Dalai Lama Quotes About Selfishness

• I believe all suffering is caused by ignorance. People inflict pain on others in the selfish pursuit of their happiness or satisfaction. Yet true happiness comes from a sense of inner peace and contentment, which in turn must be achieved through the cultivation of altruism, of love and compassion and elimination of ignorance, selfishness and greed.

  Dalai Lama

  Inspirational, Peace, Pain

  The 14th Dalai Lama's Acceptance Speech, on the occasion of the award of the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway, www.nobelprize.org. December 10, 1989.

• True happiness comes from having a sense of inner peace and contentment, which in turn must be achieved by cultivating altruism, love and compassion, and by eliminating anger, selfishness and greed.

  Dalai Lama

  Happy, Compassion, Greed

• I myself feel, and also tell other Buddhists that the question of Nirvana will come later.
  There is not much hurry.
  If in day to day life you lead a good life, honesty, with love,
  with compassion, with less selfishness,
  then automatically it will lead to Nirvana.

  Dalai Lama

  Buddhist, Good Life, Honesty

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

• By developing a sense of respect for others and a concern for their welfare, we reduce our own selfishness, which is the source of all problems, and enhance our sense of kindness, which is a natural source of goodness.

  Dalai Lama

  Kindness, Selfishness, Problem

  "Ahimsa : The Yoga of Non-Injury Will Set You Free" by Ed and Deb Shapiro, www.huffingtonpost.com. April 19, 2011.

• Along with selfishness, anger is one of the most serious problems facing the world today

  Dalai Lama

  Selfishness, World, Today

  His Holiness the Dalai Lama (2011). “How to Be Compassionate: A Handbook for Creating Inner Peace and a Happier World”, p.3, Simon and Schuster

• The simple recognition that everyone else wants to be happy and not to suffer, just as I do, serves as a constant reminder against selfishness and partiality. It reminds us there is little to be gained from being kind and generous while hoping to win something in return. Actions motivated by a desire to earn a good name for ourselves are still selfish, even if they appear to be acts of kindness.

  Dalai Lama

  Kindness, Selfish, Winning

• We are beset by problems and if we look for their source, we find they arise because of our selfishness, because we tend to pursue our own interests at the expense of others. Our various religious traditions exist to help us reduce these problems. They all teach ways to overcome suffering through cultivating love and compassion, tolerance, patience and contentment.

  Dalai Lama

  Religious, Compassion, Tolerance

• Certain beliefs must accompany every action: One should act without selfishness, cultivate compassion for all living things, and develop respect for others.

  Dalai Lama

  Compassion, Selfishness, Belief

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