--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Compassion is a mind wishing that…" description: "\"“Compassion is a mind wishing that sentient beings be free from suffering, and loving-kindness is a mind wishing that they meet with happiness.”\" — Dal..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af4/dalai-lama-xiv-1700_compassion_compassion-is-a-mind-wishing-that-sentie_2240562.jpg" --- # Compassion is a mind wishing that sentient beings be free… ![“Compassion is a mind wishing that sentient beings be free from suffering, and loving-kindness is a mind wishing that they meet with happiness.” quote by Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af4/dalai-lama-xiv-1700_compassion_compassion-is-a-mind-wishing-that-sentie_2240562.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af4/dalai-lama-xiv-1700_compassion_compassion-is-a-mind-wishing-that-sentie_2240562.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af4/dalai-lama-xiv-1700_compassion_compassion-is-a-mind-wishing-that-sentie_2240562.jpg) > ““Compassion is a mind wishing that sentient beings be free from suffering, and loving-kindness is a mind wishing that they meet with happiness.”” [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Compassion wishes freedom from suffering for others; loving‑kindness wishes happiness for them. **In simple terms:** Compassion seeks others’ relief; loving‑kindness seeks their joy. Key Takeaway Practice both to foster universal wellbeing. Themes compassion loving‑kindness interconnectedness Mood calm inspiring Type spiritual ethical When to use this quote - mental health work - conflict resolution - education - community building Key Concepts Buddhism empathy Questions to Reflect On - What barriers prevent you from extending compassion? - How can you nurture loving‑kindness daily? A Different Perspective Balancing compassion with self‑care can be challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Compassion Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion-mind-2151308/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) [Kindness Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness-mind-1803737/) [Loving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loving/) [Loving kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loving-kindness/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [“Compassion is a mind that focuses on the sentient beings that are miserable and wishes them to be free from suffering. Compassion can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/compassion-is-a-mind-that-focuses-on-the-sentient-beings-that-are/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [Foolish, selfish people are always thinking of themselves and the result is always negative. Wise persons think of others, helping them as much as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/foolish-selfish-people-are-always-thinking-of-themselves-and-the/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [It's a kindness that the mind can go where it wishes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-a-kindness-that-the-mind-can-go-where-it-wishes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When we practice loving kindness and compassion we are the first ones to profit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-we-practice-loving-kindness-and-compassion-we-are-the-first-ones/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I practice loving-kindness meditation, which cultivates compassion and equanimity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-maclean/i-practice-loving-kindness-meditation-which-cultivates-compassion-and/) [Sarah MacLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-maclean/) > [Once you encourage the thought of compassion in your mind, once it becomes active, then your attitude towards others changes automatically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/once-you-encourage-the-thought-of-compassion-in-your-mind-once-it/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [The beginner's mind is the mind of compassion. When our mind is compassionate, it is boundless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/the-beginner-s-mind-is-the-mind-of-compassion-when-our-mind-is/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [In the beginner's mind there is no thought, "I have attained something." All self-centered thoughts limit our vast mind. When we have no thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/in-the-beginner-s-mind-there-is-no-thought-i-have-attained-something/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [What we really need is compassion of the mind - compassion for others that is directed intelligently and produces truly compassionate results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/what-we-really-need-is-compassion-of-the-mind-compassion-for-others/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [If we only practice compassion on the mind level, we run a great risk of our compassion being just talk. As we know, talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gelek-rimpoche/if-we-only-practice-compassion-on-the-mind-level-we-run-a-great-risk/) [Gelek Rimpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gelek-rimpoche/) > [Beneath the sophistication of Buddhist psychology lies the simplicity of compassion. We can touch into this compassion whenever the mind is quiet, whenever we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/beneath-the-sophistication-of-buddhist-psychology-lies-the-simplicity/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [Compassion is a mind that removes the suffering that is present in the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/compassion-is-a-mind-that-removes-the-suffering-that-is-present-in/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [We must seek the loving-kindness of God in all the breadth and open-air of common life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-a-smith/we-must-seek-the-loving-kindness-of-god-in-all-the-breadth-and-open/) [George A. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-a-smith/) > [“The key is love It is the gateway To hope To joy To enhanced living Love is the answer”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hackel/the-key-is-love-it-is-the-gateway-to-hope-to-joy-to-enhanced-living/) [Karen Hackel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hackel/) > [When I look like this into the blue sky, it seems so deep, so peaceful, so full of a mysterious tenderness, that I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/when-i-look-like-this-into-the-blue-sky-it-seems-so-deep-so-peaceful/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) ## More by Dalai Lama XIV > [This is my simple religion. No need for temples. No need for complicated philosophy. Your own mind, your own heart is the temple. Your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/this-is-my-simple-religion-no-need-for-temples-no-need-for/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [“Transforming the mind involves first learning to know it, then identifying how it functions so as to eliminate the three main mental poisons, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/transforming-the-mind-involves-first-learning-to-know-it-then/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [“our ability to reframe our situation more positively”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/our-ability-to-reframe-our-situation-more-positively/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [“The fourth and final circuit is “our ability to be generous.