200+ Dalai Lama Quotes That’s Will Change Your Life

The teachings of the Dalai Lama resonate with millions worldwide. His significant experiences have given rise to a treasure trove of intelligence that proceeds to direct and rouse people on their journeys.

Most Popular Dalai Lama Quotes: These words of enlightenment encapsulate timeless truths across cultures and beliefs. Whether seeking solace, guidance, or motivation, these quotes offer invaluable life lessons that transcend boundaries.

People turn to these quotes for various reasons. Some seek solace in times of difficulty, finding comfort and hope in the Dalai Lama’s words. Others use these quotes to navigate the complexities of life, drawing insights to make better decisions. The wisdom encapsulated in these quotes also serves as a moral compass, guiding individuals to cultivate compassion, inner peace, and mindfulness.

The resonance of the Dalai Lama’s quotes lies in their simplicity and universality. These quotations serve as day-by-day motivations to live a more meaningful and satisfying life because of their emphasis on adore, benevolence, and individual advancement.

Over 200 of the foremost well-known Dalai Lama quotations, which can potentially motivate significant alter in your life, are collected here.

Most Popular Dalai Lama Quotes

If you can, help others; if you cannot do that, at least do not harm them. — Dalai Lama

 

The goal is not to be better than the other man, but your previous self. — Dalai Lama

 

The purpose of our lives is to be happy. — Dalai Lama

 

The true hero is one who conquers his own anger and hatred. — Dalai Lama

It is difficult to violently suppress people in the long run, as the example of the Soviet Union and the Eastern European countries have shown. — Dalai Lama

 

CHOOSE TO BE OPTIMISTIC, IT FEELS BETTER. — Dalai Lama

 

Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive. — Dalai Lama

 

Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions. – Dalai Lama

In order to carry a positive action, we must develop a positive vision. — Dalai Lama

 

My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness. — Dalai Lama

 

Just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day. — Dalai Lama

 

IF YOU WANT OTHERS TO BE HAPPY, PRACTICE COMPASSION. IF YOU WANT TO BE HAPPY, PRACTICE COMPASSION. — Dalai Lama

The ultimate authority must always rest with the individual’s own reason and critical analysis. — Dalai Lama

 

In order to become prosperous, a person must initially work very hard, so he or she has to sacrifice a lot of leisure time. — Dalai Lama

 

We can live without religion and meditation, but we cannot survive without human affection. — Dalai Lama

 

Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck. — Dalai Lama

There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called yesterday and the other is called tomorrow. Today is the right day to love, believe, do and mostly live. – Dalai Lama

 

Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible. – Dalai Lama

 

I consider human rights work or activism to be a kind of spiritual practice. By defending those people who persecuted for their race, religion, ethnicity, or ideology, you are actually contributing to guiding our human family to peace, justice, and dignity. – Dalai Lama

 

Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them. – Dalai Lama

Time passes unhindered. When we make mistakes, we cannot turn the clock back and try again. All we can do is use the present well. – Dalai Lama

 

No matter how strong we may feel, our survival depends on others. – Dalai Lama

 

I consider hatred to be the ultimate enemy. – Dalai Lama

 

Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk. – Dalai Lama

I find hope in the darkest of days and focus in the brightest. I do not judge the universe. – Dalai Lama

 

Compassion and tolerance are not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength. – Dalai Lama

 

Where ignorance is our master, there is no possibility of real peace. – Dalai Lama

 

Home is where you feel at home and are treated well. – Dalai Lama

 

As long as there is a lack of the inner discipline that brings calmness of mind, no matter what external facilities or conditions you have, they will never give you the feeling of joy and happiness that you are seeking. On the other hand, if you possess this inner quality, a calmness of mind, a degree of stability within, then even if you lack various external facilities that you would normally consider necessary for happiness, it is still possible to live a happy and joyful life. – Dalai Lama

 

When we are young and again when we are old, we depend heavily on the affection of others. Between these stages, we usually feel that we can do everything without help from others and that other people’s affection is simply not important. But at this stage, I think it is very important to keep deep human affection. – Dalai Lama

 

If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito. – Dalai Lama

 

Our ultimate aim in seeking more wealth is a sense of satisfaction, of happiness.  But the very basis of seeking more is a feeling of not having enough, a feeling of discontentment.  That feeling of discontentment, of wanting more and more and more, doesn’t arise from the inherent desirability of the objects we are seeking but rather from our own mental state. – Dalai Lama

 

Know the rules well, so you can break them effectively. – Dalai Lama

 

