Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Quotes & Sayings

All objects whether pleasant, unpleasant or neutral, are mere appearances to the mind just like things experienced in a dream — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

No matter how many possessions we acquire, they will not provide us with any lasting happiness and freedom. On the contrary, it is often our pursuit of material possessions that causes our problems. If we want ultimate happiness and freedom from suffering, we must engage in the supreme practices of training the mind. There is no other way. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Nothing can be accomplished just by reading words.
A sick man will never be cured of his illness through merely reading medical instructions! — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

When a jealous person sees signs of other people's success and good fortune, his heart is pierced with envy. But someone who has learned to rejoice in the good fortune of others experiences only happiness. Seeing another person's beautiful house or attractive partner immediately makes him happy - the fact that they are not his own is irrelevant. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Painful things do not come to us from outside, but arise from within our own mind. Circumstances or other people have no power to make us feel bad; the most they can do is trigger the potentials for painful feelings that already exist within our own mind. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Whenever anyone, Buddhist or not, sees a Temple or an image of Buddha they receive blessings. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Love is the great protector, protecting us from anger and jealousy. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

One of the most common ways of not acknowledging our faults is to blame others. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Practicing Dharma is the supreme method for improving the quality of our human life. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Being patient means to welcome wholeheartedly whatever arises, — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Whenever we see anyone in a high or low position, male or female, they differ only in appearance, dress, behavior, and status. In essence they are all equal
they all experience problems in their lives. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Patience is a mind that is able to accept fully and happily, whatever occurs. It is much more than just gritting our teeth and putting up with things. Being patient means to welcome wholeheartedly whatever arises, having given up the idea that things should be other than what they are. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

We know that we are happy when our mind is peaceful, and unhappy when it is not. It is therefore clear that our happiness depends upon our having a peaceful mind and not on good external conditions. Even if our external conditions are poor, if we maintain a peaceful mind all the time we shall always be happy. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Today we can see many different forms of Buddhism, such as Zen and Theravada Buddhism. All these different aspects are practices of Buddha's teachings, and all are equally precious; they are just different presentations. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

A Temple is one of the best ways of benefiting other living beings - it is the best form of public service. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

When we learn to accept difficult circumstances patiently, the real problem disappears. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

If we want to cook food we need to leave the stove on continuously and not keep turning it on and off. If the heat is continuous, no matter whether it is high or low our food will eventually be cooked. Similarly, if we continuously apply effort, even if it is only a small effort, it is certain that we shall eventually experience the fruits of our practice. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

We all wish for world peace, but world peace will never be achieved unless we first establish peace within our own minds. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Learning to cherish others is the best solution to our daily problems, and it is the source of all our future happiness and good fortune. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Whenever we strive to make progress in our meditations, contemplations and so forth we are practicing effort. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

We need others for our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Without others we are nothing. Our sense that we are an island, an independent, self-sufficient individual, bears no relation to reality. It is closer to the truth to picture ourself as a cell in the vast body of life, distinct yet intimately bound up with all living beings. We cannot exist without others, and they in turn are affected by everything we do. The idea that it is possible to secure our own welfare while neglecting the welfare of others, or even at the expense of others, is completely unrealistic. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Our mental attitude transforms a situation into either a problem or an opportunity. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

By meditating on affectionate love and wishing love for just one moment we accumulate greater merit than we would by giving food three times every day to all those who are hungry in the world. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Compassion is a Shepherd, Always tending his herd. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Developing compassion and wisdom and helping those in need is the true meaning of life. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Love is the real nuclear bomb that destroys all our enemies, because when we love all living beings, we have no enemies. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Patience is a strength, not a weakness; and if by practicing patience we stop retaliating to harm and criticism, people will gradually come to understand that our real nature is very special — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

We are all interconnected in a web of kindness from which it is impossible to separate ourself. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

