Buddhism Quotes by Dalai Lama

I am a simple Buddhist monk - no more, no less.

— Dalai Lama

I am a simple Buddhist monk.

— Dalai Lama

In Buddhism we have relative truth and absolute truth.

— Dalai Lama

I am not promoting Buddhism. I am promoting human values.

— Dalai Lama

Had Tibet not fallen away from dharma China could not have invaded.

— Dalai Lama

I could justify violence only in this extreme case, to save the last living knowledge of Buddhism itself.

— Dalai Lama

Buddhism strongly discourages blind faith and fanaticism.

— Dalai Lama

I describe myself as a simple Buddhist monk. No more, no less.

— Dalai Lama

Through meditative techniques, one can free the mind of delusions and attain what we call enlightenment.

— Dalai Lama

We believe in self creation. That's why Buddhists believe in the Four Noble Truths.

— Dalai Lama

Buddha urged people to investigate things - he didn't just command them to believe.

— Dalai Lama

Compassion is not religious business, it is human business, it is not luxury, it is essential for our own peace and mental…

— Dalai Lama

The real destroyer of inner peace is fear and distrust. Fear develops frustration, frustration develops anger, anger develops violence.

— Dalai Lama

Death and dying provide a meeting-point between the Tibetan Buddhist and modern scientific traditions. I believe both have a great deal to…

— Dalai Lama

Don't try to use what you learn from Buddhism to be a Buddhist; use it to be a better whatever-you-al ready-are.

— Dalai Lama

Freedom is the real source of human happiness and creativity. Irrespective of whether you are a believer or nonbeliever, whether Buddhist, Christian,…

— Dalai Lama

Because my main concern is the Tibetan Buddhist culture, not just political independence, I cannot seek self-rule for central Tibet and exclude…

— Dalai Lama

Open-minded people tend to be interested in Buddhism because Buddha urged people to investigate things - he didn't just command them to…

— Dalai Lama

In Buddhism, ignorance as the root cause of suffering refers to a fundamental misperception of the true nature of the self and…

— Dalai Lama

Modern education is premised strongly on materialistic values. It is vital that when educating our children's brains that we do not neglect…

— Dalai Lama

To develop genuine devotion, you must know the meaning of teachings. The main emphasis in Buddhism is to transform the mind, and…

— Dalai Lama

As human beings we all want to be happy and free from misery. We have learned that the key to happiness is…

— Dalai Lama

Basically, the Buddhist attitude is that you should not accept certain things through sheer faith. And for that you need a skeptical…

— Dalai Lama

Americans are interested because they are open-minded. They have an education system that teaches them to find out for themselves why things…

— Dalai Lama

The way of presentation is different according to each religion. In theistic religions like Buddhism, Buddhist values are incorporated. In nontheistic religions,…

— Dalai Lama

At a personal level, as a Buddhist practitioner, I deliberately visualize and think about death in my daily practice. Death is not…

— Dalai Lama

Compassion suits our physical condition, whereas anger, fear and distrust are harmful to our well-being. Therefore, just as we learn the importance…

— Dalai Lama

From a Buddhist point of view, the actual experience of death is very important. Although how or where we will be reborn…

— Dalai Lama

Human beings by nature want happiness and do not want suffering. With that feeling everyone tries to achieve happiness and tries to…

— Dalai Lama

As a Buddhist, I view death as a normal process, a reality that I accept will occur as long as I remain…

— Dalai Lama

In Buddhism, both learning and practice are extremely important, and they must go hand in hand. Without knowledge, just to rely on…

— Dalai Lama

There is a true feminist movement in Buddhism that relates to the goddess Tārā. Following her cultivation of bodhicitta, the bodhisattva's motivation,…

— Dalai Lama

One Mongolian leader became a very, very brutal dictator and eventually became a murderer. Previously, he was a monk, and then he…

— Dalai Lama

Misunderstanding may arise by confusing the Buddhist and scientific definitions of death. Within the scientific system you spoke quite validly of the…

— Dalai Lama

I have found a much greater appreciation of Buddhism because I couldn't take it for granted here in exile.

— Dalai Lama

As far as ignorance is concerned, not just Buddhism, every religion recognizes it as the source of suffering.

— Dalai Lama

The essence of Buddhism is if you can, help others. If not, then at least refrain from hurting others.

— Dalai Lama

The only "definitive truth" for Buddhism is the absolute negation of any one truth as the Definitive Truth.

— Dalai Lama

There are techniques of Buddhism, such as meditation, that anyone can adopt.

— Dalai Lama

True enlightenment is nothing but the nature of one's own self being fully realized.

— Dalai Lama