A good friend who points out mistakes and imperfections and rebukes evil is to be respected as if he reveals the secret of some hidden treasure. – Dalai Lama

 

The more you are motivated by love, the more fearless and free your actions will be. – Dalai Lama

 

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. – Dalai Lama

 

You have to start giving first and expect absolutely nothing. – Dalai Lama

 

Give the ones you love wings to fly, roots to come back and reasons to stay. – Dalai Lama

 

Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before. – Dalai Lama

 

Love is the absence of judgment. – Dalai Lama

 

Happiness doesn’t always come from a pursuit. Sometimes it comes when we least expect it. – Dalai Lama

 

There is a saying in Tibetan, ‘Tragedy should be utilized as a source of strength.’
No matter what sort of difficulties, how painful experience is, if we lose our hope, that’s our real disaster. – Dalai Lama

 

Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other. – Dalai Lama

 

Silence is sometimes the best answer. – Dalai Lama

 

An open heart is an open mind. – Dalai Lama

 

We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.
– Dalai Lama

 

We need to learn to want what we have, not to have what we want, in order to get stable and steady happiness. – Dalai Lama

 

In the practice of tolerance, one’s enemy is the best teacher. – Dalai Lama

 

Friendship depends on trust—not money, not power, not education. Only if there’s a trust will there be friendship. – Dalai Lama

 

The ultimate source of happiness is not money and power, but warm-heartedness. – Dalai Lama

 

The number of people has said to me, after hearing your thinking, their mind becomes much happier. – Dalai Lama

 

OLD FRIENDS PASS AWAY, NEW FRIENDS APPEAR. IT IS JUST LIKE THE DAYS. AN OLD DAY PASSES, A NEW DAY ARRIVES. THE IMPORTANT THING IS TO MAKE IT MEANINGFUL: A MEANINGFUL FRIEND – OR A MEANINGFUL DAY.– Dalai Lama

 

People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they’re not on your road doesn’t mean they’ve gotten lost. – Dalai Lama

 

Never give up. No matter what is happening, no matter what is going on around you, never give up. – Dalai Lama

 

When we feel love and kindness toward others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us also to develop inner happiness and peace. – Dalai Lama

 

A truly compassionate attitude toward others does not change even if they behave negatively or hurt you. – Dalai Lama

 

Do not let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace. – Dalai Lama

 

THE WAY TO CHANGE OTHERS’ MINDS IS WITH AFFECTION, AND NOT ANGER. – Dalai Lama

 

Look at situations from all angles, and you will become more open. – Dalai Lama

 

Forget the failures. Keep the lessons. – Dalai Lama

 

Whether one is rich or poor, educated or illiterate, religious or non-believing, man or woman, black, white, or brown, we are all the same. Physically, emotionally, and mentally, we are all equal. We all share basic needs for food, shelter, safety, and love. We all aspire to happiness and we all shun suffering. Each of us has hopes, worries, fears, and dreams. Each of us wants the best for our family and loved ones. We all experience pain when we suffer loss and joy when we achieve what we seek. On this fundamental level, religion, ethnicity, culture, and language make no difference. – Dalai Lama

 

The basic human nature is compassionate. And intelligence should be used in strengthening basic human nature. – Dalai Lama

 

The planet does not need more successful people. The planet needs more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers, and lovers of all kinds. – Dalai Lama

 

An eye for an eye….we are all blind. – Dalai Lama

 

Rich or Poor, educated or uneducated, belonging to one nation or another, to one religion or another, adhering to this ideology or that, ultimately each of us is just a human being like everyone else. We all desire happiness and do not want to suffer. – Dalai Lama

 

It is very important to generate a good attitude, a good heart, as much as possible. From this, happiness in both the short term and the long term for both yourself and others will come. – Dalai Lama

 

A spoon cannot taste the food it carries. Likewise, a foolish man cannot understand the wise man´s wisdom even if he associates with a sage. – Dalai Lama

 

As social animals we need friends and what attracts them is trust. And trust grows when we show real concern for others’ well-being. – Dalai Lama

 

Dissatisfaction is the seed of anger. – Dalai Lama

 

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. – Dalai Lama

 

Sleep is the best meditation. – Dalai Lama

 

The best way to resolve any problem in the human world is for all sides to sit down and talk. – Dalai Lama

 

While we might have hundreds of Facebook friends, our true, close friends are decreasing. Perhaps most concerning of all, one in ten people said they had no close friendships at all. – Dalai Lama

 

