Dalai Lama Quotes

The Dalai Lama quotes show us that the spiritual and political leader of Tibet is not only human, but is a soul who has embraced the highest levels of understanding and enlightenment.
Here are some examples of his wisdom. Let's start with:

Quotes on religion and philosophy

• The purpose of all the major religious traditions is not to construct big temples on the outside, but to create temples of goodness and compassion inside, in our hearts.

• The main emphasis in Buddhism is to transform the mind, and this transformation depends upon meditation. In order to meditate correctly, you must have knowledge.

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

Dalai Lama Quotes on Humanity, Love and Tolerance

• In the practice of tolerance, one's enemy is the best teacher.

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

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

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

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

• We must recognise that the suffering of one person or one nation is the suffering of humanity. That the happiness of one person or nation is the happiness of humanity.

• Compassion and tolerance are not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength.

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

• It is far more useful to be aware of a single shortcoming in ourselves than it is to be aware of a thousand in somebody else. For when the fault is our own, we are in a position to correct it.

Dalai Lama Quotes on Tibet, war and peace

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

• Tibet is not like Kuwait. Kuwait has oil.

• The prize reaffirms our conviction that with truth, courage and determination as our weapons, Tibet will be liberated. Our struggle must remain nonviolent and free of hatred.

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

• No matter what sort of difficulties, how painful experience is, if we lose our hope, that's our real disaster.

• China has eaten Tibet, but cannot digest it.

• For as long as space endures and for as long as living beings remain, until then may I too abide to dispel the misery of the world.

More Dalai Lama quotes? He wrote the foreword of my book.