Dalai Lama Category Archives :: Consider This

Eight Worldly Preoccupations

Our intention should not be spoiled by the eight worldly preoccupations: gain or loss, pleasure or pain, praise or criticism, and fame and infamy.
—attributed to His Holiness, The Dalai Lama

Source: Insight from the Dalai Lama Daily Calendar Wednesday, October 11, 2006.
See Also: The Tibetan Government in Exile: About His Holiness The Dalai Lama.

We Are All on This Planet Together

We are all on this planet together. We are all brothers and sisters with the same physical and mental faculties, the same problems, the same needs. We must contribute to the fulfillment of the human potential and the improvement of the quality of life as much as we are able. Mankind is crying out for help. Ours is a desperate time. Those who have something to offer should come forward. Now is the time.
—attributed to His Holiness, The Dalai Lama

Source: Insight from the Dalai Lama Daily Calendar Wednesday, November 29, 2006.
See Also: The Tibetan Government in Exile: About His Holiness The Dalai Lama.

Beauty into Ugliness into?

A blossoming tree becomes bare and stripped in autumn. Beauty changes into ugliness, youth into old age, and fault into virtue. Things do not remain the same and nothing really exists. Thus, appearances and emptiness exist simultaneously.
—attributed to His Holiness, The Dalai Lama

Source: Insight from the Dalai Lama Daily Calendar Saturday/Sunday, October 28/29, 2006
See Also: The Tibetan Government in Exile: About His Holiness The Dalai Lama

Warmhearted Feelings for Others

Cultivating a close, warmhearted feeling for others automatically puts the mind at ease. From the least to the most important event, affection and respect for others are vital for our happiness.
—attributed to His Holiness, The Dalai Lama

Source: Insight from the Dalai Lama Daily Calendar Friday, September 1, 2006
See Also: The Tibetan Government in Exile: About His Holiness The Dalai Lama

A Prayer

May I become at all times, both now and forever
A protector for those without protection
A guide for those who have lost their way
A ship for those with oceans to cross
A bridge for those with rivers to cross
A sanctuary for those in danger
A lamp for those without light
A place of refuge for those who lack shelter
And a servant to all in need.
—atributed to His Holiness, the Dalai Lama

Source: Insight from the Dalai Lama Daily Calendar Monday, September 4, 2006
See Also: The Tibetan Government in Exile: About His Holiness The Dalai Lama

Common Karma

The universe we inhabit and our shared perceptions of it are the results of a common karma. Likewise, the places that we will experience in future rebirths will be the outcome of the karma that we share with the other beings living there. The actions of each of us, human and nonhuman, have contributed to the world in which we live. we all have a common responsibility for our world and are connected with everything in it.
—atributed to His Holiness, the Dalai Lama

Source: Insight from the Dalai Lama Daily Calendar Thursday, June 15, 2006
See Also: The Tibetan Government in Exile: About His Holiness The Dalai Lama

Shared Humanness: Prime Importance

Regardless of race, creed, ideology, political bloc (East and West), or economic region (North and South), the most important and basic aspect of all people is their shared humanity—the fact that each person, old, young, rich, poor, educated, uneducated, male, or female, is a human. This shared humanness and thus the shared aspiration of gaining happiness and avoid suffering as well as the basic right to bring these about are of prime importance.
—atributed to His Holiness, the Dalai Lama

Source: Insight from the Dalai Lama Daily Calendar Saturday/Sunday, April 22/23, 2006
See Also: The Tibetan Government in Exile: About His Holiness The Dalai Lama

Sometimes Silence Impresses

Sometimes one creates a dynamic impression by saying something, and sometimes one creates as significant an impression by remaining silent.
—atributed to His Holiness, the Dalai Lama

Source: Insight from the Dalai Lama Daily Calendar Wednesday, April 26, 2006
See Also: The Tibetan Government in Exile: About His Holiness The Dalai Lama

