14th Dalai Lama

As human beings we are all the same

/ Debra

As human beings, we are all the same. We have this marvelous intelligence, which sometimes creates problems for us, but when influenced by warm-heartedness can be very constructive. In this context, we need to appreciate the value of having moral principles. ~ His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama

Who is our friend? Who is our enemy?

/ Debra

In meditation, imagine that in front of you are three persons—an enemy, a friend, and a neutral person. At that time, in our minds we have (1) a sense of closeness for one of them, thinking, “This is my friend”; (2) a sense of dislike even when imagining the enemy; and (3) a sense of ignoring the neutral person. Now, we have to think about the reasons why we generate these feelings—the reasons being that temporarily one of them helped us whereas the other temporarily harmed us, and the third did neither. However, when we think in terms of the long course of beginningless rebirth, none of us could decide that someone who has helped or harmed us in this life has been doing so for all lifetimes.

When you contemplate this way, eventually you arrive at a point where a strong generation of desire or hatred appears to you to be just senseless. Gradually, such a bias weakens, and you decide that one-sided classification of persons as friends and enemies has been a mistake. ~  His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama, The Dalai Lama at Harvard: Lectures on the Buddhist Path to Peace, page 166
page 166.

The Least We can Do

/ Debra
English: 14th Dalai Lama, Dharasmala, India

English: 14th Dalai Lama, Dharamsala, India (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

‎It is necessary to help others, not only in our prayers but in our daily lives. If we find we cannot help others, the least we can do is to desist from harming them.~  His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama

Like anyone else….

/ Debra

Like anyone else, I too have the potential for violence; I too have anger in me. However, I try to recall that anger is a destructive emotion. I remind myself that scientists now say that anger is bad for our health; it eats into our immune system. So, anger destroys our peace of mind and our physical health. We shouldn’t welcome it or think of it as natural or as a friend. ~ H.H. The 14th Dalai Lama

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Sincere motivation and concern

/ Debra
English: The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso in...

English: The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso in Antwerpen, Belgium 2006 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

‎”If you help others with sincere motivation and sincere concern, that will bring you more fortune, more friends, more smiles, and more success. If you forget about others’ rights and neglect others’ welfare, ultimately you will be very lonely.”– the XIV Dalai Lama

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