I do not see any reason why animals should be slaughtered to serve as human diet when there are so many substitutes. After all, man can live without meat. It is only some carnivorous animals that have to subsist on flesh. Killing animals for sport, for pleasure, for adventures, and for hides and furs is a phenomenon which is at once disgusting and distressing. There is no justification in indulging in such acts of brutality . . . Life is as dear to a mute creature as it is to a man. Just as one wants happiness and fears pain, just as one wants to live and not to die, so do other creatures.

As far as mental development is concerned, we should never be complacent. We can develop our minds infinitely - there is no limitation.

Be a good human being, a warmhearted, affectionate person. That is my fundamental belief.

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

I find hope in the darkest of days, and focus in the brightest. I do not judge the universe.

As soon as I wake up I pay homage to the Buddha, and I try to prepare my mind to be more altruistic, more compassionate, during the day to come so I can be of benefit to beings. Then I do physical exercise - I walk on a treadmill.

Our most valuable teachers are our enemies. While our friends can help us in many ways, only our enemies can provide us with the challenge we need to develop tolerance, patience, and compassion—three virtues essential for building character, developing peace of mind, and bringing us true happiness.

If the mind is dominated by hatred, the best part of the brain, which is used to judge right and wrong, does not function properly.

After I handed over all my authority, I feel now our struggle [for Tibet] has become much, much safer. And me personally, the day I officially handed over, that night, a very unusual sound. I am quite free now.

I am just one human being.

The only way to fail is to quit.

Peace and the survival of life on earth as we know it are threatened by human activities which lack a commitment to humanitarian values. Destruction of nature and nature's resources result from ignorance, greed and lack of respect for the earth's living things.

An affectionate disposition not only makes the mind more peaceful and calm, but it affects our body in a positive way too.

I just want to live as a simple Buddhist monk, but during the last thirty years I have made many friends around the world and I want to have close contact with these people. I want to contribute to harmony and peace of mind, for less conflict. Wherever the possibility is, I'm ready. This is my life's goal.

If we human beings rely only on material development, we can’t be sure of a positive outcome. Employing technology motivated by anger and hatred is likely to be destructive. It will only be beneficial if we seek the welfare of all beings. Human beings are the only species with the potential to destroy the world. Because of the risks of unrestrained desire and greed we need to cultivate contentment and simplicity.

Your own pain is involuntary; you feel overwhelmed and have no control. When feeling the pain of others, there is an element of discomfort, but there also is a level of stability because you are voluntarily accepting pain. It gives you a sense of confidence.

If each of us can learn to relate to each other more out of compassion, with a sense of connection to each other and a deep recognition of our common humanity, and more important, to teach this to our children, I believe that this can go a long way in reducing many of the conflicts and problems that we see today.

As free human beings we can use our unique intelligence to try to understand ourselves and our world. But if we are prevented from using our creative potential, we are deprived of one of the basic characteristics of a human being.

From a Buddhist point of view, the actual experience of death is very important. Although how or where we will be reborn is generally dependent on karmic forces, our state of mind at the time of death can influence the quality of our next rebirth. So at the moment of death, in spite of the great variety of karmas we have accumulated, if we make a special effort to generate a virtuous state of mind, we may strengthen and activate a virtuous karma, and so bring about a happy rebirth.

Developing love and compassion and reducing anger and spite is a universal activity which requires no faith in any religion whatsoever.

An enemy is indeed a precious teacher.

Through awareness, you get a certain attitude. That's the way, you see, to achieve more peaceful, more compassion, more friendship through that way.

Our enemies are our greatest teachers.