If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion. -His Holiness the Dalai Lama

I come from the East, most of you [here] are Westerners. If I look at you superficially, we are different, and if I put my emphasis on that level, we grow more distant. If I look on you as my own kind, as human beings like myself, with one nose, two eyes, and so forth, then automatically that distance is gone. We are the same human flesh. I want happiness; you also want happiness. From that mutual recognition, we can build respect and real trust of each other. From that can come cooperation and harmony.

-His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Some of my friends have told me that while love and compassion are marvelous
and good, they are not really very relevant. Our world, they say, is not a
place where such virtues have much influence or power. They claim that anger
and hatred are so much a part of human nature that humanity will always be
dominated by them. I do not agree.

We humans have existed in our present form for about a hundred thousand
years. I believe that if during this time the human mind had been primarily
controlled by anger and hatred, our population would have decreased. But
today, despite all our wars, we find that the human population is greater
than ever. This clearly indicates to me that while anger and aggression are
surely present, love and compassion predominate in the world. This is why
what we call "news" is composed of mostly unpleasant or tragic events;
compassionate activities are so much a part of daily life that they are
taken for granted and therefore are largely ignored.

...We are, after all, social animals. Without human friendship, without the
human smile, our lives become miserable. The loneliness becomes unbearable.
Such human interdependence is a natural law--that is to say, according to
natural law, we depend on others to live. If, under certain circumstances,
because something is wrong inside us, our attitude toward our fellow human
beings on whom we depend becomes hostile, how can we hope to attain peace of
mind or a happy life? According to basic human nature or natural law,
interdependence--giving and receiving affection--is the key to happiness.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama

The Eightfold Path
1. Right Views:
Means to keep ourselves free from prejudice, superstition and delusion... and to see aright the true nature of life.

2. Right Thoughts:
Means to turn away from the hypocrisies of this world and to direct our minds toward Truth and Positive Attitudes and Action.

3. Right Speech:
Means to refrain from pointless and harmful talk... to speak kindly and courteously to all.

4. Right Conduct:
Means to see that our deeds are peaceable, benevolent, compassionate and pure.

5. Right Livelihood:
Means to earn our living in such a way as to entail no evil consequences. To seek that employment to which can give our complete enthusiasm and devotion.

6. Right Effort:
Means to direct our efforts continually to the overcoming of ignorance and craving desires.

7. Right Mindfulness:
Means to cherish good and pure thoughts, for all that we say and do arises from our thoughts.

8. Right Meditation:
Means to concentrate on the Oneness of all life that exists within all beings.

May all beings have equanimity, free from attachment, aggression and prejudice
May they be happy and have the causes for happiness
May they be free from suffering and the causes for suffering
And may they never be separated from the happiness that is free from suffering

"A good motivation is what is needed: compassion without dogmatism, without complicated philosophy; just understanding that others are human brothers and sisters and respecting their human rights and dignities. That we humans can help each other is one of our unique human capacities."

-His Holiness the Dalai Lama

* * * * * * * * *

Never give up
No matter what is going on
Never give up
Develop the heart
Too much energy in your country is spent
Developing the mind instead of the heart.
Be compassionate not just to your friends but to everyone
Be compassionate.
Work for peace in your heart and in the world.
Work for peace and I say again
Never give up.
No matter what is happening,
No matter what is going on around you,
Never give up.

~His Holiness the Dalai Lama

* * * * * * * * *
As a Buddhist monk my concern extends to all members of the human family and, indeed, to all sentient beings who suffer. I believe all suffering is caused by ignorance. People inflict pain on others in the selfish pursuit of their own happiness or satisfaction.

-His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech, Oslo, December 1989

I come from the East, most of you [here] are Westerners. If I look at you superficially, we are different, and if I put my emphasis on that level, we grow more distant. If I look on you as my own kind, as human beings like myself, with one nose, two eyes, and so forth, then automatically that distance is gone. We are the same human flesh. I want happiness; you also want happiness. From that mutual recognition, we can build respect and real trust of each other. From that can come cooperation and harmony.
-His Holiness the Dalai Lama