Dalai Lama on Freedom

When you are free, you understand freedom.  When you are not free, you  might understand it more. 

I have often experienced up-close situations where people are not free.

His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama explains, “Today, the values of democracy, open society, respect for human rights, and equality are becoming recognized all over the world as universal values.

To my mind there is an intimate connection between democratic values and the fundamental values of human goodness.

Where there is democracy there is a greater possibility for the citizens of the country to express their basic human qualities, and where these basic human qualities prevail, there is also a greater scope for strengthening democracy. Most importantly, democracy is also the most effective basis for ensuring world peace.”

I spent time in Warsaw, Poland during the Solidarity Movement when the country was occupied by Russian communists and a state of war—martial law—was enforced. Curfews restricted movement, shops ran out of food and basics.

Luxury items such as coffee were non-existent.  The people I interviewed supported the Solidarity workers who were trying to re-gain control of their country. They wanted freedom. 

I did not know how difficult my situation would be, until I arrived.  But strangers eased my distress.

According to His Holiness, “We also need to focus on cultivating good human relations, for, regardless of differences in nationality, religious faith, race, or whether people are rich or poor, educated or not, we are all human beings.

When we are facing difficulties, we invariably meet someone, who may be a stranger, who immediately offers us help. We all depend on each other in difficult circumstances, and we do so unconditionally. We do not ask who people are before we offer them help. We help because they are human beings like us.”

When the Russian KGB (State Security Committee) detained me and took me in for questioning, I was terrified. 

However, the interrogating officer ended up helping me.  He had a fern plant on his tiny window sill. It was struggling to stay alive in the cold and lack of light.  I commented on the plant and we struck up a conversation about keeping ferns healthy in the deep of winter. 

He was impressed by my Polish which I had learned as a child from my Polish grandmother and soon I was released.

He urged me to take the first available flight out of Poland when air travel resumed. And when he handed back my passport we smiled at each other with loving kindness and respect.

“Peace starts within each one of us,” The Embodiment of the compassion of Avalokiteshvara assures us.

“When we have inner peace, we can be at peace with those around us. When our community is in a state of peace, it can share that peace with neighboring communities and so on. 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.”

Today Poland is a free country.

By Terry Reis Kennedy, Dec 10, 2012, Deccan Herald

Dalai Lama on Freedom

When you are free, you understand freedom.  When you are not free, you  might understand it more.

I have often experienced up-close situations where people are not free.

His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama explains, “Today, the values of democracy, open society, respect for human rights, and equality are becoming recognized all over the world as universal values.

To my mind there is an intimate connection between democratic values and the fundamental values of human goodness.

Where there is democracy there is a greater possibility for the citizens of the country to express their basic human qualities, and where these basic human qualities prevail, there is also a greater scope for strengthening democracy. Most importantly, democracy is also the most effective basis for ensuring world peace.”

I spent time in Warsaw, Poland during the Solidarity Movement when the country was occupied by Russian communists and a state of war—martial law—was enforced. Curfews restricted movement, shops ran out of food and basics.

Luxury items such as coffee were non-existent.  The people I interviewed supported the Solidarity workers who were trying to re-gain control of their country. They wanted freedom.

I did not know how difficult my situation would be, until I arrived.  But strangers eased my distress.

According to His Holiness, “We also need to focus on cultivating good human relations, for, regardless of differences in nationality, religious faith, race, or whether people are rich or poor, educated or not, we are all human beings.

When we are facing difficulties, we invariably meet someone, who may be a stranger, who immediately offers us help. We all depend on each other in difficult circumstances, and we do so unconditionally. We do not ask who people are before we offer them help. We help because they are human beings like us.”

When the Russian KGB (State Security Committee) detained me and took me in for questioning, I was terrified.

However, the interrogating officer ended up helping me.  He had a fern plant on his tiny window sill. It was struggling to stay alive in the cold and lack of light.  I commented on the plant and we struck up a conversation about keeping ferns healthy in the deep of winter.

He was impressed by my Polish which I had learned as a child from my Polish grandmother and soon I was released.

He urged me to take the first available flight out of Poland when air travel resumed. And when he handed back my passport we smiled at each other with loving kindness and respect.

“Peace starts within each one of us,” The Embodiment of the compassion of Avalokiteshvara assures us.

“When we have inner peace, we can be at peace with those around us. When our community is in a state of peace, it can share that peace with neighboring communities and so on. 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.”

Today Poland is a free country.

By Terry Reis Kennedy, Dec 10, 2012, Deccan Herald

Dalai Lama Quotes, Quotations, Sayings, Words, Wisdom

“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.”

“I believe that the very purpose of life is to be happy. From the very core of our being, we desire contentment. In my own limited experience I have found that the more we care for the happiness of others, the greater is our own sense of well-being. Cultivating a close, warmhearted feeling for others automatically puts the mind at ease. It helps remove whatever fears or insecurities we may have and gives us the strength to cope with any obstacles we encounter. It is the principal source of success in life. Since we are not solely material creatures, it is a mistake to place all our hopes for happiness on external development alone. The key is to develop inner peace.”

“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.”

“I believe that the very purpose of our life is to seek happiness. That is clear. Whether one believes in religion or not, whether one believes in this religion or that religion, we all are seeking something better in life. So, I think, the very motion of our life is towards happiness…”

“Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.”

“Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.”

“I find hope in the darkest of days, and focus in the brightest. I do not judge the universe.”

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

“If you can, help others; if you cannot do that, at least do not harm them.”

“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.”

“If you have a particular faith or religion, that is good. But you can survive without it.”

“If you have a particular faith or religion, that is good. But you can survive without it.”

“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”

“As human beings we all want to be happy and free from misery… we have learned that the key to happiness is inner peace. The greatest obstacles to inner peace are disturbing emotions such as anger, attachment, fear and suspicion, while love and compassion and a sense of universal responsibility are the sources of peace and happiness.”

“In the practice of tolerance, one’s enemy is the best teacher.”

“Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.”

“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.”

“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.”

“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.”

“Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.”

“Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.”

“We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.”

“My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.”

“Be kind whenever possible.It is always possible.”

“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.”

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

“Sleep is the best meditation.”

“Sometimes one creates a dynamic impression by saying something, and sometimes one creates as significant an impression by remaining silent.”

“The purpose of our lives is to be happy.”

“The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness.”

“The ultimate authority must always rest with the individual’s own reason and critical analysis.”

“There is no need for temples, no need for complicated philosophies. My brain and my heart are my temples; my philosophy is kindness.”

“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.”

“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.”

“We can live without religion and meditation, but we cannot survive without human affection.”

“We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.”

“Where ignorance is our master, there is no possibility of real peace.”

“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.”

“With realization of one’s own potential and self-confidence in one’s ability, one can build a better world.”

Thank you to the Dalai Lama Renaissance documentary film for these wonderful quotes!