Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Quotes

Developing compassion and wisdom and helping those in need is the true meaning of life.

When things go wrong in our life and we encounter difficult situations, we tend to regard the situation itself as our problem, but in reality whatever problems we experience come from the side of the mind. If we were to respond to difficult situations with a positive or peaceful mind they would not be problems for us; indeed, we may even come to regard them as challenges or opportunities for growth and development. Problems arise only if we respond to difficulties with a negative state of mind. Therefore, if we want to be free from problems, we must transform our mind.

Love is the real nuclear bomb that destroys all our enemies, because when we love all living beings, we have no enemies.

Patience is a mind that is able to accept fully and happily, whatever occurs. It is much more than just gritting our teeth and putting up with things. Being patient means to welcome wholeheartedly whatever arises, having given up the idea that things should be other than what they are.

All the happiness there is in the world arises from wishing others to be happy.

When the turbulence of distracting thoughts subside and our mind becomes still, a deep happiness and contentment naturally arises from within.

Without inner peace, outer peace is impossible. We all wish for world peace, but world peace will never be acheived unless we first establish peace within our own minds. We can send so-called 'peacekeeping forces' into areas of conflict, but peace cannot be oppossed from the outside with guns. Only by creating peace within our own mind and helping others to do the same can we hope to achieve peace in this world.

Everything we have and everything we enjoy, including our very life, is due to the kindness of others. In fact, every happiness there is in the world arises as a result of others' kindness.

Happiness is a state of mind, so the real source of happiness must lie within the mind, not in external conditions.

In reality, our mind is the creator of all the things we experience.

Only by creating peace within our own mind and helping others to do the same can we hope to achieve peace in this world.

We all wish for world peace, but world peace will never be achieved unless we first establish peace within our own minds.

We need to keep a constant watch over our mind and learn to distinguish between the beneficial and harmful thoughts that are arising moment by moment. Those who are able to do this are truly wise.

The path to enlightenment is really very simple - all we need to do is stop cherishing ourself and learn to cherish others. All other spiritual realisations will naturally follow from this.

We are all interconnected in a web of kindness from which it is impossible to separate ourself.

Listening is a lamp that dispels the darkness of ignorance.

The moment we let go of our obsessive concern for our own welfare, our mind naturally relaxes and becomes lighter.

When we understand clearly that inner peace is the real source of happiness, and how, through spiritual practice, we can experience progressively deeper levels of inner peace, we will develop tremendous enthusiasm to practice

Happiness and suffering are states of mind, and so their main causes cannot be found outside the mind.

If we transform our ordinary mind into love and compassion we will naturally act in a positive way.

Buddha's teachings are scientific methods to solve the problems of all living beings permanently.

The cause of happiness and the solution to our problems do not lie in knowledge of material things. Happiness and suffering are states of mind, and so their main causes cannot be found outside the mind. If we want to be truly happy and free from suffering, we must learn how to control our mind.

It is through our anger and hatred that we transform people into enemies.

The more we control our mind, the more our inner peace increases and the happier we become

The solution to all the problems of daily life is to cherish others.