Dalai Lama

Be Wise Selfish - His Holiness the Dalai Lama shares a simple but powerful idea: true self-interest lies in caring for others. Combining intelligence with warm-heartedness is what makes a human being — and ultimately the world — truly happy. A reminder that the path to a happier humanity runs through knowledge and education, one person at a time. Video originally recorded on August 18, 2020.

Beyond Differences - His Holiness the Dalai Lama explains why he sees every person simply as another human being—beyond nationality, religion, or status. Reflecting on how divisions create conflict, His Holiness reminds us that our shared humanity is the foundation for peace, compassion, and a happier world. Video originally recorded on November 11, 2014.

Forgive, But Don't Forget - His Holiness the Dalai Lama answers one of life's hardest questions. Forgiveness does not mean forget. It does not mean you accept the wrong action. It means you choose not to carry anger and hatred. Forgive the person. Oppose the action. Two different things. Video originally recorded on March 20, 2015.

The Secret of My Laughter - A student asks His Holiness the Dalai Lama the secret behind his famous childlike laughter. His answer is disarmingly simple: a relaxed mind, no ego, and the understanding that we are all the same human beings. He explains how seeing yourself as "something special" creates stress and anxiety, while honesty, humility, and transparency are the true foundations of inner peace. Video originally recorded on May 31, 2014.

Peace Begins Within - His Holiness the Dalai Lama reminds us that a peaceful world starts with a peaceful mind — and that loving kindness and compassion are its ultimate foundation. Not just as spiritual practice, but as the very basis for humanity's survival. Video originally recorded on October 26, 2021.

Hygiene of Emotion - His Holiness the Dalai Lama explains why emotional hygiene is just as essential as physical hygiene — and why teaching children about the mind, compassion, and nonviolence from an early age is the key to creating a happier, more peaceful world. Video originally recorded November 28, 2019.

What Really Makes Friends - Forget wealth. Forget power. His Holiness the Dalai Lama cuts straight to the heart of human connection — and reveals why compassion is the only thing that creates true, lasting friendship. Video originally recorded on November 20, 2014.

The Source of Inner Joy - His Holiness the Dalai Lama shares his fundamental belief — that whether you are a believer or non-believer, remaining truthful and honest is the real source of inner joy. When we live with honesty, anxiety is reduced, fear is reduced, and distrust fades away resulting in a peaceful atmosphere of genuine human friendship. Video originally recorded May 3, 2010.

MESSAGE I wholeheartedly endorse the powerful appeal for peace made by the Holy Father, Pope Leo, during his Palm Sunday Mass. His call for the laying down of arms and the renunciation of violence resonated profoundly with me, as it speaks to the very essence of what all major religions teach. Indeed, whether we look to Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism or any of the world's great spiritual traditions, the message is fundamentally the same: love, compassion, tolerance, and self-discipline. Violence finds no true home in any of these teachings. History has shown us time and again that violence only begets more violence and is never a lasting foundation for peace. An enduring resolution to conflict, including the ones we see in the Middle East or between Russia and Ukraine, must be rooted in dialogue, diplomacy and mutual respect — approached with the understanding that, at the deepest level, we are all brothers and sisters. I urge for and pray that the violence and conflicts may soon come to an end. DALAI LAMA 31 March 2026

Anger Makes You Blind - In this short clip His Holiness the Dalai Lama shares a humorous story about his angry driver in Lhasa to illustrate a profound truth: when anger arises, the mind loses clarity. Without anger, we can respond to difficulties — and even to those who cause us harm — far more effectively. Video was originally recorded on June 4, 2009.

The Compassionate Mind - In this short clip His Holiness the Dalai Lama explains why developing a compassionate mind is essential for inner peace and human happiness. When our thoughts are dominated by self-centered attitudes, fear, anger, jealousy, and distrust naturally arise. But when we cultivate genuine concern for the well-being of others, our hearts open and our minds become more transparent, honest, and peaceful. Video was originally recorded on November 19, 2010.

Why does His Holiness the Dalai Lama often begin by addressing audiences as “brothers and sisters”? In this short clip, His Holiness explains that many of the problems we face arise from divisions of religion, nationality, and political systems. He reminds us of a deeper truth—the oneness of humanity and our shared wish to live a happy life. This excerpt comes from our archives and was recorded on January 15, 2014.

Press Statement Some recent media reports and social media posts concerning the “Epstein files” are attempting to link His Holiness the Dalai Lama with Jeffrey Epstein. We can unequivocally confirm that His Holiness has never met Jeffrey Epstein or authorised any meeting or interaction with him by anyone on His Holiness’s behalf. 8 February 2026

His Holiness the Dalai Lama Receives Grammy Recognition Highlighting Universal Responsibility and Compassion Grammy Award Best Audiobook Narration - Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. I receive this recognition with gratitude and humility. I don’t see it as something personal, but as a recognition of our shared universal responsibility. I truly believe that peace, compassion, care for our environment, and an understanding of the oneness of humanity are essential for the collective well-being of all eight billion human beings. I’m grateful that this Grammy recognition can help spread these messages more widely.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama meeting with Nobel Peace Laureate Leymah Gbowee of Liberia, 2011 Nobel Peace Prize Recipient recognized for her non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women's rights to full participation in peace-building, at his residence at Drepung Gomang Monastery in Mundgod, Karnataka, India on January 23, 2026.

The Wisdom of the Nalanda Tradition Conceived and introduced by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and developed under his visionary guidance, Science and Philosophy in the Indian Buddhist Classics (four volumes) is now offered as a free online course by Wisdom Publications, beginning 19 December, in honour of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th year. This 10-part course explores the profound Indian teachings of the Nalanda Tradition—an enduring lineage of logic, reason and compassion that has deeply shaped Tibetan Buddhism. Rooted in logic and lived ethics, it invites us to cultivate wisdom and compassion in our daily lives. “I pray that these volumes become a source of great benefit to many people.” — His Holiness the Dalai Lama For more information and to sign up for the course see wisdomexperience.org/wisdom-nalanda… #NalandaTradition #DalaiLama90 #WisdomAndCompassion #BuddhistPhilosophy

A dialectical debate on scientific topics came alive as monastic science students presented a traditional debate before His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who has long encouraged monastic science education and the use of dialectical reasoning to explore both Tibetan Buddhist philosophy and Western science. Monastic scholars from the Tenzin Gyatso Science Scholars Program presented the first-ever scientific dialectical debate, observed by eighty-three students from the Emory–Tibet Science Initiative’s Specialization Phase, along with faculty from Emory University and Northwestern University

His Holiness the Dalai Lama's arrival at the Dhoeguling Tibetan Settlement, Mundgod, Karnataka, India on December 12, 2025.