If you shift your focus from yourself to others, extend your concern to others, and cultivate the thought of caring for the well being of others, then this will have the immediate effect of opening up your life and helping you to reach out. – Dalai Lama

 

The very purpose of our life is happiness, which is sustained by hope. We have no guarantee about the future, but we exist in the hope of something better. Hope means keeping going, thinking, ‘I can do this.’ It brings inner strength, self-confidence, the ability to do what you do honestly, truthfully and transparently. – Dalai Lama

 

With the realization of one’s own potential and self-confidence in one’s ability, one can build a better world. – Dalai Lama

 

If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun. – Dalai Lama

 

Today there are societies that are very developed materially, yet among them, there are many people who are not very happy.  Just underneath the beautiful surface of affluence, there is a kind of mental unrest, leading to frustration, unnecessary quarrels, reliance on drugs or alcohol, and in the worst case, suicide.  So there is no guarantee that wealth alone can give you the joy of fulfillment that you are seeking. – Dalai Lama

 

Man surprised me most about humanity because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health and then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived. – Dalai Lama

 

Compassion naturally creates a positive atmosphere, and as a result, you feel peaceful and content. – Dalai Lama

 

If a problem is fixable, if a situation is such that you can do something about it, then there is no need to worry. If it’s not fixable, then there is no help in worrying. There is no benefit in worrying whatsoever. – Dalai Lama

 

The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation. – Dalai Lama

 

Through difficult experiences, life sometimes becomes more meaningful. – Dalai Lama

 

Share your knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality. – Dalai Lama

 

As you breathe in, cherish yourself. As you breathe out, cherish all beings. – Dalai Lama

 

Many of our problems stem from attitudes like putting ourselves first at all costs. – Dalai Lama

 

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

 

Hard times build determination and inner strength. Through them we can also come to appreciate the uselessness of anger. Instead of getting angry nurture a deep caring and respect for troublemakers because by creating such trying circumstances they provide us with invaluable opportunities to practice tolerance and patience. – Dalai Lama

 

Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it. – Dalai Lama

 

In our struggle for freedom, truth is the only weapon we possess. – Dalai Lama

 

To conquer oneself is a greater victory than to conquer thousands in a battle. – Dalai Lama

 

Calm mind brings inner strength and self-confidence, so that’s very important for good health. – Dalai Lama

 

It is under the greatest adversity that there exists the greatest potential for doing good, both for oneself and others. – Dalai Lama

 

If you don’t love yourself, you cannot love others. You will not be able to love others. If you have no compassion for yourself then you are not able of developing compassion for others. – Dalai Lama

 

We are, you might say, ‘brainwashed’ into thinking that money is the source of happiness while what we really need to know is that inner peace is something that comes from within. – Dalai Lama

Instead of wondering WHY this is happening to you, consider why this is happening to YOU. – Dalai Lama

The Dalai Lama is just a temporal leader of Tibet.– Dalai Lama

 

 WHEN YOU REALISE YOU’VE MADE A MISTAKE, TAKE IMMEDIATE STEPS TO CORRECT IT. – Dalai Lama

 

Follow the three R’s: – Respect for self. – Respect for others. – Responsibility for all your actions. – Dalai Lama

 

World peace must develop from inner peace. Peace is not just the mere absence of violence. Peace is, I think, the manifestation of human compassion. – Dalai Lama

 

The time has come to think, to try to find a solution through dialogue based on mutual respect. – Dalai Lama

 

We can reject everything else: religion, ideology, all received wisdom. But we cannot escape the necessity of love and compassion. This, then, is my true religion, my simple faith. In this sense, there is no need for temple or church, for mosque or synagogue, no need for complicated philosophy, doctrine, or dogma. Our own heart, our own mind, is the temple. The doctrine is compassion. Love for others and respect for their rights and dignity, no matter who or what they are: ultimately these are all we need. – Dalai Lama

 

IF YOU CAN CULTIVATE THE RIGHT ATTITUDE, YOUR ENEMIES ARE YOUR BEST SPIRITUAL TEACHERS BECAUSE THEIR PRESENCE PROVIDES YOU WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENHANCE AND DEVELOP TOLERANCE, PATIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING. – Dalai Lama

 

All religions try to benefit people, with the same basic message of the need for love and compassion, for justice and honesty, for contentment. – Dalai Lama

 

Blessing must arise from within your own mind. It is not something that comes from outside. – Dalai Lama

 

Sometimes one creates a dynamic impression by saying something, and sometimes one creates as significant an impression by remaining silent. – Dalai Lama

 

