Dalai Lama quotes
The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism. These 20 quotes focus mostly on life and mindset, from Compassion and the Individual and Dzogchen: The Heart Essence of the Great Perfection.
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This is a list of the best Dalai Lama quotes.
In fact, you'll find 235 of them here, and 20 come with a source I checked.
So if you want the ideas straight from Dalai Lama, you'll love this page.
Here's what's inside:
And I keep adding to it as I check more of Dalai Lama's quotes.
Best Dalai Lama quotes on life
The Dalai Lama explains that true happiness and human survival depend on treating others with kindness, love, and compassion. According to the Dalai Lama, caring for all creatures and living in harmony brings inner peace while reducing selfishness and suffering.
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.
Source: "Kindness and Compassion" p. 52
Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.
Source: "Kindness and Compassion" p. 52
Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.
Source: As quoted in A Small Drop of Ink: A Collection of Inspirational and Moving Quotations of the Ages (2003) by Linda Pendleton., 2003
If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.
Source: As quoted in Meditations for Living In Balance: Daily Solutions for People Who Do Too Much (2000) by Anne Wilson Schaef, p. 11., 2000
I believe all suffering is caused by ignorance. People inflict pain on others in the selfish pursuit of their happiness or satisfaction. Yet true happiness comes from a sense of inner peace and contentment, which in turn must be achieved through the cultivation of altruism, of love and compassion and elimination of ignorance, selfishness and greed.
Source: Nobel acceptance speech (1989), 1989
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.
Source: "Kindness and Compassion" p. 47.
I feel that the essence of spiritual practice is your attitude toward others. When you have a pure, sincere motivation, then you have the right attitude toward others based on kindness, compassion, love and respect.
Source: Answering the question "Your Holiness, there are many people in the West who want to combine their spiritual practice with social and political responsibility. Do you feel that these two aspects are connected?" in an interview with Catherin
The more we care for the happiness of others, the greater is our own sense of well-being.
Source: Compassion and the Individual
Through violence, you may 'solve' one problem, but you sow the seeds for another.
Source: Dzogchen: The Heart Essence of the Great Perfection, Snow Lion Publications, Ithaca, 2004, 2004
I try to treat whoever I meet as an old friend. This gives me a genuine feeling of happiness. It is the practice of compassion.
Source: Compassion and the Individual
FAQs about Dalai Lama
The questions people ask most about Dalai Lama, answered from Dalai Lama's own words.
Dalai Lama believes people do not require elaborate structures or difficult systems of thought to practice spirituality.
Dalai Lama states, "Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness."
According to Dalai Lama, a good human life relies directly on showing compassion rather than following external rituals.
Dalai Lama teaches that personal joy comes directly from caring about other people.
Dalai Lama writes, "If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion."
Focusing on the welfare of others brings deep peace to the mind.
Dalai Lama approaches every encounter with an open and warm attitude.
Dalai Lama explains, "I try to treat whoever I meet as an old friend."
This practice of compassion creates a genuine sense of personal joy during daily life.
Dalai Lama views basic warmth toward others as essential for existence.
Dalai Lama asserts, "Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries."
Without these basic qualities, humanity cannot survive.
Difficult circumstances provide an exceptional opportunity for constructive action.
Dalai Lama notes, "It is under the greatest adversity that there exists the greatest potential for doing good, both for oneself and others."
Facing hardship with the proper mindset allows people to serve both themselves and society.
Dalai Lama maintains that human pain originates from a lack of true understanding.
Dalai Lama states, "I believe all suffering is caused by ignorance."
People inflict distress on others when chasing selfish aims instead of cultivating inner contentment.
Dalai Lama rejects violent methods because aggressive actions create future complications.
Dalai Lama cautions, "Through violence, you may 'solve' one problem, but you sow the seeds for another."
Long-lasting peace requires mutual understanding and cooperation rather than force.
Dalai Lama directs people to focus on personal discipline rather than judging peers.
Dalai Lama teaches, "The very purpose of religion is to control yourself, not to criticize others."
Spiritual effort centers on managing internal anger, pride, and jealousy in everyday life.
Most of them come from Dzogchen: The Heart Essence of the Great Perfection, Snow Lion Publications, Ithaca, 2004, Compassion and the Individual, and "Kindness and Compassion" p. 52.
Every quote with a checked source shows it under the quote, so you can read it there.
I also have quote pages on Life and Mindset.
The quote finder searches every quote by what it means.
Navid Moazzez
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Navid Moazzez helps creators and founders master AI and build their own AI Operating System (AI OS) to automate their business and life.
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