
Dalai Lama
b. 1935
About Dalai Lama
Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama (born 1935 in Taktser, Amdo, Tibet), is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism and one of the world's most recognized voices for nonviolence and compassion. Enthroned at age 15 following a brief regency, he fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule and has governed the Tibetan government-in-exile from Dharamsala, India ever since. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his consistent advocacy of nonviolent resistance and his proposal for a peaceful resolution to Tibet's status.
He has written or co-written dozens of books on Buddhist philosophy, ethics, and meditation practice. His public philosophy synthesizes Tibetan Buddhist tradition with modern science, human rights advocacy, and interfaith dialogue.
“Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck.”
Quick Facts
- Born
- 1935
- Age
- 91 years
- Domain
- leadership
- Quotes
- 10 collected
- Key Themes
- GratitudePositivityCompassionSimplicityKindnessHappiness
Learn More
Wikipedia — Dalai LamaDalai Lama's Famous Quotes
10 quotes
“Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck.”
— Widely attributed — drawn from various teachings and interviews; consistent with his documented philosophy
“Just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day.”
— Widely attributed — exact origin uncertain; commonly found in general self-help collections
“Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.”
— Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Lecture, Oslo, 10 December 1989
“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”
— The Art of Happiness (1998), co-authored with Howard C. Cutler, M.D.
“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.”
— My Land and My People (1962) and various speeches; widely documented
“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.”
— Widely attributed — spoken in various public contexts; one of his most frequently cited teachings
“Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.”
— Widely attributed — appears in numerous collections of his teachings; consistent with Buddhist psychology
“In the practice of tolerance, one's enemy is the best teacher.”
— A Policy of Kindness: An Anthology of Writings By and About the Dalai Lama (1990), ed. Sidney Piburn
“The more you are motivated by love, the more fearless and free your action will be.”
— Widely attributed — drawn from various talks and writings; consistent with his documented teachings on bodhicitta
“Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them.”
— Widely attributed — appears in various forms across his public teachings and interviews
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Frequently Asked Questions
Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama (born 1935 in Taktser, Amdo, Tibet), is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism and one of the world's most recognized voices for nonviolence and compassion. Enthroned at age 15 following a brief regency, he fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule and has governed the Tibetan government-in-exile from Dharamsala, India ever since. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his consistent advocacy of nonviolent resistance and his proposal for a peaceful resolution to Tibet's status. He has written or co-written dozens of books on Buddhist philosophy, ethics, and meditation practice. His public philosophy synthesizes Tibetan Buddhist tradition with modern science, human rights advocacy, and interfaith dialogue. Dalai Lama lived b. 1935.