What we need today is an approach to ethics which makes no recourse to religion and can be equally acceptable to those with faith and those without: a secular ethics. – Dalai Lama

 

If it can be solved, there’s no need to worry, and if it can’t be solved, worry is of no use. – Dalai Lama

 

To me, it is clear: a genuine sense of responsibility can result only if we develop compassion. Only a spontaneous feeling of empathy for others can really motivate us to act on their behalf. – Dalai Lama

 

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. – Dalai Lama

 

It is very rare or almost impossible that an event can be negative from all points of view. – Dalai Lama

 

We all have a responsibility to ensure the welfare of humanity, to try to make this a happier more peaceful world.– Dalai Lama

 

Humans have the potential not only to create happy lives for themselves, but also to help other beings.– Dalai Lama

 

Let us try to recognize the precious nature of each day. – Dalai Lama

 

If every 8-year old in the world is taught meditation, we will eliminate violence from the world within one generation. – Dalai Lama

 

This is so true and sad! We spend so much time maintaining our social media presence while forgetting that virtual friends will rarely turn up at our hospital bedside. – Dalai Lama

 

When you practice gratefulness, there is a sense of respect toward others. – Dalai Lama

 

True compassion does not stem from the pleasure of feeling close to one person or another, but from the conviction that other people are just like me and want not to suffer but to be happy, and from a commitment to help them overcome what causes them to suffer. I must realize that I can help them suffer less. – Dalai Lama

 

The deep root of failure in our lives is to think, ‘Oh how useless and powerless I am.’ It is essential to think strongly and forcefully, ‘I can do it,’ without boasting or fretting. – Dalai Lama

 

If you have fear of some pain or suffering, you should examine whether there is anything you can do about it. If you can, there is no need to worry about it; but if you cannot do anything, then there is also no need to worry. – Dalai Lama

 

Once [our] basic needs are met (food, clothing, shelter, etc), the message is clear: we don’t need more money, we don’t need greater success or fame, we don’t need the perfect body or even the perfect mate – right now, at this very moment, we have a mind, which is all the basic equipment we need to achieve complete happiness. – Dalai Lama

 

If scientific analysis were conclusively to demonstrate certain claims in Buddhism to be false, then we must accept the findings of science and abandon those claims. – Dalai Lama

 

To remain indifferent to the challenges we face is indefensible. If the goal is noble, whether or not it is realized within our lifetime is largely irrelevant. What we must do therefore is to strive and persevere and never give up. – Dalai Lama

 

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

 

If your heart has peace, nothing can disturb you. – Dalai Lama

 

Someone else’s action should not determine your response. – Dalai Lama

 

When you think everything is someone else’s fault, you will suffer a lot. When you realize that everything springs only from yourself, you will learn both peace and joy. – Dalai Lama

 

Whether you believe in God or not does not matter much, whether you believe in Buddha or not does not matter so much; as a Buddhist, whether you believe in reincarnation or not does not matter so much. You must lead a good life. – Dalai Lama

 

Inner peace is the key: if you have inner peace, the external problems do not affect your deep sense of peace and tranquility…without this inner peace, no matter how comfortable your life is material, you may still be worried, disturbed, or unhappy because of circumstances. – Dalai Lama

 

Irrespective of whether we are believers or agnostics, whether we believe in God or karma, moral ethics is a code which everyone is able to pursue. – Dalai Lama

 

True change is within; leave the outside as it is. – Dalai Lama

 

I always believe the rule by king or official leader is outdated. Now we must catch up with the modern world. – Dalai Lama

 

The that inhabit this earth-be they human beings or animals-are here to contribute, creatures each in its own particular way, to the beauty and prosperity of the world. – Dalai Lama

 

As human beings we need to assess whether anger has any value – it destroys our peace of mind. Compassion, on the other hand, brings optimism and hope. . – Dalai Lama

 

I have no trouble sleeping. – Dalai Lama

 

My philosophy is kindness. – Dalai Lama

 

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. – Dalai Lama

 

Cultivating a close, warm-hearted feeling for others automatically puts the mind at ease. – Dalai Lama

 

If someone does not smile at you, be generous and offer your own smile. Nobody needs a smile more than the one that cannot smile to others. – Dalai Lama

 

OUR ANCIENT EXPERIENCE CONFIRMS AT EVERY POINT THAT EVERYTHING IS LINKED TOGETHER, EVERYTHING IS INSEPARABLE. – Dalai Lama

 

My main concern is meeting with public because my main commitment, the main interest is the promotion of human value, human affection, compassion and religious harmony. – Dalai Lama

