The current Dalai Lama, who is known as Tenzin Gyatso, was born on July 6th, 1935.

He has written many successful books and was awarded the Nobel peace Prize in 1989.

Dalai Lama is a formal title given to the recent spiritual leaders of Tibet.

They are considered part of the Gelug or ‘Yellow Hat’ school of Tibetan Buddhism.

Quotes from the 14th Dalai Lama

“The very purpose of our life is happiness, which is sustained by hope. We have no guarantee about the future, but we exist in the hope of something better. Hope means keeping going, thinking, ‘I can do this.’ It brings inner strength, self-confidence, the ability to do what you do honestly, truthfully and transparently.” – The Dalai Lama on Facebook

When I meet people in different parts of the world, I am always reminded that we are all basically alike: we are all human beings. Maybe we have different clothes, our skin is of a different color, or we speak different languages. That is on the surface. But basically, we are the same human beings. That is what binds us to each other. That is what makes it possible for us to understand each other and to develop friendship and closeness. – Nobel Peace Prize Lecture

On the other hand, if you possess this inner quality, a calmness of mind, a degree of stability within, then even if you lack various external facilities that you would normally consider necessary for happiness, it is still possible to live a happy and joyful life.” – The Art of Happiness: A Handbook For Living

My true religion is Kindness. – Kindness, Clarity, and Insight (1984)

Religion does not mean just precepts, a temple, monastery, or other external signs, for these as well as hearing and thinking are subsidiary factors in taming the mind. When the mind becomes the practices, one is a practitioner of religion, and when the mind does not become the practices one is not. – Deity Yoga (1987)

Compassion and tolerance are not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength. – Words Of Wisdom: Selected Quotes by His Holiness the Dalai Lama (2001)

Great wealth can only be obtained through deception and corruption. – 37 Practices of the Bodhisattva, teaching at Bodhgaya (January 1974)

The featured image at the beginning of this post is from *christopher* of Wikimedia.