Dalai Lama Quotes

I think governments can’t do much.

When you are discontent, you always want 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.’

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

Don’t be a person of success, be a person of value.

Forget the failures. Keep the lessons.

I have done one thing that I think is a contribution: I helped Buddhist science and modern science combine. No other Buddhist has done that. Other lamas, I don’t think they ever pay attention to modern science. Since my childhood, I have a keen interest.

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

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

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.

I want to be just a pure spiritual leader.

Too much self-centered attitude, you see, brings, you see, isolation. Result: loneliness, fear, anger. The extreme self-centered attitude is the source of suffering.

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

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.

I always say that people should not rush to change religions. There is real value in finding the spiritual resources you need in your home religion.