15 Nuggets of Truth from the Dali Lama

By: Aazdak Alisimo

We move through life much as a car drives down a road. As you move along, it is easy to start straying from the straight and narrow without realizing it. Contemplate these pearls of wisdom from the Dali Lama to see where you are on the road of life.

1. If the love within your mind is lost and you see other beings as enemies, then no matter how much knowledge or education or material comfort you have, only suffering and confusion will ensue.

2. I myself feel, and also tell other Buddhists that the question of Nirvana will come later. There is not much hurry. If in day to day life you lead a good life, honesty, with love, with compassion, with less selfishness, then automatically it will lead to Nirvana.

3. Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.

4. 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.

5. This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.

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

7. Where ignorance is our master, there is no possibility of real peace.

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

9. My message is the practice of compassion, love and kindness. Compassion can be put into practice if one recognizes the fact that every human being is a member of humanity and the human family regardless of differences in religion, culture, color and creed. Deep down there is no difference.

10. Today, more than ever before, life must be characterized by a sense of Universal responsibility, not only nation to nation and human to human, but also human to other forms of life.

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

12. In the practice of tolerance, one's enemy is the best teacher.

13. Spend some time alone every day.

14. Sometimes one creates a dynamic impression by saying something, and sometimes one creates as significant an impression by remaining silent.

15. Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.

The real beauty of the Dali Lama is the fact his views are acceptable to all religions. They also take into account the nature of daily life in this modern world. If even one quote above makes you think, then he has accomplished his goal.