With realization of one’s own potential and self-confidence in one’s ability, one can build a better world.

I have always had this view about the modern education system: we pay attention to brain development, but the development of warmheartedness we take for granted.

My desire to devolve authority has nothing to do with a wish to shirk responsibility.

Look at situations from all angles, and you will become more open.

Out of 6 billion humans, the troublemakers are just a handful.

I always say that people should not rush to change religions. There is real value in finding the spiritual resources you need in your home religion.

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.

Because of lack of moral principle, human life becomes worthless. Moral principle, truthfulness, is a key factor. If we lose that, then there is no future.

I became the Dalai Lama not on a volunteer basis.

I don’t think generally politician come from democratic country. I think not that thinking. But sometimes little bit short-sighted. They are mainly looking for their next vote.

Whether one believes in a religion or not, and whether one believes in rebirth or not, there isn’t anyone who doesn’t appreciate kindness and compassion.

The Chinese government wants me to say that for many centuries Tibet has been part of China. Even if I make that statement, many people would just laugh. And my statement will not change past...

I think technology really increased human ability. But technology cannot produce compassion.

Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.

The best way to resolve any problem in the human world is for all sides to sit down and talk.

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

I think really, China, Chinese, I think they really have a long history of civilization, rich culture.

We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.

World belongs to humanity, not this leader, that leader or that king or prince or religious leader. World belongs to humanity.

I never dreamt, in my dream, I’m Dalai Lama.

One thing I want to make clear, as far as my own rebirth is concerned, the final authority is myself and no one else, and obviously not China’s Communists.

It is very important to generate a good attitude, a good heart, as much as possible. From this, happiness in both the short term and the long term for both yourself and others will come.

We all have to live together, so we might as well live together happily.

In order to become prosperous, a person must initially work very hard, so he or she has to sacrifice a lot of leisure time.

Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.

As a human being, anger is a part of our mind. Irritation also part of our mind. But you can do – anger come, go. Never keep in your sort of – your inner world,...

I am confident I will set foot again in Tibet in my lifetime.

As long as I am alive, I am fully committed to amity between Tibetans and Chinese. Otherwise there’s no use.

There is no need for temples, no need for complicated philosophies. My brain and my heart are my temples; my philosophy is kindness.

My aim is to create a happy society with genuine friendship. Friendship between Tibetan and Chinese peoples is very essential.

Chinese people themselves, they really want change.

If you have religious faith, very good, you can add on secular ethics, then religious belief, add on it, very good. But even those people who have no interest about religion, okay, it’s not religion,...

Appearance is something absolute, but reality is not that way – everything is interdependent, not absolute. So that view is very helpful to maintain a peace of mind because the main destroyer of a peaceful...

Even when we have physical hardships, we can be very happy.

Some mischievous people always there. Last several thousand years, always there. In future, also.

Old friends pass away, new friends appear. It is just like the days. An old day passes, a new day arrives. The important thing is to make it meaningful: a meaningful friend – or a...

Home is where you feel at home and are treated well.

Logically, harmony must come from the heart… Harmony very much based on trust. As soon as use force, creates fear. Fear and trust cannot go together.

The Tibetan people will need to determine who the next reincarnation of the Dalai Lama is.

The purpose of our lives is to be happy.

My faith helps me overcome such negative emotions and find my equilibrium.

The basic Buddhist stand on the question of equality between the genders is age-old. At the highest tantric levels, at the highest esoteric level, you must respect women: every woman.

Of course, when I say that human nature is gentleness, it is not 100 percent so. Every human being has that nature, but there are many people acting against their nature, being false.

We can live without religion and meditation, but we cannot survive without human affection.

The ultimate authority must always rest with the individual’s own reason and critical analysis.

Number of people have said to me, after hearing your thinking, their mind becomes much more happier.

Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.

Open-minded people tend to be interested in Buddhism because Buddha urged people to investigate things – he didn’t just command them to believe.

I am sometimes sad when I hear the personal stories of Tibetan refugees who have been tortured or beaten. Some irritation, some anger comes. But it never lasts long. I always try to think at...

If I had remained in Lhasa, even without the Chinese occupation, I would probably have carried the ceremonial role in some orthodox way.