The Dalai Lama is the spiritual and temporal leader of Tibet. On July 6th, 1935, in a small village called Taktser in northeastern Tibet. The Dalai Lama’s family name is ‘Gyatso’. At the age of two, he was recognized as the reincarnation (rebirth) of the 13th Dalai Lama and therefore became Tibet’s new ruler at that time.
He has travelled to more than sixty-five countries around the world, lectured at many major universities including Harvard University, Moscow State University and Cambridge University, met with presidents such as Ulysses S. Grant, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Jimmy Carter for discussions about peace negotiations between China and Tibetans living in exile from their homeland.
In this blog post, we look at some famous quotes from Dalai Lama and implement them in different aspects of our lives.
1. “The most important thing is that you are happy” – Dalai Lama
This quote might be very simple, but it’s very powerful. A happy individual will only think about the good things in life, and they tend to attract more positive things than negative ones. He says, ‘The most important thing is that you are happy’. So, what makes you happy? We all know the things we like, and we should do those things which give us happiness and satisfaction.
2. “Compassion and love are not a luxury, but a necessity” – Dalai Lama
A happy person will try to make others happy too. If you live your life with compassion and love for others, you can’t expect anything in return. But don’t forget, you should take care of yourself too because if you are not happy, how can you make others happy?
3. “Love and Compassion are not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength” – Dalai Lama
We all have seen people who are strong physically but show weakness in emotional aspects of their lives. For example, a physically strong person can’t harm anyone, but a weak-minded person might destroy himself by becoming selfish and demanding. That’s the reason behind this quote – “Love and Compassion are not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength”.
4. “Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions” – Dalai Lama
It’s one of the most inspiring quotes, which makes you think about what defines happiness? Happiness comes when you are content with yourself. You need to take some action and work for your happiness; otherwise, it won’t come running towards you. It’ll remain out of your reach.
5. “Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck” – Dalai Lama
Sometimes, life can be full of uncertainties. We have an aim, but we cannot achieve it due to some unfortunate circumstances. At that moment, thinking about this quote will help you deal with the tough situation in which you’ve found yourself.
6. “Happiness does not come from the pursuit of success, but from the development of inner potential” – Dalai Lama
Materialistic things can never make a person happy for a long time. He says happiness doesn’t come from pursuing success because it’s a relative term and what is considered successful changes one’s aspirations and goals. Instead, you need to develop your inner potential and work for it day by day.
7. “When we meet real tragedy in life, we can react in two ways – either by losing hope and falling into self-destructive habits or by using the challenge to find our inner strength” – Dalai Lama
We all go through difficult times in our lives, and at those moments, it’s very easy to lose hope. But if you keep going forward with a positive mindset, success will find its way to your doorstep.
8. “Love is the absence of judgment” – Dalai Lama
We all judge others by their clothes, age or wealth, but that doesn’t mean everyone should be judged in the same manner. Instead of judging a person, one should focus on his capabilities and deeds, which will help you further your goals.
9. “In the practice of tolerance, one’s enemy is the best teacher” – Dalai Lama
It might seem strange to some people, but it’s true. When we try to understand our enemies and observe what makes them do the things they do, we learn a lot about ourselves. Sometimes, you might feel that your enemy teaches you lessons that no one else can teach.
10. “Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared” – Dalai Lama
When you light a candle, it spreads its warmth and light to everyone around. No matter how many people benefit from your actions, happiness will never decrease in your life because every person is interconnected with each other.