I had the wonderful opportunity to spend four days photographing His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1997 working as a photographer for Naropa University. Photographing him still remains one of the most important experiences that I have had professionally and personally.
Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible. Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions. I find hope in the darkest of days, and focus in the brightest. I do not judge the universe. If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.
In the practice of tolerance, one’s enemy is the best teacher. It is necessary to help others, not only in our prayers, but in our daily lives. If we find we cannot help others, the least we can do is to resist from harming them. It is very important to generate a good attitude, a good heart, as much as possible. From this,happiness in both the short term and the long term for both yourself and others will come.
My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness. Old friends pass away, new friends appear. It is just like the days. An old day passes, a new day arrives. The important thing is to make it meaningful: a meaningful friend - or a meaningful day. Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.
Sometimes one creates a dynamic impression by saying something, and sometimes one creates as significant an impression by remaining silent. The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness. This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness. 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. We can live without religion and meditation, but we cannot survive without human affection.
Where ignorance is our master, there is no possibility of real peace. Whether one believes in a religion or not, and whether one believes in rebirth or not, there isn’t anyone who doesn’t appreciate kindness and compassion.
With realization of one’s own potential and self-confidence in one’s ability, one can build a better world.
