A Reason to Smile Today.


The Dalai Lama has reasons to smile too! 
Well, actually, there are FOUR. His Holiness The Dalai Lama has done it again - he has spoken words so beautiful that I just can't choose between the gems I found. So, I'm sharing all of them! 

Have a beautiful, fun, adventurous, relaxing, and compassionate weekend. Honor the animals and your kiss-worthy selves with vegan living, lots of hugs, and abundant thinking! I'm going to jot a few things down in my gratitude journal today. How about you?

(If you don't already have a gratitude journal, I highly recommend it. Just pick up a notebook, and write down at least five things you are grateful for every day. The long-term results of this practice may happily surprise you!) 

And now, onto the Dalai Lama, my biggest reason to smile today:
Photo © Joanna Wilson Photography
“Compassion is most important for happiness. We must treat fellow human beings as equal, that is very important, but also all beings who have capacity for feeling. So the innate desire for happiness that is the basis of human rights extends to all sentient beings, including animals and insects. There are now some individuals and organizations who care about animal rights and are showing concern about the suffering or torture of animals. I have noticed among ordinary people, out of their love and compassion, growing efforts for promotion of vegetarianism. These are the right kinds of expression of compassion, very positive and encouraging signs.”

“Life is as dear to the mute creature as it is to a man. Just as one wants happiness and fears pain, just as one wants to live and not to die, so do other creatures." 

“Today, more than ever before, life must be characterized by a sense of Universal Responsibility, not only nation to nation and human to human, but also human to other forms of life.”

One of Steve's biggest reasons to smile.
“Never give up. No matter what is going on, never give up. Develop the heart. Too much energy in your country is spent developing the mind instead of the heart. Be compassionate not just to your friends but to everyone. Be compassionate. Work for peace in your heart and in the world. Work for peace and I say again, never give up. No matter what is happening, no matter what is going on around you. Never give up.
What are YOUR reasons to smile today?

Comments

Anonymous said…
That's nice, Lindsay. But there is a small problem. he eats hamburgers. I am not here to play devil's advocate or to make trouble, just saying that it is incredibly frustrating to see the disconnect between what he says and what he does. And worse, everyone thinks he is vegan.

I mean, we are all on a continuum, and he is, also. So he should go vegan and show people what compassion means.

Hell's Kitchen Gal
Lindsay Wolf said…
I hear you - I had the same issue yesterday when I was looking at a book called "The Ahimsa Life Diet." In it, the author talks about nonviolence and compassion and promotes a (mostly) vegan diet. The place where I began to shut down was where she talked about cow's milk being important for nurturing our souls, and that we should buy cow's milk from organic dairy farms, because it's better for the cows. I just got more and more frustrated with her as I read, even going so far as to talk angrily back to the book! Then my hubby stopped me and said that even though he couldn't agree less with her, he's taking the parts of the book that speak to him and using them in a positive way in his life. And I didn't understand him yesterday. But after sharing this today, I do more. Yes, he's not vegan - but his words spoke to my heart, because I completely and totally live what he says. Every single day. And I'm sure you do too. I completely understand your frustration, though, Hell's Kitchen Gal. Thank you for bringing to light another side to this issue, and I hope you'll continue sharing your thoughts!
CurlyLocks said…
I'm so surprised to learn that the Dalai Lama is not vegan or vegetarian! I've always had a problem with "do as I say, not as I do." Just to make sure, I Googled this surprising bit of info, and Hell's Kitchen Gal is correct.
plantpeacedaily said…
You can read lots about his choice on line....
Here is one discussion about it:
http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070215211454AAZ9YOv

He claims that he was ill and had to eat meat....but I don't know what illness is cured by him wearing leather shoes.

For the most part I understand that none of us is a perfect example of compassion. And, on the other hand, he is an example to millions of people around the world and what he does give people permission to not live in alignment with their values.
Anonymous said…
Lindsay, thank you for acknowledging the complexities of this issue. This particular issue offends me deeply and even wounds me, because I know so many people adore this man and he wields such power. So when he is equivocal or rationalizes such fundamentally important issues, I get so upset that I have to step back from it and not lash out. I continue to realize that we are all on a continuum and I look forward to the day when he renounces exploitation of other beings.

Hell's Kitchen Gal
chelsea said…
I just stumbled across your blog and it is beautiful. I never thought I'd call a blog beautiful, but it is. What you post is so inspirational. I am adding you to my blog roll and will continue reading.
Love and light.
Lindsay Wolf said…
Thank you ladies for all of your contributions! I appreciate your feedback so much and will take it to heart when I post quotes in the future and beyond that. And thanks so much for your support Chelsea!
Myra Wolf said…
Maybe the Dali Lama has not been able to wrap his head around complete compassion for all living things yet.
There are many people that lack compassion in many areas. But, in my experience compassion for every living thing is taught either through experience or through another person. Usually in steps. So, if any one person is teaching even one area or step of compassion to anyone, that is usually the beginning of ultimately having compassion for all living things. Maybe the Dali is still taking his steps toward compassion for all living creatures while teaching others compassion for the areas he has mastered......a good interview question to ask him Lindsay :). xoxo
Anonymous said…
There are a lot of reasons to be happy!.

One of that reasons is to see that day by day, there are more vegan people...
nice to meet you! :)
Lindsay Wolf said…
Nice point Mom - I love that. And nice to meet you too, Newvegangoddess!