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Dalai Lama Quotes

The Dalai Lama on Patience and How Maintaining Emotional Balance is a Sign Of Strength

    “Many people think that patience is a sign of weakness. I think this is a mistake. It is anger that is a sign of weakness, whereas patience is a sign of strength.”

    The Dalai Lama

    Beyond the Quote (279/365)

    Patience is a sign of a strong, well controlled inner emotional climate. A climate that can be maintained independently of what’s happening on the outside. A climate that can be controlled, manipulated, and adjusted only by the person themself. A climate that nobody else can control, manipulate, or adjust even if they wanted or tried to. It is a sign of strength, self-understanding, and balance. But how to get there?

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    Dalai Lama Quote on Remembering A Person After They Pass

      “The best way to keep a memory of a person [who has passed away], the best remembrance, is to see if you can carry on the wishes of that person.”

      Dalai Lama, The Art of Happiness

      Beyond the Quote (144/365)

      I would go one step further and say that the best remembrance is, not just to carry on the wishes of the person who passed, but to embody the best of who that person was. Wishes come from a place of deep and personal desire—they are goals derived from a person’s unique characteristic makeup. Who a person is isn’t a reflection of these wishes—their thoughts—but rather is a reflection of the actions they took throughout their life. Wishes are inside a person’s mind, character is reflected in the actions of their body. We can only interpret and truthfully judge the latter.

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      Sadhguru Quote on Not Fixing Everything Else, But On Fixing Yourself To Better Deal With Everything Else.

        “Do not try to fix whatever comes into your life. Fix yourself in such a way that whatever comes, you will be fine.”

        Sadhguru

        Beyond the Quote (133/365)

        The following story was submitted by Angel via the Share Your Story page on our website. In it, she discusses how she managed to break away and move forward from limiting beliefs that were imposed on her throughout her life that were a source of much stress and anxiety. Now, as you’ll read about below, she lives a more accepting and grateful life. And it all started from a simple recommendation that came from some of her best friends. Here’s Angel to explain:

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        The Dalai Lama Quote on Handling Problems by Zooming Out and Looking From a Broader Perspective

          “When we help others, the focus of our mind assumes a broader horizon within which we are able to see our own petty problems in a more realistic proportion.  What previously appeared to be daunting and unbearable, which is what often makes our problems so overwhelming, tends to lose its intensity.”

          Dalai Lama, The Art of Happiness

          Beyond the Quote (60/365)

          This is where the idea of “first world problems” comes from.  We will complain about and feel overwhelm from the problems that are prevalent in our world—as small or as large as that world is.  If our world is small from inexperience or lack of opportunity, then our small problems will appear to be big.  If our world is large from a plethora of experiences and plentiful opportunities, then even our “large” problems will appear to be small.  If what we have to complain about, for example, is some stupid thing someone said to us, and our world is small and we don’t have anything else affecting us, then why would we complain and worry about anything else?  That which doesn’t immediately affect us doesn’t immediately concern us.  The entire scope of our focus is directed at the only thing that is calling for it, which in this case, is the stupid thing someone said to us.  That is our entire world and that is our only problem to focus on.  Until it’s not.

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            “Although attempting to bring about world peace through the internal transformation of individuals is difficult, it is the only way.  Wherever I go, I express this, and I am encouraged that people from many different walks of life receive it well.  Peace must first be developed within an individual.  And I believe that love, compassion, and altruism are the fundamental basis for peace.  Once these qualities are developed within an individual, he or she is then able to create an atmosphere of peace and harmony.  This atmosphere can be expanded and extended from the individual to his family, from the family to the community and eventually to the whole world.” ~ Dalai Lama, via Peace is Every Step

              “One problem with our current society is that we have an attitude towards education as if it is there to simply make you more clever, make you more ingenious… Even though our society does not emphasize this, the most important use of knowledge and education is to help us understand the importance of engaging in more wholesome actions and bringing about discipline within our minds. The proper utilization of our intelligence and knowledge is to effect changes from within to develop a good heart.” ~ Dalai Lama

                “When you think everything is someone else’s fault, you will suffer a lot. When you realize that everything springs only from yourself, you will learn both peace and joy.” ~ Dalai Lama, via Life Hack

                  “It is felt that a disciplined mind leads to happiness and an undisciplined mind leads to suffering.” ~ Dalai Lama, via Life Hack

                    “If you think you’re too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.” ~ Dalai Lama, via Life Hack

                      “I believe all suffering is caused by ignorance. People inflict pain on others in the selfish pursuit of their happiness or satisfaction. Yet true happiness comes from a sense of inner peace and contentment, which in turn must be achieved through the cultivation of altruism, of love and compassion and elimination of ignorance, selfishness and greed.” ~ Dalai Lama

                        “It is not enough to be compassionate, we must act.” ~ Dalai Lama

                          “Life is as dear to a mute creature as it is to man. Just as one wants happiness and fears pain, just as one wants to live and not die, so do other creatures.” ~ Dalai Lama