The current Dalai Lama is the 14th Dalai Lama, and has been in power since 1950. His teachings and leadership have been proven incredibly popular and effective, and by 2013, he had become the joint most popular world leader.
I think everyone should hear the quotes of the Dalai Lama in order to be enlightened. As I’m currently living in Bali, Indonesia, the first quote on the list really applies and actually became my favorite straight away.
For any of you that know the struggle, the first quote on this list will probably become one of your favorites too!
Here are 37 of the most inspirational Dalai Lama quotes for spiritual enlightenment.
37 Inspirational Dalai Lama Quotes
1. “If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.” – Dalai Lama
2. “Silence is sometimes the best answer.” – Dalai Lama
3. “I defeat my enemies when I make them my friends.” – Dalai Lama
4. “Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.” – Dalai Lama
5. “If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun.” – Dalai Lama
6. “The way to change others’ minds is with affection, and not anger.” – Dalai Lama
7. “If a problem is fixable, if a situation is such that you can do something about it, then there is no need to worry. If it’s not fixable, then there is no help in worrying. There is no benefit in worrying whatsoever.” – Dalai Lama
8. “Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.” – Dalai Lama
9th of 37 Dalai Lama Quotes
9. “All suffering is caused by ignorance. People inflict pain on others in the selfish pursuit of their own happiness or satisfaction.” – Dalai Lama
10. “There is only one important point you must keep in your mind and let it be your guide. No matter what people call you, you are just who you are. Keep to this truth. You must ask yourself how is it you want to live your life. We live and we die, this is the truth that we can only face alone. No one can help us, not even the Buddha. So consider carefully, what prevents you from living the way you want to live your life?” – Dalai Lama
11. “If you can, help others; if you cannot do that, at least do not harm them.” – Dalai Lama
12. “My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.” – Dalai Lama
13. “Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.” – Dalai Lama
14. “Choose to be optimistic, it feels better.” – Dalai Lama
15. “Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.” – Dalai Lama
16. “A good friend who points out mistakes and imperfections and rebukes evil is to be respected as if he reveals the secret of some hidden treasure.” – Dalai Lama
17. “Peace does not mean an absence of conflicts; differences will always be there. Peace means solving these differences through peaceful means; through dialogue, education, knowledge; and through humane ways.” – Dalai Lama
18th of 37 Dalai Lama Quotes
18. “Because we all share this planet earth, we have to learn to live in harmony and peace with each other and with nature. This is not just a dream, but a necessity.” – Dalai Lama
19. “If you have fear of some pain or suffering, you should examine whether there is anything you can do about it. If you can, there is no need to worry about it; but if you cannot do anything, then there is also no need to worry.” – Dalai Lama
20. “Hard times build determination and inner strength. Through them we can also come to appreciate the uselessness of anger. Instead of getting angry nurture a deep caring and respect for troublemakers because by creating such trying circumstances they provide us with invaluable opportunities to practice tolerance and patience.” – Dalai Lama
21. “Only the development of compassion and understanding for others can bring us the tranquility and happiness we all seek.” – Dalai Lama
22. “It is under the greatest adversity that there exists the greatest potential for doing good, both for oneself and others.” – Dalai Lama
23. “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.” – Dalai Lama
24. “Give the ones you love wings to fly, roots to come back and reasons to stay.” – Dalai Lama
25. “A spoon cannot taste of the food it carries. Likewise, a foolish man cannot understand the wise man’s wisdom even if he associates with a sage.” – Dalai Lama
26. “People take different roads seeking fulfilment and happiness. Just because they’re not on your road doesn’t mean they’ve gotten lost.” ― Dalai Lama
27th of 37 Dalai Lama Quotes
27. “The purpose of all the major religious traditions is not to construct big temples on the outside, but to create temples of goodness and compassion inside, in our hearts.” ― Dalai Lama
28. “Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.” ― Dalai Lama
29. “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 meaningful day.” ― Dalai Lama
30. “I will not propose to you that my way is best. The decision is up to you. If you find some point which may be suitable to you, then you can carry out experiments for yourself. If you find that it is of no use, then you can discard it.” – Dalai Lama
31. “Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck.” ― Dalai Lama
32. “Although you may not always be able to avoid difficult situations, you can modify the extent to which you can suffer by how you choose to respond to the situation.” – Dalai Lama
33. “When we feel love and kindness toward others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us also to develop inner happiness and peace.” – Dalai Lama
34. “We need to learn how to want what we have NOT to have what we want in order to get steady and stable Happiness.” – Dalai Lama
35. “The creatures that inhabit this earth-be they human beings or animals-are here to contribute, each in its own particular way, to the beauty and prosperity of the world.” – Dalai Lama
36. “Share your knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality.” – Dalai Lama
37. “As you breathe in, cherish yourself. As you breathe out, cherish all Beings.” – The Dalai Lama
Dalai Lama Picture Quote
Summary
Thanks for checking out this awesome collection of inspirational Dalai Lama quotes. I think you can tell which of the quotes was my favorite on the list, but which is yours?
“Silence is sometimes the best answer.” – Dalai Lama
All of these quotes are great, but this one right here… sometimes, it’s better to just shut your mouth. You want to say something, you want to prove your point, but you need to consider what you’ll actually get by doing so. I think you’ll find a lot of the time you’re better off just not saying anything at all.
“Choose to be optimistic, it feels better.” – Dalai Lama
I love that! It’s literally a choice and it changes how we feel.
I live by this.
Great Post!
Such an inspiration. I love every quotation right here.
Thank you so much.