--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Material progress and a higher standard…" description: "\"Material progress and a higher standard of living bring us greater comfort and health, but do not lead to a transformation of the mind, which is the on..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4f/dalai-lama-89_affection_material-progress-and-a-higher-standard_1136611.jpg" --- # Material progress and a higher standard of living bring us… ![“Material progress and a higher standard of living bring us greater comfort and health, but do not lead to a transformation of the mind, which is the only thing capable of providing lasting peace. Profound happiness, unlike fleeting pleasures, is spiritual in nature. It depends on the happiness of…” quote by Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4f/dalai-lama-89_affection_material-progress-and-a-higher-standard_1136611.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4f/dalai-lama-89_affection_material-progress-and-a-higher-standard_1136611.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4f/dalai-lama-89_affection_material-progress-and-a-higher-standard_1136611.jpg) > “Material progress and a higher standard of living bring us greater comfort and health, but do not lead to a transformation of the mind, which is the only thing capable of providing lasting peace. Profound happiness, unlike fleeting pleasures, is spiritual in nature. It depends on the happiness of others and it is based on love and affection.” [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Material wealth improves comfort but cannot change the mind, which alone brings lasting peace; true happiness is spiritual, rooted in love and others' well‑being. **In simple terms:** We alone comforts but mind change; happiness is spiritual, love. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner transformation and compassion. Themes spirituality peace compassion materialism mental health Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal development - community service - mental health practice - philanthropy Key Concepts mindfulness interdependence love lasting peace Questions to Reflect On - How can you nurture inner peace beyond material gains? - What daily practice deepens compassion for others? A Different Perspective Material success may not affect inner peace without mindset change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affection/) [Buddhist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhist/) [Capable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capable/) [Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comfort/) [Depends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depends/) [Fleeting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fleeting/) [Greater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greater/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Happiness Based](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness-based-814476/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Higher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/higher/) [Higher standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/higher-standards/) [Lasting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasting/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love and affection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-and-affection/) [Materials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/materials/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Peace Profound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace-profound-3149187/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Pleasures Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasures-spiritual-3149186/) [Profound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profound/) [Profound Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profound-happiness-2050307/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Providing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/providing/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Spiritual nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual-nature/) [Spiritual transformation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual-transformation/) [Standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standards/) [Standards of living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standards-of-living/) [Transformation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transformation/) ## Related quotes > [We know that peace is only possible when it is the fruit of justice. 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They've got a distorted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/people-are-pursuing-happiness-but-they-re-pursuing-things-that-will/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [“Christian happiness is based in the conviction that because of the accomplishments of Christ, the future is a friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-zahnd/christian-happiness-is-based-in-the-conviction-that-because-of-the/) [Brian Zahnd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-zahnd/) > [Understand that happiness is not based on possessions, power or prestige, but on relationships with people you love and respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/understand-that-happiness-is-not-based-on-possessions-power-or/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Dalai Lama > [Although under particular circumstances, the violence method - any method - can be justified, nevertheless once you commit violence, then counterviolence will be returned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/although-under-particular-circumstances-the-violence-method-any/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [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/) > [In the interests of everyone the artist had a responsibility to use his medium well. 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By cultivating inner values, we can change our own lives and those of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/we-can-change-society-change-humanity-by-changing-ourselves-as/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [I don't want to convert people to Buddhism — all major religions, when understood properly, have the same potential for good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/i-don-t-want-to-convert-people-to-buddhism-all-major-religions-when/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [There is no way to escape death, it is just like trying to escape by four great mountains touching sky. There is no escape…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-is-no-way-to-escape-death-it-is-just-like-trying-to-escape-by/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [We live within the environment. So that directly relates with our survival, our life. So through that way, more concern of well being of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/we-live-within-the-environment-so-that-directly-relates-with-our/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [My belief is that the various religious traditions have great potential to increase compassion, the sense of caring for one another, and the spirit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/my-belief-is-that-the-various-religious-traditions-have-great/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [When we think carefully, we see that the brief elation we experience when appeasing sensual impulses may not be very different from what the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/when-we-think-carefully-we-see-that-the-brief-elation-we-experience/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [“So let us reflect on what is truly of value in life, what gives meaning to our lives, and set our priorities on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/so-let-us-reflect-on-what-is-truly-of-value-in-life-what-gives/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [I am the source of my own suffering, because of the habits of my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/i-am-the-source-of-my-own-suffering-because-of-the-habits-of-my-mind/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) [Explore all 1,406 Dalai Lama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) ## More Affection quotes > [My team and I have reunited two elements that coexist with diffiulty: respect and affection, because when they love you they don't respect you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakira/my-team-and-i-have-reunited-two-elements-that-coexist-with-diffiulty/) [Shakira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakira/) > [Needs cause motivation. Deep-rooted desires for esteem, affection, belonging, achievement, self-actualization, power, and control motivate us to push for what we want and need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/needs-cause-motivation-deep-rooted-desires-for-esteem-affection/) [Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/) > [“It is to build a house with affection, even as if your beloved were to dwell in that house.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/it-is-to-build-a-house-with-affection-even-as-if-your-beloved-were-to/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [I, measuring his affections by my own, Which then most sought where most might not be found, Being one too many by my weary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-measuring-his-affections-by-my-own-which-then-most-sought-where/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [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/) > [A lost love. 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