 

You must lead a good life. And a good life does not mean just good food, good clothes, good shelter. These are not sufficient. 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 rights and human dignity. – Dalai Lama

 

As people alive today, we must consider future generations: a clean environment is a human right like any other. It is therefore part of our responsibility toward others to ensure that the world we pass on is as healthy, if not healthier, than we found it. – Dalai Lama

 

It is by moving beyond narrow self-interest that we find meaning, purpose, and satisfaction in life. – Dalai Lama

A lack of transparency results in distrust and a deep sense of insecurity. – Dalai Lama

 

Neither a space station nor an enlightened mind can be realized in a day. – Dalai Lama

 

 I sometimes wish that grown human beings were more like children, who are naturally open and accepting of others. Instead, as we grow up, we fail to nurture our natural potential and our sense of fundamental human values. – Dalai Lama

 

There are always extremes, but the middle way is the proper way. – Dalai Lama

 

Consider carefully: what prevents you from living the way you want to live your life? – Dalai Lama

 

Generosity is the most natural outward expression of an inner attitude of compassion and loving-kindness. – Dalai Lama

 

In order to lead a meaningful life, you need to cherish others, pay attention to human values and try to cultivate inner peace. – Dalai Lama

 

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. – Dalai Lama

 

If we do nothing to restrain our angry, spiteful, and malicious thoughts and emotions, happiness will elude us. – Dalai Lama

 

I find that because of modern technological evolution and our global economy, and as a result of the great increase in population, our world has greatly changed: it has become much smaller. However, our perceptions have not evolved at the same pace; we continue to cling to old national demarcations and the old feelings of ‘us’ and ‘them’. – Dalai Lama

 

The purpose of all the major religious traditions is not to construct big temples on the outside, but to create temples of goodness and compassion inside, in our hearts. – Dalai Lama

 

Unlike physical progress, which is subject to natural restrictions, the qualities of the mind can be developed limitlessly. – Dalai Lama

 

We all have to live together, so we might as well live together happily. – Dalai Lama

 

I will not propose to you that my way is best. The decision is up to you. If you find some point which may be suitable to you, then you can carry out experiments for yourself. If you find that it is of no use, then you can discard it. –  Dalai Lama

 

When we are caught up in a destructive emotion, we lose one of our greatest assets: our independence. – Dalai Lama

 

There are always problems to face, but it makes a difference if our minds are calm. – Dalai Lama

 

Open your arms to change but don’t let go of your values. – Dalai Lama

 

Compassion is the radicalism of our time. – Dalai Lama

 

Peace does not mean an absence of conflicts; differences will always be there. Peace means solving these differences through peaceful means; through dialogue, education, knowledge; and humane ways. – Dalai Lama

 

No matter how educated or wealthy you are, if you don’t have peace of mind, you won’t be happy. – Dalai Lama

 

If some people have the belief or view that the Dalai Lama has some miracle power, that’s totally nonsense. – Dalai Lama

 

Some mischievous people always there. Last several thousand years, always there. In future, also. – Dalai Lama

 

A genuine, affectionate smile is very important in our day-to-day lives. – Dalai Lama

 

Death means change in our clothes. Clothes become old, then time to come to change. So this body become old, and then time come, take a young body. – Dalai Lama

 

I pray for all of us, oppressors and friends, that together we may succeed in building a better world through human understanding and love … – Dalai Lama

 

We begin from the recognition that all beings cherish happiness and do not want suffering. It then becomes both morally wrong and pragmatically unwise to pursue only one’s own happiness oblivious to the feelings and aspirations of all others who surround us as members of the same human family. The wiser course is to think of others when pursuing our own happiness. – Dalai Lama

 

When you find that all human beings are just like you, it fosters a spirit of friendship. You’ll find there’s less need to hide things, and as a result, feelings of fear, self-doubt, and insecurity are automatically dispelled. – Dalai Lama

 

Even though they will lose money in the short term, large multi-national corporations must curtail their exploitations of poor nations. Tapping the few precious resources such countries possess simply to fuel consumerism in the developed world is disastrous; if it continues unchecked, eventually we shall all suffer. Strengthening weak, undiversified economies is a far wiser policy for promoting both political and economic stability. – Dalai Lama

 

Generally speaking, if a human being never shows anger, then I think something’s wrong. He’s not right in the brain. – Dalai Lama

 

Through violence, you may ‘solve’ one problem, but you sow the seeds for another. – Dalai Lama

 

