Lobsang Tenzin Quotes

Powerful Lobsang Tenzin for Daily Growth

About Lobsang Tenzin

Lobsang Tenzin (b. 1964) is an eminent Tibetan author, scholar, and former political prisoner, known for his profound contributions to Tibetan literature and advocacy for the preservation of Tibetan culture and language. Born in Kardze County, Eastern Tibet, Tenzin lost his family at a young age during the Cultural Revolution and was forced into exile. In 1979, he reached Dharamsala, India, where he joined the Central Institute for Higher Tibetan Studies. Here, he developed a deep interest in literature, philosophy, and poetry. His first collection of poems, "Tashi Tsering," published in 1985, showcased his unique poetic voice and profound understanding of human emotions. Throughout the 1990s, Tenzin continued to write prolifically, producing works like "The Collected Works" (1992) and "My Homeland" (1998). His poetry is often imbued with longing for Tibet's freedom and a poignant exploration of the Tibetan experience in exile. In 1996, Tenzin was arrested and served an eight-year prison sentence in China for his political activism. During this period, he continued to write secretly, smuggling his works out of prison. His collection "Prison Letters" (2008) offers a gripping account of life as a political prisoner in Tibet. Post-release, Tenzin resumed his literary career with renewed vigor. He published "The Prism of Truth" (2011), a philosophical exploration on the nature of reality and truth. In 2019, he was awarded the Danish Book Prize for "In Exile," a powerful narrative about the Tibetan struggle for freedom and identity. Today, Lobsang Tenzin continues to write, advocate, and inspire. His works serve as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and offer insights into the complexities of the Tibetan experience.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible."

This quote by Lobsang Tenzin emphasizes the importance and accessibility of kindness in our daily lives. He suggests that displaying kindness should be a universal practice, as it can always be done no matter what circumstances one finds themselves in. Essentially, he encourages us to make compassionate actions an integral part of our interactions with others, fostering a more empathetic and harmonious society.


"The more you practice compassion, the fresher it becomes."

This quote by Lobsang Tenzin underscores the idea that the act of compassion is not a finite resource but one that grows stronger with use, much like a flower that blooms brighter with each watering. It suggests that just as we can cultivate skills or knowledge through practice, we can also develop our capacity for compassion and kindness towards others. The more we nurture this trait, the more vibrant and effective it becomes in our lives, creating a positive ripple effect on those around us and ultimately leading to a more harmonious and fulfilling existence.


"When we realize our oneness with all beings, compassion arises naturally and spontaneously."

This quote by Lobsang Tenzin suggests that recognizing our interconnectedness with all other beings leads to the emergence of compassion. When we understand that we are not separate entities but part of a larger whole, it becomes natural for empathy and kindness to manifest towards others, as their wellbeing directly impacts ours. This perspective fosters a more harmonious worldview and encourages altruistic behavior.


"Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions."

This quote suggests that true happiness is not a pre-existing condition, but rather an outcome of intentional, positive actions taken by an individual. In other words, we have the power to create our own happiness through the choices we make and the attitudes we cultivate. It underscores the importance of personal responsibility in pursuing and experiencing genuine happiness.


"A balanced mind brings happiness; an imbalanced mind brings suffering."

This quote emphasizes the connection between mental equilibrium and personal well-being. An emotionally stable, balanced mind is conducive to happiness because it allows us to perceive reality clearly, respond rationally, and maintain a positive outlook on life. On the other hand, an imbalanced mind (one that experiences excessive emotions like anger, fear, or sadness) can lead to suffering, as it distorts our perception of reality and negatively impacts our interactions and overall well-being. Mental balance, therefore, is crucial for achieving and maintaining personal happiness.


You need not search for the compassionate mind from outside. To know yourself, to know your nature, your mind will automatically be the compassionate one.

- Lobsang Tenzin

Mind, Know Yourself, Need, Automatically

Non-violence is the essence of the entire Buddha's teaching, and the practice of non-violence is the entire essence of the practice of Buddha dharma, Buddhist spirituality, in one's life.

- Lobsang Tenzin

Practice, Non-Violence, Dharma

Communication will bring understanding and understanding will cause harmonious mutual relationships which can establish peace and stability.

- Lobsang Tenzin

Relationships, Mutual, Which, Harmonious

A religion must be instrumental in spiritualising the individual into a boundless and holistic nature.

- Lobsang Tenzin

Individual, Boundless, Holistic

Every religion or every philosophy is an outcome of the human search for liberation.

- Lobsang Tenzin

Search, Philosophy, Every, Liberation

In the Buddhist learning process, we say three stages. The first is hearing, the second is contemplation, and the third is meditation.

- Lobsang Tenzin

Learning, Process, Say, Contemplation

People forget who they are; they always remain with an identity which is not the real self. It is just a projected self which does not exist, but they identify with this projected self appearance.

- Lobsang Tenzin

Always, Which, Identify, Real Self

Lack of understanding of interrelatedness has caused numerous divisions and conflicts that are the cause of many major challenges in the world such as war, violence, terrorism, economic disparity, and exploitation.

- Lobsang Tenzin

Challenges, Numerous, Caused, Exploitation

For the exploitation of human greed, they have devised comparison and competition. Right from childhood on, we are indoctrinated to compare and compete, and there is a word, a phrase: 'free and fair competition.'

- Lobsang Tenzin

Comparison, Compete, Compare, Exploitation

We can never protect the rights by only thinking about our rights. By performing the universal responsibility with a compassionate mind, you can protect your own right and that of others.

- Lobsang Tenzin

Mind, Own, Performing, Compassionate

Bodily discomfort and emotional fear and attachment make the dying uncomfortable and fearful. So, to help those dying people, I think modern medical science has a lot of facilities to reduce pain, or perhaps not to reduce pain, but not to experience pain.

- Lobsang Tenzin

Experience, Medical, I Think, Discomfort

Everyone needs an open mind and an accepting heart. With a combination of these two aspects, you will be able to communicate sensibly.

- Lobsang Tenzin

Mind, Communicate, Needs, Accepting

Training and education is one and the same: that is, to train the mind through a discipline in order to awake the inner intelligence of the individuals.

- Lobsang Tenzin

Education, Mind, Through, Train

If you are able to see the interrelatedness of mind and body, sensitivity towards your body becomes much sharper. Therefore, maintaining of good health also becomes easier.

- Lobsang Tenzin

Health, Mind, Sharper, Maintaining

The line of demarcation between history and legend is too thin to observe while writing; the two overlap each other unconsciously and unknowingly.

- Lobsang Tenzin

Legend, Other, Line, Overlap

Faith and reason overpower each other throughout one's life, which results in contradiction, but the conflict never ceases in any sphere.

- Lobsang Tenzin

Reason, Other, Which, Sphere

To learn means by practice, by inquiring, by analyzing to find out what is, not what was.

- Lobsang Tenzin

Practice, Analyzing, Means, Inquiring

Because all the thought processes are limited, they are conditioned, and the thought does not touch directly with the reality, the truth; thoughts only grasps at the image of the truth.

- Lobsang Tenzin

Thoughts, Processes, Image, Conditioned

No one can avoid death; it is inevitable. Therefore, I should create in my mind a kind of willingness and accepting for that event without any fear.

- Lobsang Tenzin

Death, Mind, Inevitable, Accepting

To seek advice is easy, easy-approach job. To find the truth by yourself, that is a little difficult, and you have to work hard continuously, and you will find it.

- Lobsang Tenzin

Work Hard, Advice, Will, Continuously

A compassionate mind is very difficult to cultivate because compassion demands a sense of equality between all living beings.

- Lobsang Tenzin

Mind, Living, Very, Compassionate

I do not think any religion encourages intolerance. Intolerance is the biggest mental defilement, and every religion tries to remove this defilement. So we must understand that whenever there is intolerance, this comes from an irreligious mind. It is not created by religion, and it is not in the mind of the religious person.

- Lobsang Tenzin

Mental, Religious, Tries, Remove

We shall have to practise to lead our life on the basis of our needs, not under the influence of our greed.

- Lobsang Tenzin

Greed, Needs, Shall, Practise

For a person who is very much involved with the institution of religion but has lost the religious spirit, the 'religion' label is the real threat to liberty.

- Lobsang Tenzin

Spirit, Religious, Very, Institution

In ancient times, we were users; we used the commodities in accordance to our needs. Using is not sufficient for the modern market; it needs consumers. Consuming means consuming things much more than the natural need of humanity or of any living being.

- Lobsang Tenzin

Used, Commodities, Our, Sufficient

Dying peacefully means to avoid any immediate cause for anger, fear, or strong desire.

- Lobsang Tenzin

Strong, Desire, Means, Peacefully

Interreligious dialogue is extremely important for religious people as well as secular people or non-believers. They should participate, and they should be encouraged to have interreligious dialogue, because dialogue is a channel or an instrument to promote intimacy between individual.

- Lobsang Tenzin

Religious People, Promote

Today, education does not give you the wisdom and the understanding; it only indoctrinates you to believe something. So the mind knows very less but accepts so many things; it may be science, it may be technology, it may be anything.

- Lobsang Tenzin

Mind, Give, Very, Accepts

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