Quotes by Tenzin Gyatso

“The way to overcome negative thoughts and destructive emotions is to develop opposing, positive emotions that are stronger and more powerful.”

“Compassion, forgiveness, these are the real, ultimate sources of power for peace and success in life.”

“The deep root of failure in our lives is to think, Oh how useless and powerless I am. It is essential to think strongly and forcefully, I can do it, without boasting or fretting.”

“In addition to wreaking havoc on our bodies, anger close our inner door, making us feel isolated and distrustful, hindering communication.”

“If you wish to experience peace, provide peace for another.”

“We also often add to our pain and suffering by being overly sensitive, over-reacting to minor things, and sometimes taking things too personally.”

“From a certain point of view our real enemy, the true troublemaker, is inside.”

“Our enemies provide us with a precious opportunity to practice patience and love. We should have gratitude toward them.”

“Who provides the opportunity to cultivate patience? Not our friends. Our enemies give us the most crucial chances to grow.”

“I believe if we human beings keep our self-confidence and determination and use wisdom properly, I think we have the ability to overcome problems.”

“Peace, in the sense of the absence of war, is of little value to someone who is dying of hunger or cold. It will not remove the pain of torture inflicted on a prisoner of conscience. It does not comfort those who have lost their loved ones in floods caused by senseless deforestation in a neighbouring country. Peace can only last where human rights are respected, where the people are fed, and where individuals and nations are free. True peace with oneself and with the world around us can only be achieved through the development of mental peace. The other phenomena mentioned above are similarly interrelated. Thus, for example, we see that a clean environment, wealth or democracy mean little in the face of war, especially nuclear war, and that material development is not sufficient to ensure human happiness.”