 What surprises me most is “Man”, because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he doesn’t enjoy the present; The result being he doesn’t live in the present or the future; He lives as if he’s never going to die, and then he dies having never really lived. – Dalai Lama

 

Contentment is the key. – Dalai Lama

 

Life is as dear to a mute creature as it is to man. Just as one wants happiness and fears pain, just as one wants to live and not die, so do other creatures. – Dalai Lama

 

When we turn a threat into a challenge, our body responds very differently. – Dalai Lama

 

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. – Dalai Lama

 

If you let anger destroy your peace of mind, it will eventually ruin your own health. So keep compassion ― your mind will remain clear. If you develop full compassion, not let anger or hatred in, then after constant effort for days and months and years, decades, your mental state can change, that much I can tell you through my own little experience. – Dalai Lama

 

The foundation of the Buddha’s teachings lies in compassion, and the reason for practicing the teachings is to wipe out the persistence of ego, the number-one enemy of compassion. – Dalai Lama

 

Although you may not always be able to avoid difficult situations, you can modify the extent to which you can suffer by how you choose to respond to the situation. – Dalai Lama

 

Our moment-to-moment happiness is largely determined by our outlook.  In fact, whether we are feeling happy or unhappy at any given moment often has very little to do with our absolute conditions but, rather it is a function of how we perceive our situation, how satisfied we are with what we have. – Dalai Lama

 

Pain can change you, but that doesn’t mean it has to be a bad change. Take that pain and turn it into wisdom. – Dalai Lama

 

When you are discontent, you always want more, more, more, more. Your desire can never be satisfied. But when you practice contentment, you can say to yourself, oh yes, I already have everything that I really need. – Dalai Lama

 

Because we all share this planet earth, we have to learn to live in harmony and peace with each other and with nature. This is not just a dream, but a necessity. – Dalai Lama

 

Those who have little interest in spirituality shouldn’t think that human inner values don’t apply to you. The inner peace of an alert and calm mind are the source of real happiness and good health. Our human intelligence tells us which of our emotions are positive and helpful and which are damaging and to be restrained or avoided. – Dalai Lama

 

Real change in the world will only come from a change of heart. – Dalai Lama

 

I always tell people that religious institutions and political institutions should be separate. So while I’m telling people this, I myself continue with them combined. Hypocrisy. – Dalai Lama

 

Inner transformation is not a matter of faith or prayer. It involves reason and the use of human intelligence. A calm and healthy mind has a very positive effect on our physical health and well-being. – Dalai Lama

 

I want to be just a pure spiritual leader. – Dalai Lama

 

Religion, any religion, no matter what sort of wonderful religion, never is universal. So now education is universal, so we have to sort of find ways and means through the education system, from kindergarten up to university level, to make awareness these good things, the values, inner values. – Dalai Lama

 

When we meet real tragedy in life, we can react in two ways – either by losing hope and falling into self-destructive habits or by using the challenge to find our inner strength. Thanks to the teachings of Buddha, I have been able to take this second way. – Dalai Lama

 

I always consider that the shape of the future is in our hands. The past is past and can’t be changed, but the future has not yet arrived. Young people have the opportunity and responsibility to shape it by creating a better world. – Dalai Lama

 

The topic of compassion is not at all religious business; it is important to know it is human business, it is a question of human survival. – Dalai Lama

 

No matter what people call you, you are just who you are. Keep to this truth. – Dalai Lama

Wherever it occurs, poverty is a significant contributor to social disharmony, ill health, suffering and armed conflict. If we continue along our present path, the situation could become irreparable. This constantly increasing gap between the haves and halve not’s, creates suffering for everyone. – Dalai Lama

 

I defeat my enemies when I make them my friends. – Dalai Lama

 

None of us wants to face problems, and yet we create them by stressing our differences. If we see each other just as fellow human beings, there’ll be no basis for fighting or conflict between us. – Dalai Lama

 

If you wish to experience peace, provide peace for another. – Dalai Lama

 

We are the controller of the technology. If we become a slave of technology, then that’s not good. – Dalai Lama

 

Just as heat dispels cold, loving-kindness counters anger. We need to learn how to counter our various emotions. Distraction is just a temporary measure. The longer-lasting remedy is to be able to see positive qualities in something or someone you otherwise see as negative. Since there is rarely any justification for destructive emotions, we need to become aware of what gives rise to them and what the antidotes are. – Dalai Lama

 

I believe deeply that we must find, all of us together, a new spirituality. – Dalai Lama

 

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. – Dalai Lama

 

When reason ends, then anger begins. Therefore, anger is a sign of weakness. – Dalai Lama

