Dalai Lama Quotes About Consciousness

• A new way of thinking has become the necessary condition for responsible living and acting. If we maintain obsolete values and beliefs, a fragmented consciousness and self-centered spirit, we will continue to hold onto outdated goals and behaviors.

  Dalai Lama

  Thinking, Self, Goal

• Unless we possess high spiritual qualifications, there is no doubt that the events life throws upon us will give rise to frustration, emotional turmoil, and other distorted states of consciousness. These imperfect states of mind in turn give rise to imperfect activities, and the seeds of suffering are ever planted in a steady flow.

  Dalai Lama

  Spiritual, Frustration, Emotional

  Dalai Lama (1994). “The Path to Enlightenment”, p.129, Shambhala

• Samsara - our conditioned existence in the perpetual cycle of habitual tendencies and nirvana - genuine freedom from such an existence- are nothing but different manifestations of a basic continuum. So this continuity of consciousness us always present. This is the meaning of tantra.

  Dalai Lama

  Buddhist, Different, Consciousness

  "Dzogchen: Heart Essence of the Great Perfection" by Dalai Lama, Snow Lion Publications, 2004.

• Now you are on the Buddhist way. Keep up your meditation, as there is no instant illumination. The mind moves slowly into this. Do not become attached to your method. When, in the course of your meditation, your consciousness will have expanded and been transformed, you will then recognize that all the ways are valid ways.

  Dalai Lama

  Buddhist, Moving, Illumination

• Although you can find certain differences among the Buddhist philosophical schools about how the universe came into being, the basic common question addressed is how the two fundamental principles-external matter and internal mind or consciousness-although distinct, affect one another. External causes and conditions are responsible for certain of our experiences of happiness and suffering. Yet we find that it is principally our own feelings, our thoughts and our emotions, that really determine whether we are going to suffer or be happy.

  Dalai Lama

  Happiness, Buddhist, Philosophical

  Dalai Lama (2004). “Dzogchen: The Heart Essence of the Great Perfection”, Snow Lion Publication

• Consciousness will always be present, though a particular
  consciousness may cease. For example, the particular tactile
  consciousness that is present within this human body will cease when
  the body comes to an end. Likewise, consciousnesses that are
  influenced by ignorance, by anger or by attachment, these too will
  cease. But the basic, ultimate, innermost subtle consciousness will
  always remain. It has no beginning, and it will have not end.

  Dalai Lama

  Ignorance, Attachment, Body

• Scientists may study mainly matter but they cannot ignore the human mind, or consciousness: spiritual practitioners may be engaging mainly in developing the mind but they cannot completely ignore their physical needs. It is for this reason that I have always stressed the importance of combining both mental and the material approach to achieving happiness for humankind.

  Dalai Lama

  Spiritual, Mind, Stressed

  Dalai Lama, Herbert Benson, Robert Thurman, Howard Gardner, Daniel Goleman (2012). “MindScience: An East-West Dialogue”, p.9, Simon and Schuster

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