“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.”
— His Holiness The Dalai Lama XIV, The Art of Happiness
“Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional…
We have bigger houses, but smaller families;
More conveniences, but less time;
We have knowledge, but less judgement;
More experts, but more problems;
More medicines, but less health.”
― His Holiness The Dalai Lama XIV
Success
The definition of failure follows one’s ideas of what success is. I believe that success is being happy, yet unhappiness isn’t failure; it’s a temporary, passing condition, so recognize it for what it is.
“A genuine, affectionate smile is very important in our day-to-day lives.” ― His Holiness The Dalai Lama XIV
“We can live without religion and meditation, but we cannot survive without human affection.” ― His Holiness The Dalai Lama XIV
“Don’t always look for happiness, sometimes you may just have to create it.”
“The first to apologize is the bravest. The first to forgive is the strongest. But the first to forget, is the happiest.”
“Wisdom is taken to be the capacity to realize what is of value in life, for oneself and others.”
“Who am I” — Question No 24: What is happiness?
“Happiness is the very nature of the Self; happiness and the Self are not different. There is no happiness in any object of the world. We imagine through our ignorance that we derive happiness from objects. When the mind goes out, it experiences misery. In truth, when its desires are fulfilled, it returns to its own place and enjoys the happiness that is the Self. Similarly, in the states of sleep, samadhi and fainting, and when the object desired is obtained or the object disliked is removed, the mind becomes inward-turned, and enjoys pure Self-Happiness. Thus the mind moves without rest alternately going out of the Self and returning to it. Under the tree the shade is pleasant; out in the open the heat is scorching. A person who has been going about in the sun feels cool when he reaches the shade. Someone who keeps on going from the shade into the sun and then back into the shade is a fool. A wise man stays permanently in the shade. Similarly, the mind of the one who knows the truth does not leave Brahman. The mind of the ignorant, on the contrary, revolves in the world, feeling miserable, and for a little time returns to Brahman to experience happiness. In fact, what is called the world is only thought. When the world disappears, i.e. when there is no thought, the mind experiences happiness; and when the world appears, it goes through misery.” ― Ramana Maharshi
“But here’s the thing: Happiness doesn’t come from outside. Other people can’t make us happy. Money, objects, possessions, things… none of that can make us happy. Happiness must come from within.” — Rachel Rofe
Forgiveness is unlocking the door to set someone free… and realizing you were the prisoner!” ― Max Lucado
“One great question underlies our experience, whether we think about it or not: what is the purpose of life?… From the moment of birth every human being wants happiness and does not want suffering. Neither social conditioning nor education nor ideology affects this. From the very core of our being, we simply desire contentment… Therefore, it is important to discover what will bring about the greatest degree of happiness.” ― His Holiness The Dalai Lama XIV