 

It is necessary to help others not in our prayers but in our daily lives. – Dalai Lama

 

Anger and hatred are signs of weakness, while compassion is a sure sign of strength. – Dalai Lama

 

I consider myself as a free spokesman for the people. – Dalai Lama

 

Prayer by itself is not sufficient to bring about peace of mind. What is much more effective is coming to understand the workings of the mind and learning how to tackle the mental afflictions that disturb it. – Dalai Lama

 

My faith helps me overcome such negative emotions and find my equilibrium. – Dalai Lama

 

Open-minded people tend to be interested in Buddhism because Buddha urged people to investigate things – he didn’t just command them to believe.  – Dalai Lama

 

We are but visitors on this planet. We are here for ninety or one hundred years at the very most. During that period, we must try to do something good, something useful with our lives. If you contribute to other people’s happiness, you will find the true goal, the true meaning of life. – Dalai Lama

 

I believe compassion to be one of the few things we can practice that will bring immediate and long-term happiness to our lives. I’m not talking about the short-term gratification of pleasures like sex, drugs or gambling (though I’m not knocking them), but something that will bring true and lasting happiness. The kind that sticks. – Dalai Lama

 

It is not enough to be compassionate we must act. – Dalai Lama

 

The important thing is that men should have a purpose in life. It should be something useful, something good. – Dalai Lama

 

For those who may not find happiness to exercise religious faith, it’s okay to remain a radical atheist, it’s absolutely an individual right, but the important thing is with a compassionate heart – then no problem. – Dalai Lama

 

Our life depends on others so much that at the root of our existence there is a fundamental need for love. That is why it is good to cultivate an authentic sense of our responsibility and a sincere concern for the welfare of others. – Dalai Lama

 

Consciousness will always be present, though a particular consciousness may cease. For example, the particular tactile consciousness that is present within this human body will cease when the body comes to an end. Likewise, consciousnesses that are influenced by ignorance, by anger or by attachment, these too will cease. But the basic, ultimate, innermost subtle consciousness will always remain. It has no beginning, and it will have not to end. – Dalai Lama

 

There is one aspect to our experience of suffering that is of vital importance.  When you are aware of your pain and suffering, it helps you to develop your capacity for empathy, the capacity that allows you to relate to other people’s feelings and suffering.  This enhances your capacity for compassion towards others.  So as an aid in helping us connect with others, it can be seen as having value. – Dalai Lama

 

Live a good honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll be able to enjoy it a second time. – Dalai Lama

 

For our life to be of value, I think we must develop basic good human qualities — warmth, kindness, compassion. Then our life becomes meaningful and more peaceful — happier. – Dalai Lama

 

Appearance is something absolute, but the reality is not that way – everything is interdependent, not absolute. – Dalai Lama

 

Our real enemies and the enemies of humanity are negative emotions like anger and hatred. Indeed, people who are dominated by powerful negative emotions should be objects of our compassion. – Dalai Lama

 

If I had remained in Lhasa, even without the Chinese occupation, I would probably have carried the ceremonial role in some orthodox way. – Dalai Lama

 

I feel exhausted if I teach too long. – Dalai Lama

 

When the positive qualities of your mind increase and the negativities decrease, that is what blessing means. … blessing refers to the development of virtuous qualities you did not previously have and the improvement of those good qualities you have already developed… So actual blessing is received when the mind’s virtuous attributes gain strength and its defective characteristics weaken or deteriorate. – Dalai Lama

 

Peace, in the sense of the absence of war, is of little value to someone dying of hunger or cold. It will not remove the pain of torture inflicted on a prisoner of conscience. It does not comfort those who have lost their homes in floods caused by senseless deforestation in neighboring countries. Peace can only last where human rights are respected, where people are fed, and where individuals and nations are free. – Dalai Lama

 

Do not be so busy with your living that you do not know what you are living for. – Dalai Lama

 

Merely thinking that compassion and reason and patience are good will not be enough to develop them. We must wait for difficulties to arise and then attempt to practice them. – Dalai Lama

 

The prize reaffirms our conviction that with truth, courage, and determination as our weapons, Tibet will be liberated. Our struggle must remain non-violent and free of hatred. – Dalai Lama

 

Motivation is so important.  In fact, all human actions can be seen in terms of movement, and the mover behind all actions is one’s motivation.

