Dalai Lama Important Quotations

Tolerance is an important virtue of bodhisattvas .

One great question underlies our experience, whether we think about it or not: what is the purpose of life? From the moment of birth every human being wants happiness and does not want suffering. Neither social conditioning nor education nor ideology affects this. >From the very core of our being, we simply desire contentment. Therefore, it is important to discover what will bring about the greatest degree of happiness.

Basically we are all the same human beings with the same potential to be a good human being or a bad human being. The important thing is to realize the positive side and try to increase that; realize the negative side and try to reduce. That's the way.

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

I feel that we should not only maintain gentle, peaceful relations with our fellow human beings bur also that is very important to extend the same kind of attitude toward the natural environment.

The most important thing is to have a sense of responsibility, commitment, and concern for each of our fellow human beings.

Individuality is very important for a full human life...

I feel that a genuine, affectionate smile is very important in our day-to-day lives. How one creates that smile largely depends on one's own attitude. It is illogical to expect smiles from others if one does not smile oneself. Therefore, one can see that many things depend on one's own behaviour.

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.

It is important to direct our intelligence with good intentions. Without intelligence, we cannot accomplish very much. Without good intentions, the way we exercise of our intelligence may have destructive results.

We have a natural creative ability and it is very important to realize this.

It is important to pray for peace. . . But you must also take actions to make that happen. Every single day.

Affection is important because it counters anger, hatred and suspicion that can prevent our minds from functioning clearly.

From the viewpoint of absolute truth, what we feel and experience in our ordinary daily life is all delusion. Of all the various delusions, the sense of discrimination between oneself and others is the worst form, as it creates nothing but unpleasantness for both sides. If we can realize and meditate on ultimate truth, it will cleanse our impurities of mind and thus eradicate the sense of discrimination. This will help to create true love for one another. The search for ultimate truth is, therefore, vitally important.

Mental happiness is more important than physical comfort. Physical comfort comes from the material. But material facilities cannot provide you with peace of mind.

With the realization of ones own potential and self-confidence in ones ability, one can build a better world. According to my own experience, self-confidence is very important. That sort of confidence is not a blind one; it is an awareness of ones own potential. On that basis, human beings can transform themselves by increasing the good qualities and reducing the negative qualities.

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

Our attitude towards suffering becomes very important because it can affect how we cope with suffering when it arises.

It is important not to allow ourselves to be put off by the magnitude of others' suffering. The misery of millions is not a cause for pity. Rather it is a cause for compassion.

If the work is worthwhile, then whether we can complete it or not, it's worth making the attempt. That's why courage is important.

A balanced and skillful approach to life, taking care to avoid extremes, becomes a very important factor in conducting one's everyday existence.

The most important thing is transforming our minds, for a new way of thinking, a new outlook: we should strive to develop a new inner world.

When we encounter suffering, it is important to respond w/ compassion rather than to question the politics of those we help.

These days, in our materialistic culture, many people are led to believe that money is the ultimate source of happiness. Consequently, when they don’t have enough of it they feel let down. Therefore, it is important to let people know that they have the source of contentment and happiness within themselves, and that it is related to nurturing our natural inner values.

I have come to the conclusion that whether or not a person is a religious believer does not matter. Far more important is that they be a good human being.

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