The Dalai Lama Quotes

“What does the Dalai Lama’s life teach us? Certainly, he is a sterling example of turning adversity into joyful service. But there is more to him than that: he is also a model of innovation and adaptation. He has taken the tenets of Buddhism and made them relevant to everyone. His message is not just about personal happiness and good karma; it is also very much about respecting the earth’s resources, recognizing the equality of all people, and sharing with the less fortunate.”
― Lynn M. Hamilton, The Dalai Lama: A Life Inspired

“The Dalai Lama teaches that the self lies somewhere beyond our bodies and our minds. He preaches that human nature is essentially good. Only the affection of a mother allows a child to survive. Only the baby’s affection for his mother drives him to feed from her breast. This shows, the Dalai Lama explains, that we are born into compassion and sustained by it. So our essential nature is compassionate.”
― Lynn M. Hamilton, The Dalai Lama: A Life Inspired

“Often he says that practicing Buddhism is unnecessary. Everyone can find the keys to a purposeful and moral life within their own culture and religious framework.”
― Lynn M. Hamilton, The Dalai Lama: A Life Inspired

“By “global ethics,” the Dalai Lama means that all people must take personal responsibility for ensuring human rights, fairness, equality, and environmental protection, regardless of their belief system.”
― Lynn M. Hamilton, The Dalai Lama: A Life Inspired

“He met with Pope Paul VI, and they found common ground in their conviction that faith brings meaning to life regardless of the belief system.”
― Lynn M. Hamilton, The Dalai Lama: A Life Inspired

“This belief in the underlying brotherhood of all people would blend seamlessly with his message of peace as he carved out his role as an international peace advocate.”
― Lynn M. Hamilton, The Dalai Lama: A Life Inspired

“That edict remains in place to the present day.”
― Lynn M. Hamilton, The Dalai Lama: A Life Inspired

“the mosquitoes”
― Lynn M. Hamilton, The Dalai Lama: A Life Inspired

“Where Buddhist teachings contradict science, science should prevail,”
― Lynn M. Hamilton, The Dalai Lama: A Life Inspired

“The Dalai Lama has also suggested that the fifteenth Dalai Lama could be female.”
― Lynn M. Hamilton, The Dalai Lama: A Life Inspired

“While other monks in training were routinely whipped with whips made of leather straps, the whip reserved for the Dalai Lama was made of yellow silk.”
― Lynn M. Hamilton, The Dalai Lama: A Life Inspired

“What happened next was an amazing testament to the ongoing power that the Dalai Lama exercises in Tibet. The travelers returned to Tibet, and many of them immediately burned their tiger skins, even though they were worth approximately two years’ wages apiece. By this act, they honored the Dalai Lama’s edict to end the exploitation of Asia’s tigers.”
― Lynn M. Hamilton, The Dalai Lama: A Life Inspired

“By “global ethics,” the Dalai Lama means that all people must take personal responsibility for ensuring human rights, fairness, equality, and environmental protection, regardless of their belief system. He believes that people need not embrace Buddhism to live good lives. Often he says that practicing Buddhism is unnecessary. Everyone can find the keys to a purposeful and moral life within their own culture and religious framework.”
― Lynn M. Hamilton, The Dalai Lama: A Life Inspired

“He noted that we are all humans who share a common emotional concern: we all want to be happy. But our happiness depends on the actions of the rest of the world, so it behooves us to develop global perspective. Many of our problems—poverty, bullying, and violence—are man-made problems that are within our control. These problems emerge because we forget the oneness of humanity. We need to look past the secondary level of differences and make sacrifices, he explained.”
― Lynn M. Hamilton, The Dalai Lama: A Life Inspired

“we all want to be happy. But our happiness depends on the actions of the rest of the world, so it behooves us to develop global perspective. Many of our problems—poverty, bullying, and violence—are man-made problems that are within our control. These problems emerge because we forget the oneness of humanity. We need to look past the secondary level of differences and make sacrifices, he explained.”
― Lynn M. Hamilton, The Dalai Lama: A Life Inspired

“His message was that educators must find a way to teach compassion and moral values apart from a religious context.”
― Lynn M. Hamilton, The Dalai Lama: A Life Inspired

“One of his most remarkable reforms is to state unequivocally that religion should not oppose itself to science. “Where Buddhist teachings contradict science, science should prevail,” he has said.”
― Lynn M. Hamilton, The Dalai Lama: A Life Inspired

“everyone must take responsibility not only for their own family and community but also for the problems of the world, which include overpopulation, environmental degradation, and human rights violations.”
― Lynn M. Hamilton, The Dalai Lama: A Life Inspired

“the Dalai Lama evolved daily habits that have remained largely unchanged up to the present. He rises at 4 a.m. and drinks warm water and a Tibetan medicinal drink. He spends five of the day’s hours in prayer.”
― Lynn M. Hamilton, The Dalai Lama: A Life Inspired