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/the-fourth-and-final-circuit-is-our-ability-to-be-generous/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [“In general, if we carefully examine any given situation in a very unbiased and honest way, we will realize that to a large extent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/in-general-if-we-carefully-examine-any-given-situation-in-a-very/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [“No matter what activity or practice we are pursuing, there isn't anything that isn't made easier through constant familiarity and training. Through training, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/no-matter-what-activity-or-practice-we-are-pursuing-there-isn-t/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [“Live so when your children think of fairness and integrity they think of you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/live-so-when-your-children-think-of-fairness-and-integrity-they-think/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [“It is important to consider others at least as important as ourselves. This is the essence of spirituality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/it-is-important-to-consider-others-at-least-as-important-as-ourselves/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [“I maintain that Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Sikhism, Taoism, and Zoroastrianism all hold up love as an ideal, seek to benefit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/i-maintain-that-buddhism-christianity-confucianism-hinduism-islam/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [“Marriages, even the best ones—perhaps especially the best ones—are an ongoing process of spoken and unspoken forgiveness. •”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/marriages-even-the-best-ones-perhaps-especially-the-best-ones-are-an/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [“You see, if there are no difficulties and you are always relaxed, then you complain more”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/you-see-if-there-are-no-difficulties-and-you-are-always-relaxed-then/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [“It is not happiness that makes us grateful. It is gratefulness that makes us happy. Every moment is a gift.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/it-is-not-happiness-that-makes-us-grateful-it-is-gratefulness-that/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [“Joy can span from the pleasure of others’ good fortune, what Buddhists call mudita, to the pleasure in others’ misfortune, what the Germans call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/joy-can-span-from-the-pleasure-of-others-good-fortune-what-buddhists/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [“If you think only of yourself, if you forget the rights and well-being of others, or, worse still, if you exploit others, ultimately you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/if-you-think-only-of-yourself-if-you-forget-the-rights-and-well-being/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [“It seems that scientific research reaches deeper and deeper. But it also seems that more and more people, at least scientists, are beginning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/it-seems-that-scientific-research-reaches-deeper-and-deeper-but-it/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) [Explore all 206 Dalai Lama XIV quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) ## More Compassion quotes > [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [“I fight with love and kindness as my weapons and compassion as my defense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/i-fight-with-love-and-kindness-as-my-weapons-and-compassion-as-my/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“If you refuse to use physical force, then you will be at the mercy of your oppressor!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/segun-magbagbeola/if-you-refuse-to-use-physical-force-then-you-will-be-at-the-mercy-of/) [Segun Magbagbeola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/segun-magbagbeola/) > [For some reason, we are truly convinced that if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. If we are harsh, we believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/for-some-reason-we-are-truly-convinced-that-if-we-criticize-ourselves/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We are puzzled and bewildered whenever we see suffering in this world because we have become accustomed to the mercy and the long-suffering of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/we-are-puzzled-and-bewildered-whenever-we-see-suffering-in-this-world/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [“Helpers in every corner, helpers in every hood. That's how we'll make the move, to reform from rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/helpers-in-every-corner-helpers-in-every-hood-that-s-how-we-ll-make/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [May the gods have mercy on whoever pisses them off, because Zarek and Jericho will have none for them. (Madoc) You’d better be glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/may-the-gods-have-mercy-on-whoever-pisses-them-off-because-zarek-and/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [When you need empathy, you cannot give empathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/when-you-need-empathy-you-cannot-give-empathy/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [But victimhood was seductive, a release from responsibility and caring. Fear would be transmuted into weary resignation; failure would no longer generate guilt but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/but-victimhood-was-seductive-a-release-from-responsibility-and-caring/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [“la ilaha ilallah muhammadun rasulullah, alaihi salatullah wa alihi wal ahibba "shine your mercy like the sun, and be gracious as the earth let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-al-habib/la-ilaha-ilallah-muhammadun-rasulullah-alaihi-salatullah-wa-alihi-wal/) [Talib al Habib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-al-habib/) > [The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/the-love-for-all-living-creatures-is-the-most-noble-attribute-of-man/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) [Browse all 9,892 Compassion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Compassion is a mind wishing that sentient beings be free from suffering, and loving-kindness is a mind wishing that they meet with happiness.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dalai Lama XIV" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/compassion-is-a-mind-wishing-that-sentient-beings-be-free-from/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Compassion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/compassion-is-a-mind-wishing-that-sentient-beings-be-free-from/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af4/dalai-lama-xiv-1700_compassion_compassion-is-a-mind-wishing-that-sentie_2240562.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af4/dalai-lama-xiv-1700_compassion_compassion-is-a-mind-wishing-that-sentie_2240562.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af4/dalai-lama-xiv-1700_compassion_compassion-is-a-mind-wishing-that-sentie_2240562.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Compassion is a mind wishing that sentient beings be free from suffering, and loving-kindness is a mind…” — Dalai Lama XIV", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Dalai Lama XIV", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Compassion is a mind wishing that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/compassion-is-a-mind-wishing-that-sentient-beings-be-free-from/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/compassion-is-a-mind-wishing-that-sentient-beings-be-free-from/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```