WONDERFUL QUOTATIONS - SO HELPFUL TO ALL OF US

This isn't an attempt at an original blog but it features some of the wonderful quotes and sayings from great masters that I very much want to share with you all - it doesn't matter if you are a Buddhist, Muslim, Christian, Jew, Hindu, Jain, Sikh, Shinto, Agnostic, Atheist, Existentialist... - what matters is that we are all human and we are all one people - I truly believe we have to stop thinking in religious, tribal and nationalistic terms - only then will be realise that none of these divisions mean anything whatsoever - Shia, Sunni, Druze, Alawite, Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, Coptic, Maronite, Sufi, Baptist, Quaker, Pentecostal, Bahai... the list of faiths, beliefs, indoctrinations whatever are endless - every human being has the right to believe in what they choose - but surely what they do not have the right to do is harm to anyone or anything living creature.

We are all connected - interconnected with one another - every meal we eat; every book or newspaper we read; every television or computer programme we look at; the medicines we take; the clothes we buy and wear; indeed everything we do in this life is interconnected with other people - we don't truly exist as an individual because we wouldn't be here or able to exist without the support system of this amazing planet we live on and the people, animals, plants, insects, microbes, atoms, quarks... on and on that make us whom we are - we quickly realise that we all one being or one family for want of a better analogy. 

Ultimately surely the only things that matter are COMPASSION, CARING, LOVE, KINDNESS - these lead to TRUE HAPPINESS

SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS, ANGER, HATRED, EGO, PRIDE, JEALOUSY, IGNORANCE, AVARICE, VIOLENCE - these can only lead to SUFFERING

Please read these simple but wonderfully peaceful and in my opinion, incredibly important comments and quotes - they affect all of us - no matter who we are - I hope you enjoy them and get some pleasure from these deep spiritual masters who only care for our happiness and peace:

"All God's creatures are his family; and he or she is the most beloved of God who tries to do most good to God's creatures." - Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of God be upon him)

From my own limited experience, I have found that the greatest inner tranquility comes from developing love and compassion. The more we care for the happiness of others, the greater our own sense of well-being. Cultivating a close, warm-hearted feeling for others automatically puts our mind at ease. It helps remove our own fears and insecurities and gives us strength to face obstacles - it is the ultimate source of success in life.

Dalai Lama

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another
Jesus Christ

Whether one is rich or poor, educated or illiterate, religious or non believing, man or woman, black, white, or brown, we are all the same. Physically, emotionally, and mentally, we are all equal. We all share basic needs for food, shelter, safety, and love. We all aspire to happiness and we all shun suffering. Each of us has hopes, worries, fears, and dreams. Each of us wants the best for our family and loved ones. We all experience pain when we suffer loss and joy when we achieve what we seek. On this fundamental level, religion, ethnicity, culture, and language make no difference.

Dalai Lama

The ultimate source of my mental happiness is my peace of mind. Nothing can destroy this except my own anger.

Dalai Lama

I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.
Martin Luther King Jr

An eye for an eye only makes the whole world blind
Mahatma Gandhi

Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies
Mother Teresa

Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier
Mother Teresa

The common enemy of all religious disciplines is selfishness of mind. For it is just this which causes ignorance, anger and passion, which are at the root of all the troubles of the world.

Dalai Lama

We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools
Martin Luther King Jr

All the world's major religions, with their emphasis on love, compassion, patience, tolerance, and forgiveness can and do promote inner values. But the reality of the world today is that grounding ethics in religion is no longer adequate. This is why I am increasingly convinced that the time has come to find a way of thinking about spirituality and ethics beyond religion altogether.

Dalai Lama

Once you know what has to be taken up and what has to be avoided, you must avoid even the minutest negative action. If you find you have committed a negative action physically, verbally, or mentally, you must acknowledge it immediately, confess, and repair the downfall. And if you see that you have done something positive, make a prayer ‘May I do even more, may I increase in virtue’.

Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

There is enough for everybody’s needs, but not for everybody’s greed.

Mahatma Gandhi

The practices of loving kindness and compassion are incredibly relevant for everyone. Moreover, training in these qualities provides a common bridge between all different religions and areas of our world society. No matter whether we are people who teach a spiritual path or someone else, everybody can practice love and compassion, but it is important that we do so in an impartial way.

17th Karmapa

Within the body there are billions of different particles. Similarly, there are many different thoughts and a variety of states of mind. It is wise to take a close look into the world of your mind and to make the distinction between beneficial and harmful states of mind. Once you can recognize the value of good states of mind, you can increase or foster them.

Dalai Lama

True peace cannot be achieved by force or by merely invoking the word “peace.” It can only be attained by training the mind and learning to cultivate inner peace. Peace is a calm and gentle state of mind.

17th Karmapa

We need to pay greater attention to inner values. Of course we need material development, but we need to understand that by itself it doesn’t bring peace of mind. This can only be developed within the mind.

Dalai Lama

Whether you believe in God or not maybe does not matter so much, whether you believe in Buddha or not does not matter so much; as a Buddhist, whether you believe in reincarnation or not does not matter so much. What does matter is that you must lead a good life. And a good life does not mean just good food, good clothes, good shelter. These are not sufficient. 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 rights and human dignity.

Dalai Lama


Let us always meet each other with a smile, for a smile is the beginning of love
Mother Teresa

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.

Dalai Lama

The greatest of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated

Mahatma Gandhi

We should examine how destructive emotions harm us and others, cause discord in families and in society at large and even bring us physical health problems. Whether you are a national leader or a beggar on the street, destructive emotions disturb your peace of mind.

Dalai Lama

You will fall sick, experience pain, and encounter many adverse circumstances. At such times do not think, ‘Although I am practicing the Dharma, I have nothing but trouble. The Dharma cannot be so great. I have followed a teacher and done so much practice, and yet hard times still befall me.’ Such thoughts are wrong views. You should realize that through the blessing and power of the practice, by experiencing sickness and other difficulties now, you are purifying and ridding yourself of negative actions…. By purifying them while you have the chance, you will later go from bliss to bliss. So do not think, ‘I don’t deserve this illness, these obstacles, these negative influences.’ Experience your difficulties as blessings…when you do experience such difficulties, you should be very happy and avoid having adverse thoughts like, ‘Why are such terrible things happening to me?’

Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

Instead of self-importance, put others in the center. Do this at the aspirational level first. It’s not that you need to commit yourself to do anything outside of your mind. But, first get the priorities right.

Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche

"Each one of us is responsible for all other living beings' happiness, besides our own. As a result, your loving kindness is the most wish-fulfilling thing in life, more precious than anything else in this world"
Lama Zopa Rinpoche