“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!
