Fear, hatred, and suspicion narrow your mind - compassion opens it.
Interpretation
Negative emotions limit our perspective, while compassion broadens it.
This quote by the Dalai Lama emphasizes the transformative power of compassion in overcoming negative emotions such as fear, hatred, and suspicion. When we allow ourselves to embrace compassion, we expand our understanding and acceptance of others, leading to a more open and enriched mind and heart.
In practice
During a speech on community unity, one might use this quote to encourage compassion over division.
Human beings are not intrinsically selfish, which isolates us from others. We are essentially social animals who depend on others to meet our needs. We achieve happiness, prosperity and progress through social interaction. Therefore, having a kind and helpful attitude contributes to our own and others' happiness.
Material objects give rise to physical happiness, while spiritual development gives rise to mental happiness. Since we experience both physical and mental happiness, we need both material and spiritual development. This is why, for our own good and that of society we need to balance material progress with inner development.
All major religious traditions carry basically the same message, that is love, compassion and forgiveness the important thing is they should be part of our daily lives.
The ultimate source of a happy life is warm-heartedness. This means extending to others the kind of concern we have for ourselves. On a simple level we find that if we have a compassionate heart we naturally have more friends. And scientists today are discovering that while anger and hatred eat into our immune system, warm-heartedness and compassion are good for our health.
My religion is kindness. _x000D_ A good mind, a good heart, _x000D_ warm feelings these are _x000D_ the most important things.
If a person's basic state of mind is serene and calm, then it is possible for this inner peace to overwhelm a painful physical experience. On the other hand, if someone is suffering from depression, anxiety, or any form of emotional distress, then even if he or she happens to be enjoying physical comforts, he will not really be able to experience the happiness that these could bring.
Bad seed is a robbery of the worst kind: for your pocket-book not only suffers by it, but your preparations are lost and a season passes away unimproved.
Wasting time is worse than death, because death separates you from this world whereas wasting time separates you from Allah
I wish to have as my epitaph: 'Here lies a man who was wise enough to bring into his service men who knew more than he.'
To be mindfully engaged is the most natural, creative state we can be in.
The world is a country which nobody ever yet knew by description; one must travel through it one's self to be acquainted with it.
Confidence is that feeling by which the mind embarks in great and honorable courses with a sure hope and trust in itself.
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