The Dalai Lama is considered the highest spiritual authority in Tibetan Buddhism and is also recognized as the political leader of Tibet. In this post, we share several inspirational Dalai Lama quotes to use every day.

Early Life

The Dalai Lama is a title given to the spiritual leaders of Tibetan Buddhism, and it is particularly associated with the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. The Dalai Lama is considered the highest spiritual authority in Tibetan Buddhism and the political leader of Tibet.

The title is a combination of the Mongolian word “Dalai,” meaning “ocean,” and the Tibetan word “Lama,” meaning “teacher” or “guru.” The Dalai Lama is believed to be a reincarnation of Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion.

The institution of the Dalai Lama dates back to the 14th century, with the first Dalai Lama being Gedun Drupa. However, it was the third Dalai Lama, Sonam Gyatso, who was given the title by Altan Khan, the Mongol ruler, in the 16th century. Since then, the Dalai Lama has been a central figure in Tibetan religious and political life.

The 14th Dalai Lama

One of the most well-known Dalai Lamas is the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso. He was born in 1935 in a small village in northeastern Tibet. Identified as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama at the age of two, he was enthroned in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, when he was only four years old. His early years were marked by the political turbulence in Tibet. At the age of only 15, he assumed full political power as the head of state.

In 1959, the 14th Dalai Lama fled to India following a failed uprising against Chinese rule in Tibet. He established a government-in-exile in Dharamshala, India, and has since been a prominent advocate for the Tibetan cause, seeking autonomy for Tibet and promoting nonviolence. The Chinese government, however, views him as a separatist and has opposed his activities.

Throughout his life, the 14th Dalai Lama has been a tireless advocate for human rights, interfaith dialogue, and environmental sustainability. He traveled the world, giving lectures and teaching compassion, ethics, and the need for inner peace. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his nonviolent struggle for the liberation of Tibet.

Chinese Influence in Tibet

The institution of the Dalai Lama has been a source of both spiritual guidance and political leadership for the Tibetan people. However, the Chinese government’s influence in Tibet has led to tensions between the Tibetan spiritual leader and Chinese authorities.

The Chinese government has also attempted to control the process of recognizing the next Dalai Lama, leading to concerns about the future of the institution.

The Legacy of the Dalai Lama

Despite the challenges and controversies surrounding the role of the Dalai Lama, the institution continues to hold significant spiritual and cultural importance for Tibetans and Buddhists around the world. The Dalai Lama’s teachings on compassion, nonviolence, and inner peace resonate beyond religious boundaries.

Today, as was since the founding of the institution, the Dalai Lama is a global symbol of wisdom and compassion.

Famous Dalai Lama Quotes

Below we provide several inspirational Dalai Lama quotes from throughout his life as spiritual leader. We hope these will be a source of inspiration and courage in your life.

“Know the rules well, so you can break them effectively.”

“The whole purpose of religion is to facilitate love and compassion, patience, tolerance, humility, and forgiveness.”

“As you breathe in, cherish yourself. As you breathe out, cherish all beings.”

“Only the development of compassion and understanding for others can bring us the tranquility and happiness we all seek.”

“Silence is sometimes the best answer.”

“Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.”

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

“The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation.”

“The goal is not to be better than the other man, but your previous self.”

“When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.”

“An eye for an eye; we are all blind.”

“An open heart is an open mind.”

“A spoon cannot taste the food it carries. Likewise, a foolish man cannot understand the wise man’s wisdom, even if he associates with a sage.”

“Share your knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality.”

“In our struggle for freedom, truth is the only weapon we possess.”

“Let us try to recognize the precious nature of each day.”

“It is very rare or almost impossible that an event can be negative from all points of view.”

“The ultimate source of happiness is not money and power, but warm heartedness.”

“Time passes unhindered.  When we make mistakes, we cannot turn the clock back and try again. All we can do is use the present well.”

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

“People just take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness.  Just because they’re not on your road doesn’t mean they’ve gotten lost.”

“Choose to be optimistic; it feels better.”

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

“The true hero is one who conquers his own anger and hatred.”

“Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.”

“If a problem is fixable, if the 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.”

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

“To remain indifferent to the challenges we face is indefensible.”

“No matter what sort of difficulties, how painful experience is, if we lose our hope, that’s the real disaster.”

Dalai Lama Quotes – Final Words

Since its founding, the Dalai Lama institution continues to hold significant spiritual and cultural importance for Tibetans and Buddhists around the world. The Dalai Lama’s lessons on compassion, nonviolence, and inner peace resonate beyond religious boundaries.

We hope you enjoyed these Dalai Lama quotes. Check out our site for more sources of inspiration.