If you develop a pure and sincere motivation, if you are motivated by a wish to help on the basis of kindness, compassion, and respect, then you can carry on any kind of work, in any field, and function more effectively with less fear or worry, not being afraid of what others think or whether you ultimately will be successful in reaching your goal.  Even if you fail to achieve your goal, you can feel good about having made the effort.  But with a bad motivation, people can praise you or you can achieve goals, but you still will not be happy. – Dalai Lama

 

I have always had this view about the modern education system: we pay attention to brain development, but the development of warmheartedness we take for granted. – Dalai Lama

 

Wherever I go meeting the public… spreading a message of human values, spreading a message of harmony, is the most important thing. – Dalai Lama

 

I often ask myself what is the purpose of our lives and I conclude that life’s purpose is to be happy. We have no guarantee of what will happen in the future, but we live in hope. That’s what keeps us going. – Dalai Lama

 

I am confident I will set foot again in Tibet in my lifetime. – Dalai Lama

 

Conversion is not my intention. Changing religion is not easy. You may develop some kind of confusion or difficulties. – Dalai Lama

 

The demarcation between a positive and a negative desire or action is not whether it gives you an immediate feeling of satisfaction, but whether it ultimately results in positive or negative consequences. – Dalai Lama

 

Respect yourself enough to walk away from anything that no longer serves you, grows you, or makes you happy. – Dalai Lama

 

There is no guarantee that tomorrow at this time we will be here.  But still, we are working for that purely on the basis of hope.  So, we need to make the best use of our time.  I believe that the proper utilization of time is this: if you can, serve other people, other sentient beings.  If not, at least refrain from harming them.  I think that is the whole basis of my philosophy. – Dalai Lama

 

Even more important than the warmth and affection we receive is the warmth and affection we give. – Dalai Lama

 

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. – Dalai Lama

 

Change in the world comes from individuals, from the inner peace in individual hearts. Just as ripples spread out when a single pebble is dropped into water, the actions of individuals can have far-reaching effects. – Dalai Lama

 

Out of 6 billion humans, the troublemakers are just a handful. – Dalai Lama

 

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. – Dalai Lama

 

No matter how big your house is, how new your car is or how big your bank account is. Our graves will always be the same size. Stay humble. – Dalai Lama

 

The remedy is to look deeper and recognize that we human beings are physically, mentally and emotionally the same. – Dalai Lama

 

Because of the lack of moral principles, human life becomes worthless. Moral principle, truthfulness, is a key factor. If we lose that, then there is no future. – Dalai Lama

 

The future is in your hands, but for it to be peaceful and happy requires a sense of compassion and concern for others’ well-being. – Dalai Lama

 

Computers make me totally blank out. – Dalai Lama

 

There are techniques of Buddhism, such as meditation, that anyone can adopt. And, of course, there are Christian monks and nuns who already use Buddhist methods in order to develop their devotion, compassion, and ability to forgive. – Dalai Lama

 

The period of greatest gain in knowledge and experience is the most difficult period in one’s life. – Dalai Lama

 

As individuals, we can influence our own families. Our families can influence our communities and our communities can influence our nations. – Dalai Lama

 

Logically, harmony must come from the heart… Harmony very much based on trust. As soon as use force creates fear. Fear and trust cannot go together. – Dalai Lama

 

On a mental level kindness and compassion give rise to lasting joy. They reduce fear. – Dalai Lama

 

 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. – Dalai Lama

 

One problem with our current society is that we have an attitude towards education as if it is there to simply make you more clever, make you more ingenious… is to effect changes from within to develop a good heart. – Dalai Lama

 

Spend some time alone every day. – Dalai Lama

 

If you have a warm heart and you care for others you’ll be happy and the community in which you live will be happier too. – Dalai Lama

 

You must not hate those who do wrong or harmful things; but with compassion, you must do what you can to stop them – for they are harming themselves, as well as those who suffer from their actions. – Dalai Lama

 

In this century we have made remarkable material progress, but basically we are the same as we were thousands of years ago. Our spiritual needs are still very great. – Dalai Lama

 

We think that if we have health and wealth they’re enough to be happy, but actually happiness depends on the state of our minds. – Dalai Lama

 

Smile if you want a smile from another face. – Dalai Lama

 

No material object, however beautiful or valuable, can make us feel loved. – Dalai Lama

 

If we start now and make the effort, we can make the world a more peaceful place. We have to try. – Dalai Lama

The most popular Dalai Lama quotes hold the potential to reshape perspectives and initiate positive change. They offer insights that extend beyond spiritual boundaries and radically impact how we approach life’s challenges. Incorporating these quotes into our lives can lead us toward greater happiness, understanding, and inner harmony.