INDIA: Tenzin Gyatso, the current Dalai Lama, turned 86 on Tuesday. Known as Gyalwa Rinpoche to the Tibetan people, the 14th Dalai Lama is the highest Spiritual leader of Tibet.
Dalai Lama’s birthday celebration is believed to be one of the biggest festivals among the Tibetan community. However, His Holiness’ birthday is commemorated globally as Dalai Lama has surpassed all barriers of religion and language, winning hearts worldwide.
The respected leader, called the ‘living God,’ has devoted his entire life to humanitarian and environmental causes and global peace. He promotes values like self-discipline, forgiveness, tolerance, compassion, and contentment.
History
The beloved spiritual leader of our generation was born on July 6, 1935, to a farming family, in a small settlement located in Taktser, in northeastern Tibet.
At the age of two, the present Dalai Lama was conceded as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso.
He has spent all his life in exile (in India), pushing for Tibet’s autonomy after fleeing the country following a failed uprising against the Chinese rule in 1959.
In 1989, he was felicitated with the Nobel Peace Prize for his non-violent campaign to end the Chinese domination of Tibet, his homeland.
Quotes
Here are some quotes and teachings by the spiritual leader himself that motivate us to be good human beings:
1- “Choose to be optimistic, it feels better.”
2- “Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.”
3- “If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.”
4- “There is a saying in Tibetan, ‘Tragedy should be utilized as a source of strength’. No matter what sort of difficulties, how painful experience is, if we lose our hope, that’s our real disaster.”
5- “My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.”
6- “The world doesn’t belong to leaders. The world belongs to all humanity.”
7- “All suffering is caused by ignorance. People inflict pain on others in the selfish pursuit of their own happiness or satisfaction.”
8- “World peace must develop from inner peace. Peace is not just the mere absence of violence. Peace is, I think, the manifestation of human compassion.”
9- “This is my simple religion. No need for temples. No need for complicated philosophy. Your own mind, your own heart is the temple. Your philosophy is simple kindness.”
10- “When we meet real tragedy in life, we can react in two ways–either by losing hope and falling into self-destructive habits, or by using the challenge to find our inner strength.”