Not Enough to be Compassionate

It is not enough to be compassionate. You must act. There two aspects to action. One is to overcome the distortions and afflictions of your mind, that is, in terms of calming and eventualy dispelling anger. This is action out of compassion. The other is more social, more public. When something needs to be done in the world to rectify wrongs, if one is really concerned with benefiting others, one needs to be engaged, involved.
—atributed to His Holiness, the Dalai Lama

Source: Insight from the Dalai Lama Daily Calendar Saturday/Sunday, April 1/2, 2006
See Also: The Tibetan Government in Exile: About His Holiness The Dalai Lama

Stroke of Luck

Royal Australian Navy photo by Able Seaman Paul Berry

Sydney, Australia (Jan. 30, 2006) – USS PINCKNEY (DDG 91) and the World Famous Sydney Opera House

The guided missile destroyer USS PINCKNEY (DDG 91) transits pass the World Famous Sydney Opera House as she made a scheduled port visit to Sydney.

PINCKNEY was participating in the Pacific 2006 International Maritime Exposition at Sydney’s Exhibition Centre. This was a major international event that showcased the latest in maritime and naval technology from throughout the world.

Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.
—attributed to His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Source: Insight from the Dalai Lama Daily Calendar Friday, January 27, 2006
See Also: The Tibetan Government in Exile: About His Holiness The Dalai Lama

THE Three Rs

Follow the three Rs:

Respect for self
Respect for others

Responsibility for all your actions
—attrributed to his Holiness the Dalai Lama

Source: Insight from the Dalai Lama Daily Calendar Friday, January 20, 2006
See Also: The Tibetan Government in Exile: About His Holiness The Dalai Lama

Answer in Your Hands

A young man caught a small bird, and held it behind his back. He then asked, "Master, is the bird I hold in my hands alive or dead?" The boy thought this was a grand opportunity to play a trick on the old man. If the master answered "dead," it would be let loose into the air. If the master answered "alive," he would simply wring its neck. The master spoke, "The answer is in your hands."
—attrributed to his Holiness the Dalai Lama

Source: Insight from the Dalai Lama Daily Calendar Wednesday, January 11, 2006
See Also: The Tibetan Government in Exile: About His Holiness The Dalai Lama

Making It Meaningful

Old friends pass away,. new friends appear. It is just like the days. An old day passes, a new day arrives. The important thing is to make it meaningful: a meaningful friend—or a meaningful day.
—attributed to HH the Dalai Lama

Source: Insight from the Dalai Lama Daily Calendar, Thursday, January 6^th 2006 entry
See Also: The Tibetan Government in Exile: About His Holiness The Dalai Lama

Religion: Very Simple

My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.
—attributed to HH the Dalai Lama

Source: Insight from the Dalai Lama Daily Calendar, Wednesday, January 4^th 2006 entry
See Also: The Tibetan Government in Exile: About His Holiness The Dalai Lama

Consider the Source, or the Idea?

If an idea comes from someone very gentle or great, without much thinking about the idea itself, one tends to be more accepting of the idea. We must rely more on the substance of the idea, rather than the authority of the person who it comes from
—attributed to HH the Dalai Lama

Source: Words of Wisdom Daily Calendar, Thursday, November 18^th 2004 entry
See Also: The Tibetan Government in Exile: About His Holiness The Dalai Lama

Rid of All Suffering: How Soon?

