This one-per-day collection provides a fresh, accessible introduction to the Dalai Lama's inspirational wisdom on happiness, loneliness, enlightenment, suffering and anger.

Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, is the spiritual and temporal leader of the Tibetan people. His tireless efforts on behalf of human rights and world peace have brought him international recognition. He is the recipient of the Wallenberg Award (conferred by the U.S. Congressional Human Rights Foundation), the Albert Schweitzer Award, and the Nobel Peace Prize.
Renuka Singh is an associate professor at the Jawaharlal Nehru University and is the director of Tushita Mahayana Meditation Centre, New Delhi. She compiled and edited The Path to Tranquility, by her spiritual teacher His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Acknowledgments

v

Foreword

ix

Editor's Note

xi

January

1

(34)

February

35

(32)

March

67

(34)

April

101

(32)

May

133

(34)

June

167

(32)

July

199

(34)

August

233

(34)

September

267

(32)

October

299

(34)

November

333

(32)

December

365

(34)

Index

399

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Chapter One

January

JANUARY 1

I love friends, I want more friends. I love smiles. That is a fact. How to develop smiles? There are a variety of smiles. Some smiles are sarcastic. Some smiles are artificial--diplomatic smiles. These smiles do not produce satisfaction, but rather fear or suspicion. But a genuine smile gives us hope, freshness.

If we want a genuine smile, then first we must produce the basis for a smile to come.

JANUARY 2

I f you have fear of some pain or suffering, you should examine whether there is anything you can do about it. If you can, there is no need to worry about it; if you cannot do anything, then also there is no need to worry.

JANUARY 3

T o be aware of a single shortcoming within oneself is more useful than to be aware of a thousand in somebody else. Rather than speaking badly about people and in ways that will produce friction and unrest in their lives, we should practice a purer perception of them, and when we speak of others, speak of their good qualities.

If you find yourself slandering anybody, first imagine that your mouth is filled with excrement. It will break you of the habit quickly enough.

JANUARY 4

I f you are mindful of death, it will not come as a surprise--you will not be anxious. You will feel that death is merely like changing your clothes. Consequently, at that point you will be able to maintain your calmness of mind.

JANUARY 5

T o foster inner awareness, introspection, and reasoning is more efficient than meditation and prayer.

JANUARY 6

R ight 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 others' kindness, how can it be that in the middle we neglect kindness toward others?

JANUARY 7

S cientific research and development should work together with meditative research and development since both are concerned with similar objects. The one proceeds through experiment by instruments and the other through inner experience and meditation.

A clear distinction should be made between what is not found by science and what is found to be nonexistent by science. What science finds to be nonexistent, we must accept as nonexistent; but what science merely does not find is a completely different matter.... It is quite clear that there are many, many mysterious things.

JANUARY 8

A ll of the different religious faiths, despite their philosophical differences, have a similar objective. Every religion emphasizes human improvement, love, respect for others, sharing other people's suffering. On these lines every religion has more or less the same viewpoint and the same goal.

JANUARY 9

P hysically you are a human being, but mentally you are incomplete. Given that we have this physical human form, we must safeguard our mental capacity for judgment. For that, we cannot take out insurance; the insurance company is within: self-discipline, self-awareness, and a clear realization of the disadvantages of anger and the positive effects of kindness.

JANUARY 10

I n the case of one individual or person like myself, the practice of compassion and religion coincides. But another individual, without religion, can practice spirituality without being religious. So, a secular person can be spiritual.

Compassion is compulsory for everyone to practice, and if I were a dictator I would dictate to everyone to do so.

JANUARY 11

I think religion, ideology, economy, and political systems are all man's creation. Since they are man's creation, they must relate with human feeling and the human spirit. If they are practiced with human feeling, they fulfill some basic human aspirations. The various religions and ideologies are meant for humanity and not the opposite.

JANUARY 12

M aterial progress alone is not sufficient to achieve an ideal society. Even in countries where great external progress has been made, mental problems have increased. No amount of legislation or coercion can accomplish the well-being of society, for this depends upon the internal attitude of the people who comprise it. Therefore, mental development, in harmony with material development, is very important.

JANUARY 13

T he human level of mental development is not complete. Even in the ordinary sense, within our inner state there are still many things to explore. This has nothing to do with religious ideology; this is spiritual. Some part of the brain's capability may be fully utilized only through deep meditation. But in the meantime, things can be explored in the ordinary way. So from that viewpoint, the human being is unfinished.

JANUARY 14

S ometimes one creates a dynamic impression by saying something, and sometimes one creates as significant an impression by remaining silent.

JANUARY 15

A ll living beings, starting from insects, want happiness and not suffering. However, we are only one, whereas others are infinite in number. Thus, it can be clearly decided that others gaining happiness is more important than just yourself alone.

JANUARY 16

I f during the dreaming state you direct your awareness and your concentration to the throat, this will make your dreams clearer. Whereas, if you direct your awareness to the heart, then it will make your sleep deeper. So here is a subjective sleeping pill.

JANUARY 17

I t would be much more constructive if people tried to understand their supposed enemies. Learning to forgive is much more useful than merely picking up a stone and throwing it at the object of one's anger, the more so when the provocation is extreme. For it is under the greatest adversity that there exists the greatest potential for doing good, both for oneself and others.

JANUARY 18

T o develop patience, you need someone who willfully hurts you. Such people give us real opportunities to practice tolerance. They test our inner strength in a way that even our guru cannot. Basically, patience protects us from being discouraged.

JANUARY 19

W hether in remote places or densely populated cities, we work and struggle for the same fundamental purpose. While doing so, we fail to realize that it is important to follow the correct method in achieving our goal--for the method is all important.