The Dalai Lama on Religion and Happiness

RELIGION

This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.

Everyone can develop a good heart and a sense of universal responsibility with or without religion.

I feel that the essence of spiritual practice is your attitude toward others. When you have a pure, sincere motivation, then you have right attitude toward others based on kindness, compassion, love and respect. Dharma practice brings the clear realisation of the oneness of all human beings and the importance of others benefiting by your actions.

Religion does not mean just precepts, a temple, monastery, or other external signs, for these are subsidiary factors in taming the mind. When the mind becomes the practices, one is a practitioner of religion.

HAPPINESS
Everyday, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it.

If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.

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.

Human happiness and human satisfaction must ultimately come from within oneself. It is wrong to expect some final satisfaction to come from money or from a computer.