It is important not to have the unrealistic expectation that we will find a magic key to help get rid of [all suffering]. It takes determination, patience, and more than one week.
—attributed to HH the Dalai Lama

Source: Words of Wisdom Daily Calendar, Tuesday, May 31^th 2005 entry
See Also: The Tibetan Government in Exile: About His Holiness The Dalai Lama

Music is Most Universal

Among the many forces in which the human spirit has tried to express its innermost yearnings and perceptions, music is perhaps the most universal. It symbolizes humanity's search for harmony, with oneself and others, with nature, and with the spiritual and sacred within and around us.
—attributed to HH the Dalai Lama

Source: Words of Wisdom Daily Calendar, Thursday, April 28^th 2005 entry
See Also: The Tibetan Government in Exile: About His Holiness The Dalai Lama

Affection & Compassion

At the beginning of our lives and again when we become old we appreciate others' help and affection. Unfortunately, between these two periods of our lives, when we are strong and able and can look after ourselves, we neglect the value of affection and compassion.
—attributed to HH the Dalai Lama

Source: Words of Wisdom Daily Calendar, Wednesday, December 8^th 2004 (First Day of Hanukkah) entry
See Also: The Tibetan Government in Exile: About His Holiness The Dalai Lama

Peace on Earth: Christmas 2004

There can be no peace as long as there is grinding poverty, social injustice, inequality, oppression, environmental degradation, and as long as the weak and small continue to be trodden by the mighty and powerful.

Source: Words of Wisdom Daily Calendar, Saturday, December 25^th 2004 (Christmas Day) entry
See Also: The Tibetan Government in Exile: About His Holiness The Dalai Lama

Unresolvable Disputes?

It is my belief that there are no such things as unresolvable disputes in the world.
---HH The Dalai Lama

Source: Words of Wisdom Daily Calendar, Tuesday, December 14^th 2004 (Human Rights Day) entry
See Also: The Tibetan Government in Exile: About His Holiness The Dalai Lama

Humanity's Survival

Humanity's survival depends on the health of the community in the same way that ants and bees coexist. Such small insects create communities without any religion, any constitution, or any law.
People can do the same if they develop compassion so they feel responsible for others.
---HH The Dalai Lama

Source: Words of Wisdom Daily Calendar, Friday, December 10^th 2004 (Human Rights Day) entry
See Also: The Tibetan Government in Exile: About His Holiness The Dalai Lama

Human Hand

I think the human hand is meant for embracing and not for hitting.
---HH the Dalai Lama

Source: Words of Wisdom Daily Calendar: Tuesday, October 12, 2004

The Source of the Problem

This is the same planet, same human beings, same potential, same rights, but some are dying, some have surpluses. This is unequal, and not only morally wrong, but practically also the source of the problem.
---HH the Dalai Lama

Source: Words of Wisdom Daily Calendar: Wednesday, April 7, 2004

In Autumn, One Leaf Falls

In Autumn, one leaf falls, then another, then all the beautiful flowers die until we are surrounded by bare naked plants. We do not feel so joyful. Why is this?
Because deep down, we desire constructive, fruitful growth and dislike things collapsing, dying, or beingdestroyed.
---Dalai Lama

Source: Words of Wisdom Daily Calendar, Friday, September 24^th entry
The Tibetan Government in Exile: About His Holiness The Dalai Lama

Happiness For All

Everybody wants a happy life.
Me too.
---Dalai Lama

Source: Words of Wisdom Daily Calendar, Monday, September 20^th entry

War = Murder?

War is no different than a murder in the street.
---Dalai Lama

Source: Words of Wisdom Daily Calendar, Wednesday, August 4^th entry

The Human Condition

Each human has to take responsibility for the human condition or else who will do it?
---Dalai Lama

Source: Words of Wisdom Daily Calendar, Saturday, May 1^st entry

Happy Birthday to my sister Sue on this beautiful May day!

Violent Clashes

Once the causes and conditions that lead to violent clashes have fully ripened and erupted, it is very difficult to control them and restore peace.
---Dalai Lama

Source: Words of Wisdom Daily Calendar, Sunday, April 18^th, 2004

Patience and Tolerance

Patience and tolerance are the antidotes to hatred and anger, the most destructive negative emotions of life. They must be overcome if one is to avoid miserable times in future life.
--The Dalai Lama

Source: Words of Wisdom Calendar, Monday, April 12, 2004