People think of animals as if they were vegetables, and that is not right. We have to change the way people think about animals. I encourage the Tibetan people and all people to move toward a vegetarian diet that doesn’t cause suffering.
Interpretation
We should rethink our perception of animals and shift towards a compassionate vegetarian lifestyle.
In this quote, the Dalai Lama emphasizes the importance of recognizing animals as sentient beings rather than mere objects or resources. He advocates for a shift in thought and behavior towards a vegetarian diet, which aligns with the values of compassion and non-violence, encouraging people to adopt lifestyles that do not inflict suffering on other beings.
In practice
In a speech advocating for animal rights, one could use this quote to emphasize the need for compassion.
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.
The opposite of an idealist is too often a man without love.
The need is not to amputate the ego ... but to transcend it.
I have suffered the atrocity of sunsets.
Every man is somebody because he is a child of God.
If one believed in angels one would feel that they must love us best when we are asleep and cannot hurt each other; and what a mercy it is that once in every twenty-four hours we are too utterly weary to go on being unkind.
Whatever your heart clings to and confides in, that is really your God.
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