The great Tibetan meditator Gungtang Jampelyang once asked
'What is the difference between a wise man and a fool?'
The difference lies in their intention. A wise person is someone who has a good intention, not someone who merely possesses knowledge. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Right now we have obtained a human rebirth and have the opportunity to attain enlightenment through Dharma practice, so if we waste this precious opportunity in meaningless activities there is no greater loss and no greater foolishness. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Going for refuge to Buddha,Dharma, and Sangha means that we apply effort to receiving Buddha's blessings, to putting Dharma into practice, and to receiving help from Sangha. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

The solution to all the problems of daily life is to cherish others. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

We do not need to become unhappy just because things don't go our way. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Our mind is like a field, and performing actions is like sowing seeds in that field. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Pride is a mental factor causing us to feel higher or superior to others. Even our study of dharma can be the occasion for the delusion of pride to arise if we think our understanding is superior to that of everyone else. Pride is harmful because it prevents us from accepting fresh knowledge from a qualified teacher. Just as a pool of water cannot collect on the tip of a mountain, so too a reservoir of understanding cannot be established in a mind falsely elevated by pride. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Happiness is a state of mind, so the real source of happiness must lie within the mind, not in external conditions. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Happiness and suffering are states of mind, and so their main causes cannot be found outside the mind. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

When the turbulence of distracting thoughts subside and our mind becomes still, a deep happiness and contentment naturally arises from within. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Since inner peace is the source of all happiness, we can see how important meditation is. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

There is no greater method for experiencing peace of mind and happiness than to understand and meditate on Emptiness. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

When a fully qualified Mahayana disciple relies completely upon a fully qualified Mahayana Spiritual Guide the attainment of enlightenment is easy. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

When we understand clearly that inner peace is the real source of happiness, and how, through spiritual practice, we can experience progressively deeper levels of inner peace, we will develop tremendous enthusiasm to practice — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

In reality, our mind is the creator of all the things we experience. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Everything we now enjoy has been provided through the kindness of other beings, past or present. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Faith is like pure eyes that enable us to see a pure and perfect world beyond the suffering world of samsara. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

The more we want certain situations, the more we find ourself stuck in situations we do not want. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

We underestimate the value of patience. It is possible that people might sometimes interrupt our meditation sessions or Dharma study, but they can never take away our opportunity to train in inner virtues such as patience. It is this mental training, rather than outer virtuous activities, that is the essence of Dharma practice. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

We need modern ideas, but we also need ancient wisdom. If we deny ancient wisdom we are making a big mistake. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

If everyone sincerely practices the path of compassion and wisdom, all their problems will be solved. I guarantee this. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

As Shantideva says, suffering has many good qualities because it purifies our negative karma, increases our renunciation and compassion, reduces our pride, and helps us to overcome our bad mental habits. If we think in this way we will feel that difficult circumstances are our best friends. When our mind is balanced in this way it becomes as stable as Mount Meru, and nothing can cause it to shake. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

When we look at external things, we can usually distinguish those that are useful and valuable from those that are not. We must learn to look at our mind in the same way. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Pure happiness can only be attained through developing our mind. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Enlightenment is the inner light of wisdom that is permanently free from all mistaken appearance, and whose function is to bestow mental peace upon each and every living being every day. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

The more we control our mind, the more our inner peace increases and the happier we become — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Patient acceptance is often considered a weak and passive response to problems that we do not have the power or courage to solve. In reality, however, being patient is far from being passive. There is nothing strong or courageous in reacting to hardship or insults with anger - all we are doing is being defeated by our delusions. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Listening is a lamp that dispels the darkness of ignorance. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

