The Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism and the Tibetan people. Born on July 6, 1935, in a small village in Tibet, his life has been a testament to the power of peace, compassion, and non-violence. Exiled from his homeland since 1959, the Dalai Lama has become a global symbol of wisdom and kindness, advocating for the rights and autonomy of the Tibetan people while also promoting global ethics and interfaith dialogue.
His teachings resonate with a broad audience, transcending cultural and religious boundaries. His most significant contribution is arguably the promotion of human values such as compassion, forgiveness, tolerance, contentment, and self-discipline. He has been a tireless proponent of peace, earning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his nonviolent struggle for the liberation of Tibet.
The quote, “Every day, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it…” captures the essence of his message. It serves as a daily reminder to live with intention, to cherish life, and to commit oneself to the betterment of others. This perspective is crucial in our current society, where materialism and self-centeredness often overshadow altruism and collective well-being.
In a world rife with division, the Dalai Lama’s words encourage a shift towards unity and shared purpose. They prompt us to consider the impact of our thoughts and actions on others and to strive for a more compassionate and enlightened society. His philosophy inspires us to cultivate inner peace, which in turn can lead to global harmony, making his teachings as relevant today as ever before.
Reflecting on this quote each morning can set the tone for a life lived with purpose and benevolence, reminding us that our greatest potential lies in the service of others.
Dalai Lama says: “A good motivation is what is needed: compassion without dogmatism, without complicated philosophy; just understanding that others are human brothers and sisters and respecting their human rights and dignities. That we humans can help each other is one of our unique human capacities.”
Dalai Lama says: “A truly compassionate attitude toward others does not change even if they behave negatively or hurt you.”
Dalai Lama says: “All living beings have experience of pleasure and pain, and we are among them. What makes human beings different is that we have a powerful intelligence and a much greater ability to achieve happiness and avoid suffering. Real happiness and friendship come not from money or even knowledge, but from warm-heartednes s. Once we recognize this we will be more inclined to cultivate it.”
Dalai Lama says: “All suffering is caused by ignorance. People inflict pain on others in the selfish pursuit of their own happiness or satisfaction”
Dalai Lama says: “Although we are all the same in not wanting problems and wanting a peaceful life, we tend to create a lot of problems for ourselves. Encountering those problems, anger develops and overwhelms our mind, which leads to violence. A good way to counter this and to work for a more peaceful world is to develop concern for others. Then our anger, jealousy and other destructive emotions will naturally weaken and diminish.”
Dalai Lama says: “An affectionate disposition not only makes the mind more peaceful and calm, but it affects our body in a positive way too.”
Dalai Lama says: “Anger is the ultimate destroyer of your own peace of mind”
Dalai Lama says: “Anger or hatred is like a fisherman’s hook. It is very important for us to ensure that we are not caught by it.”
Dalai Lama says: “As a Buddhist, I view death as a normal process, a reality that I accept will occur as long as I remain in this earthly existence. Knowing that I cannot escape it, I see no point in worrying about it. I tend to think of death as being like changing your clothes when they are old and worn out, rather than as some final end. Yet death is unpredictable: We do not know when or how it will take place. So it is only sensible to take certain precautions before it actually happens.”
Dalai Lama says: “As free human beings we can use our unique intelligence to try to understand ourselves and our world. But if we are prevented from using our creative potential, we are deprived of one of the basic characteristics of a human being”
Dalai Lama says: “Because we all share an identical need for love, it is possible to feel that anybody we meet, in whatever circumstances, is a brother or sister.”
Dalai Lama says: “Blessing must arise from within your own mind. It is not something that comes from outside. When the positive qualities of your mind increase and the negativities decrease, that is what blessing means. The Tibetan word for blessing … means transforming into magnificent potential. Therefore, blessing refers to the development of virtuous qualities you did not previously have and the improvement of those good qualities you have already developed. It also means decreasing the defilements of the mind that obstruct the generation of wholesome qualities. So actual blessing is received when the minds virtuous attributes gain strength and its defective characteristics weaken or deteriorate.”
Dalai Lama says: “Blessings don’t come from outside, but from within. Whatever blessings we receive are the result of our own efforts and positive actions.”
Dalai Lama says: “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.”
Dalai Lama says: “Despite all philosophical differences, all major world religions have the same potential to create good human beings”
Dalai Lama says: “Developing inner values is much like physical exercise. The more we train our abilities, the stronger they become. The difference is that, unlike the body, when it comes to training the mind, there is no limit to how far we can go.”
Dalai Lama says: “Cultivate the understanding that the self is not really an independently existing entity, and begin to view self instead in terms of it’s dependent relation to others. Although it is difficult to say that merely reflecting on this will produce a profound spiritual realization, it will at least have some effect. Your mind will be more open. Something will begin to change within you. Therefore, even in the immediate term there is definitely a positive and beneficial effect in reversing these two attitudes and moving from self-centeredness to other-centeredness, from belief in self existence to belief in dependent origination.”
Dalai Lama says: “Do not let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace.”
Dalai Lama says: “Do not try to use what you learn from Buddhism to be a Buddhist; use it to be a better whatever-you-already-are.”
Dalai Lama says: “Every day, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it. I am going to use all my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others; to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. I am going to have kind thoughts towards others, I am not going to get angry or think badly about others. I am going to benefit others as much as I can.”
Dalai Lama says: “Every human being has the same potential. Whatever makes you feel “I am worthless” is wrong. Absolutely wrong. You are deceiving yourself. We all have the power of thought, so what could you possibly be lacking? If you have the willpower, then you can do anything.”
Dalai Lama says: “Every religion emphasizes human improvement, love, respect for others, sharing other people’s suffering. On these lines every religion had more or less the same viewpoint and the same goal.”
Dalai Lama says: “Everybody wants a happy life and a peaceful mind, but we have to produce peace of mind through our own practice.”
Dalai Lama says: “Everything is interconnected. My interest is linked to everyone else’s. Our survival and future are linked. Therefore the destruction of your so-called enemy is actually the destruction of your self.”
Dalai Lama says: “Fear, hatred, and suspicion narrow your mind – compassion opens it.”
Dalai Lama says: “Generosity is the most natural outward expression of an inner attitude of compassion and loving-kindness.”
Dalai Lama says: “Give the ones you love wings to fly, roots to come back and reasons to stay.”
Dalai Lama says: “Given the scale of life in the cosmos, one human life is no more than a tiny blip. Each one of us is a just visitor to this planet, a guest, who will only stay for a limited time. What greater folly could there be than to spend this short time alone, unhappy or in conflict with our companions? Far better, surely, to use our short time here in living a meaningful life, enriched by our sense of connection with others and being of service to them.”
Dalai Lama says: “Giving up attachment to the world does not mean that you set yourself apart from it. Generating a desire for others to be happy increases your humanity. As you become less attached to the world, you become more humane. As the very purpose of spiritual practice is to help others, you must remain in society.”
Dalai Lama says: “Happiness comes through taming the mind; without taming the mind there is no way to be happy”
