New Delhi: Chief Monk of Tibetan Buddhism, 14th Dalai Lama He turned 87 on Wednesday (July 6). Although he humbly describes himself as a simple Buddhist monk, he is revered as the spiritual leader of Tibet. He was born on July 6, 1935 in Takster, Amdo in north-eastern Tibet. Interestingly, he was recognized as an incarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama at the age of 2. Dalai Lamas are traditionally considered to be corporeal beings who made a promise to return to the planet to aid humanity.
Take a look at some of his popular quotes that can change your outlook towards life:
- “Remember that the best relationship is the one in which your love for each other outweighs your need for each other.”
- “Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck.”
- “We cannot find peace in the outside world until we have made peace with ourselves.”
- “All suffering is due to ignorance. People inflict pain on others in their selfish pursuit of happiness or satisfaction”
- “A truly kind attitude toward others doesn’t change, even if they behave negatively or hurt you.”
- “When we face real tragedy in life, we can react in two ways—either by losing hope and falling into self-destructive habits, or by using the challenge to find our inner strength.”
- “This is my simple religion. There is no need of temples. There is no need for complex philosophy. Your own mind, your own heart is the temple. Your philosophy is simple kindness.”
- “If a problem is fixable, if a situation is such that you can do something about it, there is no need to worry. If it cannot be fixed, there is no help in worrying There’s no use in worrying.”
- “Know the rules well, so you can break them effectively.”
- “If you think you’re too young to make a change, try sleeping with a mosquito.”
The 14th Dalai Lama, a peace-loving man, received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his nonviolent campaign to liberate Tibet. Despite heavy opposition, he has consistently supported non-violent policies. He also made history as the first Nobel laureate to be recognized for his interest in environmental issues globally.
The Dalai Lama has traveled to more than 67 countries to spread his vast knowledge on peace, non-violence and compassion. He has earned over 150 accolades, honorary doctorates, awards etc. Additionally, he has written or collaborated on over 110 books.