppress people in the long run, as the example of the Soviet Union and the Eastern European countries has shown.
PoliticsShort-sightednessSelf-interest I don't think generally politician come from democratic country. I think not that thinking. But sometimes little bit short-sighted. They are mainly looking for their next vote.
ComfortHappinessAdversity 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.
Helping OthersServiceKindness It is necessary to help others, not only in our prayers, but in our daily lives. If we find we cannot help others, the least we can do is to desist from harming them.
Political DisengagementLeadership ResponsibilityTradition PreservationSafety I felt we must separate political responsibility. The Dalai Lama should not carry that burden. So that is my selfish reason - to protect the old Dalai Lama tradition. It is safer without political involvement.
Human ValuesCompassionReligious Harmony My main concern is meeting with public because my main commitment, main interest is promotion of human value, human affection, compassion and religious harmony.
PeaceInner PeaceSelf-acceptance We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.
Self-DisciplineConsequence Awareness Whether you call it Buddhism or another religion, self-discipline, that's important. Self-discipline with awareness of consequences.
HistoryTruth 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.
Self-ReliancePersonal AuthorityRebirth One thing I want to make clear, as far as my own rebirth is concerned, the final authority is myself and no one else, and obviously not China's Communists.
CompassionResilienceInner PeaceConsolation 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.
AppearanceRealityInterdependenceAbsolutes Appearance is something absolute, but reality is not that way - everything is interdependent, not absolute.
RoleTraditionDestiny If I had remained in Lhasa, even without the Chinese occupation, I would probably have carried the ceremonial role in some orthodox way.
Human NeedsSurvivalMoral ValuesFoundation of HumanitySocial Fabric Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.
Open-mindednessInvestigationBuddhismFaith Open-minded people tend to be interested in Buddhism because Buddha urged people to investigate things - he didn't just command them to believe.
PerspectiveOpennessUnderstandingObjectivityGrowth Look at situations from all angles, and you will become more open.
MoralityReligionSecularismEducationPersonal Development 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.
Climate ChangeMeltingWeather PatternsTrust In Experts Some scientists believe climate change is the cause of unprecedented melting of the North Pole, and that effects these very uncertain weather patterns. I think we should listen to those scientists and experts.