Quotes of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama

“In order to cultivate such a strong feeling as compassion, which possesses enormous spiritual value and beneficial effect, the contemplation of others’ suffering alone is not enough. It is important first to contemplate one’s own suffering and to cultivate the sense that this suffering is unbearable. By strengthening and deepening this sense, you will develop within yourself the ability to sympathize with the suffering of others as well. Usually, when we see beings experiencing acute pain, compassion naturally flares up in us. However, if we see a person who, from our point of view, is quite successful in worldly affairs — rich, influential, and surrounded by numerous friends — then instead of compassion we may feel envy. This testifies to the fact that we have not grasped deeply enough that suffering is inherent in the very nature of human existence. Therefore it is extremely important first to deeply realize that the nature of our own existence is suffering.”