If everyone practiced cherishing others, many of the major problems of the world would be solved in a few years. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Anger is one of the most common and destructive delusions, and it afflicts our mind almost every day. To solve the problem of anger, we first need to recognize the anger within our mind, acknowledge how it harms both ourself and others, and appreciate the benefits of being patient in the face of difficulties. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Since the real purpose of meditation is to increase our capacity to help others, taking time each day to meditate is not selfish. We have to manage our time and energy in such a way that we can be of maximum benefit to others, and to do this we need time alone to recover our strength, collect our thoughts, and see things in perspective — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Many people are very intelligent in accomplishing worldly attainments. This intelligence is not wisdom because worldly attainments such as a high position, reputation, wealth and success in business are deceptive. If we die tomorrow they will disappear tomorrow, and nothing will be left for our future. Wisdom, however, will never deceive us. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Our world does not exist from its own side
like a dream world, it is a mere appearance to our mind. In dreams we can see and touch our dream world, but when we wake up we realize that it is simply a projection of our mind and had no existence outside our mind. In the same way, the world we see when we are awake is simply a projection of our mind and has no existence outside our mind. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

We should realize that our deadliest enemies are anger and other delusions. Since these delusions are deeply ingrained mental habits, working to overcome them is not always easy. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Buddha's teachings are scientific methods to solve the problems of all living beings permanently. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Whenever we practise meditation, whether or not our meditation is clear, we are performing a virtuous mental action that is a cause of our future happiness and peace of mind. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Everything we have and everything we enjoy, including our very life, is due to the kindness of others. In fact, every happiness there is in the world arises as a result of others' kindness. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

I have not met one living being that has not been the mother of all the rest. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Without improving our mind there is no way to solve our human problems. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

In general, 'Buddha' means 'Awakened One', someone who has awakened from the sleep of ignorance and sees things as they really are. A Buddha is a person who is completely free from all faults and mental obstructions. There are many people who have become Buddhas in the past, and many people will become Buddhas in the future. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

All the happiness there is in the world arises from wishing others to be happy. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

When we want a cup of tea our main wish is to drink tea, but to fulfill this wish we naturally develop the secondary wish to find a cup. In a similar way, the main wish of those who have great compassion is to protect all living beings from their suffering, but to fulfill this wish they know they must first attain Buddhahood themselves and so they naturally develop the secondary wish to attain enlightenment. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

When things go wrong in our life and we encounter difficult situations, we tend to regard the situation itself as our problem, but in reality whatever problems we experience come from the side of the mind. If we were to respond to difficult situations with a positive or peaceful mind they would not be problems for us; indeed, we may even come to regard them as challenges or opportunities for growth and development. Problems arise only if we respond to difficulties with a negative state of mind. Therefore, if we want to be free from problems, we must transform our mind. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

It is through our anger and hatred that we transform people into enemies. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

We need to keep a constant watch over our mind and learn to distinguish between the beneficial and harmful thoughts that are arising moment by moment. Those who are able to do this are truly wise. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

In recent years our knowledge of modern technology has increased considerably, and as a result we have witnessed remarkable material progress, but there has not been a corresponding increase in human happiness. There is no less suffering in the world today, and there are no fewer problems. Indeed, it might be said that there are now more problems and greater dangers than ever before. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Just as eagles soar through the vast expanse of the sky without meeting any obstructions, needing only minimal effort to maintain their flight, so advanced meditators concentrating on emptiness can meditate on emptiness for a long time with little effort. Their minds soar through space-like emptiness, undistracted by any other phenomenon. When we meditate on emptiness we should try to emulate these meditators. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

If we transform our ordinary mind into love and compassion we will naturally act in a positive way. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Just as full sunlight completely dispels all darkness but even a few rays provide a measure of light, so, if we complete the practice of training the mind, we will totally dispel the darkness of our ignorance, but if we engage in only some parts of the practice, this will still help to reduce our ignorance and self-cherishing . — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

A practice that is suitable for one person is not necessarily suitable for someone else, and a practice that is appropriate for one person at one time is not necessarily appropriate for that same person at another time. Buddha did not expect us to put all his teachings into practice right away
they are intended for a great variety of practitioners of different levels and dispositions. — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso