Quotes from the 'Dalai Lama'

Remember that not always getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.


It is positive to want to go first, provided the intention is to pave the way for others, make their path more easy, help them, or show the way. Competition is negative when we wish to defeat others, to bring them down in order to lift ourselves up.


If you wish to experience peace, provide peace for another. If you wish to know that you are safe, cause another to know that they are safe. If you wish to better understand seemingly incomprehensible things, help another to better understand. If you wish to heal your own sadness or anger, seek to heal the sadness or anger of another.


Right from the moment of our birth, we are under the care and kindness of our parents, and then later on in our life when we are oppressed by sickness and become old, we are again dependent on the kindness of others. Since at the beginning and end of our lives we are so dependent on other's kindness, how can it be in the middle that we would neglect kindness towards others?


Great love and great achievements involve great risks


The deep root of failure in our lives is to think, 'Oh how useless and powerless I am.' It is essential to think strongly and forcefully, 'I can do it,' without boasting or fretting.



Old friends pass away, new friends appear. It is just like the days. An old day passes, a new day arrives. The important thing is to make it meaningful: a meaningful friend or a meaningful day


It is time to fill the world with strong and powerful deeds. It is common knowledge that no great captain in the world has ever destroyed all of his enemies and lived with a sense of satisfaction. If one enemy is killed, two more will appear. It is important we cultivate love and compassion to all the sentient beings which is the way to bring peace to all.


There is no need for temples, no need for complicated philosophies. My brain and my heart are my temples; my philosophy is kindness.


We can let the circumstances of our lives harden us
so that we become increasingly resentful and afraid,
or we can let them soften us, and make us kinder.
We always have the choice.


We don't need more money, we don't need greater success or fame, we don't need the perfect body or even the perfect mate. Right now, at this very moment, we have a mind, which is all the basic equipment we need to achieve complete happiness.



Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them.

The Elie Wiesel Foundation For Humanity

Elie Wiesel and his wife, Marion, established The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity soon after he was awarded the 1986 Nobel Prize for Peace. The Foundation's mission, rooted in the memory of the Holocaust, is to combat indifference, intolerance and injustice through international dialogue and youth-focused programs that promote acceptance, understanding and equality.

The Foundation runs multiple programs both domestically and internationally.

In the U.S., the Foundation organizes The Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest for college juniors and seniors and bestows The Elie Wiesel Humanitarian Award to a deserving individual.

Outside the U.S., the Foundation organizes a regular calendar of international conferences for youth in conflict-ridden countries and gatherings of Nobel Laureates.

The Foundation also runs Beit Tzipora Centers for Study & Enrichment in Israel that give Ethiopian Jewish children the opportunity to overcome early educational inequality and participate fully in Israeli society. Named in memory of Elie Wiesel's younger sister, who died in Auschwitz, the Foundation currently runs two centers, one in Ashkelon and one in Kiryat Malachi, which enroll more than 1,000 youth. The goal of these programs is to provide Ethiopian immigrants with desperately needed academic tutoring, pre-vocational training, and social and emotional support.


THE ELIE WIESEL FOUNDATION FOR HUMANITY

Quotes from The Buddha

The Buddha (Gautama Siddhartha)
 "Buddha" means "the awakened one"--that is, someone who has woken up from the dream of being a separate ego in a material universe. Gautama Siddhartha, whom we affectionately, [mistakenly], call the Buddha, taught for forty-five years. In all those years, and in the hundreds of thousands of teaching words that he uttered, his message was simply this: "You are all Buddhas. There is nothing you need to achieve. Just open your eyes."

Those who experience the unity of life see their own
Selves in all beings, and all beings in their own Selves,
and look on everything with an impartial eye.


However many holy words you read, However many you speak,
What good will they do you
If you do not act on upon them?


I do not believe in a fate that falls on people however they act;
but I do believe in a fate that falls on them unless they act.

All that we are is the result of what we have thought. If one speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows that person. If one speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows that person, like a shadow that never leaves him or her. A man walking along a highroad sees a great river, its near bank dangerous and frightening, its far bank safe.  He collects sticks and foliage, makes a raft, paddles across the river, and reaches the other shore.  Now suppose that, after he reaches the other shore, he takes the raft and puts it on his head and walks with it on his head wherever he goes.  Would he be using the raft in an appropriate way?  No; a reasonable man will realize that the raft has been very useful to him in crossing the river and arriving safely on the other shore, but that once he has arrived, it is proper to leave the raft behind and walk on without it.  This is using the raft appropriately.    In the same way, all truths should be used to cross over; they should not be held on to once you have arrived.  You should let go of even the most profound insight or the most wholesome teaching; all the more so, unwholesome teachings. Be a lamp to yourself.  Be your own confidence.   Hold to the truth within yourself, as to the only truth. We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world. Believe nothing, O monks, merely because you have been told it . . . or because it is traditional, or because you yourself have imagined it. Do not believe what your teacher tells you merely out of respect for the teacher. But whatsoever, after due examination and analysis, you find to be conducive to the good, the benefit, the welfare of all beings--that doctrine believe and cling to, and take it as your guide. Happy are they who have overcome their ego; happy are they who have attained peace; happy are they who have found the Truth. Let a person overcome anger by kindness, evil by good. . . . Victory breeds hatred, for the conquered is unhappy. . . Never in the world does hatred cease by hatred; hatred ceases by love. The fault of others is easily perceived, but that of one's self is difficult to perceive; a man winnows his neighbor's faults like chaff, but his own fault he hides, as a cheat hides an unlucky cast of the die. Anger will never disappear so long as thoughts of resentment are cherished in the mind. Anger will disappear just as soon as thoughts of resentment are forgotten. You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and affection. In the sky, there is no distinction of east and west; people create distinctions out of their own minds and then believe them to be true. Teach this triple truth to all:  A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity. There is nothing more dreadful than the habit of doubt. Doubt separates people.  It is a poison that disintegrates friendships and breaks up pleasant relations. It is a thorn that irritates and hurts; it is a sword that kills. Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared. Once a person is caught by belief in a doctrine, one loses all one's freedom. When one becomes dogmatic, that person believes his or her doctrine is the only truth and that all other doctrines are heresy.  Disputes and conflicts all arise from narrow views. They can extend endlessly, wasting precious time and sometimes even leading to war. Attachment to views is the greatest impediment to the spiritual path. Bound to narrow views, one becomes so entangled that it is no longer possible to let the door of truth open. Everything is extraordinarily clear.  I see the whole landscape before me, I see my hands, my feet, my toes, and I smell the rich river mud.  I feel a sense of tremendous strangeness and wonder at being alive.  Wonder of wonders. As you walk and eat and travel, be where you are. Otherwise you will miss most of your life.

Dealing With a Difficult Relationship

There are very few kinds of pain that are greater than the perceived damage to a cherished relationship. Whether you find yourself in the midst of a troubled love relationship with partner or spouse, a difficult friendship or a stressful phase with a beloved family member, one thing is for sure: the pain is real, sometimes indescribable and often immobilizing. On one end of the spectrum, you may feel a sense of regret and despair, on another righteous rage. You may feel all of these emotions as the days unfold, or you might feel them interchangeably within a single moment. These emotions are natural, and though they are as unique as your fingerprint, they are also universal to the human condition. According to the Cayce philosophy, all experiences, even the most difficult ones are opportunities for you to grow on a soul level. Such growth is not limited to a single lifetime, but many lifetimes, as Cayce’s paradigm of the soul hinged upon the concept of reincarnation. Any relationship has, in all likelihood, existed in some other incarnation. Lovers in this life might well have been friends in another, and perhaps enemies in yet another. Although this is an elementary example of reincarnation, it clearly paints the picture of the complexity of whatever situation you find yourself in. There truly are many layers to a relationship, karmic in nature, that are exerting an influence on you in the here and now. The central questions you should ask yourself are: How can I find peace within myself during this stressful time? How can I look within my own soul and forgive myself of any transgressions I feel that I have made? How can I honor in my heart the love I have felt for this person, recognizing it as a gift I extended freely and without condition? How can I grow in love and understanding of my loved one, even through this stressful time?

When we expand our thinking and beliefs our love flows freely. When we contract we shut ourselves off. Can you remember the last time when you were in love? Your heart went ahhh!! It was such a wonderful feeling. It is the same with loving yourself except that you will never leave once you have your love for yourself.Its with you for the rest of your life, so you want to make it the best relationship that you can have.

When we expand our thinking and beliefs our love flows freely. When we contract we shut ourselves off. Can you remember the last time when you were in love? Your heart went ahhh!! It was such a wonderful feeling. It is the same with loving yourself except that you will never leave once you have your love for yourself.Its with you for the rest of your life, so you want to make it the best relationship that you can have.

Friendships: Enrich your life and improve your health

Friendships can have a major impact on your health and well-being, but it's not always easy to build or maintain friendships. Understand the importance of friendships in your life and what you can do to develop and nurture friendships. What are the benefits of friendships? Good friends are good for your health. Friends can help you celebrate good times and provide support during bad times. Friends prevent loneliness and give you a chance to offer needed companionship, too. Friends can also: Increase your sense of belonging and purpose Boost your happiness Reduce stress Improve your self-worth Help you cope with traumas, such as divorce, serious illness, job loss or the death of a loved one Encourage you to change or avoid unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as excessive drinking or lack of exercise Why is it sometimes hard to make friends or maintain friendships? Many adults find it hard to develop new friendships or keep up existing friendships. Friendships may take a back seat to other priorities, such as work or caring for children or aging parents. You and your friends may have grown apart due to changes in your lives or interests. Or maybe you've moved to a new community and haven't yet found a way to meet people. Developing and maintaining good friendships takes effort. The enjoyment and comfort friendship can provide, however, makes the investment worthwhile. What's a healthy number of friends? There's no need to aim for a specific number of friends. Some people benefit from a large and diverse network of friends, while others prefer a smaller circle of friends and acquaintances. There are also different types of friendship. You may have a few close friends you turn to for deeply personal conversations, and more casual friends with whom you see movies, play basketball or share backyard cookouts. Consider what works for you. Overall, the quality of your relationships is more important than the specific number of friends you have. What are some ways to meet new people? You can take steps to meet people and develop friendships. For example: Take your child — or pet — for a walk. Chat with neighbors who are also out and about or head to a popular park and strike up conversations there. Work out. Take a class at a local gym, senior center or community fitness facility. Start a lunchtime walking group at work. Do lunch. Invite an acquaintance to join you for coffee or a meal. Accept invites. When you're invited to a social gathering, say yes. Contact someone who recently invited you to an activity and return the favor. Volunteer. Offer your time or talents at a hospital, place of worship, museum, community center, charitable group or other organization. You can form strong connections when you work with people who have mutual interests. Attend community events. Get together with a group of people working toward a goal you believe in, such as an election or the cleanup of a natural area. Find a group with similar interests in an activity, such as auto racing, gardening, reading or making crafts. Go to school. Take a college or community education course to meet people who have similar interests. Join a faith community. Take advantage of special activities and get-to-know-you events for new members. Above all, stay positive. You may not become friends with everyone you meet, but maintaining a friendly attitude and demeanor can help you improve the relationships in your life and sow the seeds of friendship with new acquaintances. How does social media affect friendships? Joining a chat group or online community might help you make or maintain connections and relieve loneliness. However, research suggests that use of social networking sites doesn't necessarily translate to a larger offline network or closer offline relationships with network members. In addition, remember to exercise caution when sharing personal information or arranging an activity with someone you've only met online. How can I nurture my friendships? Developing and maintaining healthy friendships involves give-and-take. Sometimes you're the one giving support, and other times you're on the receiving end. Letting friends know you care about them and appreciate them can help strengthen your bond. It's as important for you to be a good friend as it is to surround yourself with good friends. To nurture your friendships: Go easy. Don't overwhelm friends with phone calls, texts, instant messages or emails. Respect your friends' boundaries. Don't compete. Don't let friendships turn into a battle over who makes the most money or who has the nicest home. Adopt a healthy, realistic self-image. Work on building your self-esteem by taking care of yourself — eat a healthy diet and include physical activity in your daily routine. Vanity and constant self-criticism can be turnoffs to potential friends. Avoid relentless complaining. Nonstop complaining can put a strain on your friendships. Talk to your friends about how you can change the parts of your life that make you unhappy. Adopt a positive outlook. Try to find the humor in things. Laughter is infectious and appealing. Listen up. Ask what's going on in your friends' lives. Avoid talking about your own problems all the time. Try to only give advice when your friends ask for it. Don't judge. Give your friends space to change, grow and make mistakes. Encourage your friends to freely express their emotions. Respect privacy. Keep confidential any personal information that your friends share with you. Try not to ask questions that make your friends uncomfortable. Remember, it's never too late to build new friendships or reconnect with old friends. Investing time in making friends and strengthening your friendships can pay off in better health and a brighter outlook for years to come. Thank you, Mayo Clinic

Begin Your Day with Gratitude

Many of the simple things in life can be reasons for being grateful. These are often things that we tend to take for granted--our health, family, friends, our livelihood--until they are brought to our attention or taken away. Remembering to be grateful daily for one's health, family, friends, a job during a recession, having a roof over one's head and food on the table is a good way to start living with gratitude. As each year ends and a new one begins we have the opportunity to stop and reflect on the current state of our lives and remember to be grateful. Each New Day can give us the chance to start anew and is an excellent time to start keeping a Gratitude Journal, as a written reminder of for all that you have to be grateful. Begin Your Day with Gratitude If you begin looking at each breath as a blessing, then suddenly everything in an ordinary life becomes a miracle-delighting in the colors of the setting sun, feeling the rain on your face or smelling the amazing fragrance of a single perfect rose. Expressing Affirmations of Gratitude Living Life with Gratitude An Affirmation is "a positive short statement that you repeat to yourself to help you work toward a goal in a positive frame of mind" or on that "has been specifically worded for the purpose of reprogramming the subconscious mind with positive and spiritual thoughts." You can get yourself to feel more grateful about life and to live with gratitude, by practicing some simple affirmations. Simple Affirmations of Gratitude Affirmations to Live Life with Gratitude This is a series of affirmations that you can use to live life with more gratitude. Upon rising think: Today I am grateful for... Perhaps the simplest of grateful affirmations: Life is good.

The task is to recognize that you are uniquely special, have something to give, some talent no one else shares in quite the same way. This gift needs to blossom so we can appreciate and enjoy the benefits of it and acknowledge you for it. You owe this to yourself and to all of us to honor your gifts, for only when you share your unique joy with the world does the entire world benefit. Every advance humankind has known has come because of someone's effort. Don't let shyness rob you and the world of the power and the passion that lies within you. No one can be all that you will be except you yourself. Follow your passion.

All things are subject to interpretation whichever interpretation prevails at a given time is a function of power and not truth.

“I keep the telephone of my mind open to peace, harmony, health, love, and abundance. Then, whenever doubt, anxiety, or fear try to call me, they will keep getting a busy signal-and soon they’ll forget my number.”

The fact that I can plant a seed and it becomes a flower, share a bit of knowledge and it becomes another's, smile at someone and receive a smile in return, are to me continual spiritual exercises.

Affirmations and Positive Thinking

Affirmations are small but key positive messages to the self. They are used as reminders, helping to keep positive messages at the forefront of our consciousness. Not only is it important to regularly think these affirmations, it is a great idea to leave them lying around the place, where you will occasionally notice them. Some are very powerfully reinforced by looking at yourself in the mirror as you speak them Affirmations are a very powerful tool in supporting positive thinking and are very effective in changing life patterns and perspectives. I have produced 2 Affirmation CDs Heal Your Life - Chants and Meditations Heartfelt - Affirmations to Release the Past The benefit of positive thinking is medically well established. Affirmations allow you to consciously harness the power of positive thinking and direct it to specific areas of your life that need attention or where you want to bring about change. The great news is that affirmations really work and can transform your life! Affirmations and positive thinking are very powerful tools that can bring about healing and change. But BEWARE, negative thoughts are just as powerful and can be very self-destructive. Whilst we have no real control over the world and certain aspects of our lives, we do have control over the way we interpret and react to it. If you suspect you may have a lot of negative thoughts running through your mind subconsciously then it is worth doing some clearing work whilst dropping new positive affirmations in, this can be done on a weekend workshop, with a practitioner or by using techniques such as non-dominant hand work and guided meditations. "The thoughts we think and the words we speak create our experiences" You experience your interpretation as an internal dialogue. Thoughts, judgements and feelings are ceaselessly swirling through your mind. Thoughts like: I like this; I don't like that; I am afraid of this; I am unsure about him/her. This internal dialogue is not random, it is generated from a deep level by your beliefs and assumptions which have been formed and accumulated from the time you were born. It is worth remembering that a lot of these assumptions and beliefs were formulated as a child and have never been re-examined and therefore may be highly inappropriate to you as an adult or just simply wrong. When someone's interpretation changes, a change subsequently takes place in their reality. Thus we can make big changes in our lives by changing our thinking. "When your interpretation changes, so does your reality" Making Changes in our Thinking Awareness - Firstly, it helps to become aware of your thoughts and meditation can help us in the process of getting back in touch with ourselves. Just stopping and taking a second to think about why we are reacting to something or someone can also help us to get back in touch with what is really going on inside. Alternatively, we can just accept that our thoughts, whilst probably helping us in the past, may not be serving us now and just choose to re-programme ourselves with positive thoughts that heal and nourish us. The process of doing the new affirmations will start to release the old negative messages whether or not we are aware what they are.