18 Rules For Living From The Dalai Lama

Usually I’d start off an article like this with a little preface of my own, but this time, I’ll let the Dalai Lama take it away.

“Of the many problems we face today, some are natural calamities and must be accepted and faced with equanimity. Others, however, are of our own making, created by misunderstanding, and can be corrected. One such type arises from the conflict of ideologies, political or religious, when people fight each other for petty ends, losing sight of the basic humanity that binds us all together as a single human family. We must remember that the different religions, ideologies, and political systems of the world are meant for human beings to achieve happiness. We must not lose sight of this fundamental goal and at no time should we place means above ends; the supremacy of humanity over matter and ideology must always be maintained.

By far the greatest single danger facing humankind – in fact, all living beings on our planet – is the threat of nuclear destruction. I need not elaborate on this danger, but I would like to appeal to all the leaders of the nuclear powers who literally hold the future of the world in their hands, to the scientists and technicians who continue to create these awesome weapons of destruction, and to all the people at large who are in a position to influence their leaders: I appeal to them to exercise their sanity and begin to work at dismantling and destroying all nuclear weapons. We know that in the event of a nuclear war there will be no victors because there will be no survivors! Is it not frightening just to contemplate such inhuman and heartless destruction? And, is it not logical that we should remove the cause for our own destruction when we know the cause and have both the time and the means to do so? Often we cannot overcome our problems because we either do not know the cause or, if we understand it, do not have the means to remove it. This is not the case with the nuclear threat.” ~ Dalai Lama

As for the 18 lessons?

1. Know that all great achievements involve risks that are sometimes just as great.
2. Even if you lose, try to get a lesson out of it.
3. Respect yourself, respect others, and take responsibility for what you do.
4. Sometimes it’s lucky not to get what you want.
5. Always take immediate steps to correct a mistake.
6. Don’t let little fights spoil a friendship.
7. Learning the rules make them easier to break. Know how to break them correctly.
8. Make sure you get a little bit of alone time every day
9. Be open to changes but don’t let go of your values.
10. Sometimes saying nothing is the right answer.
11. Live an honorable life; one you’ll be proud to look back on.
12. Foster a loving environment at home.
13. Don’t drudge up the past. When you find yourself in a disagreement, focus on the present.
14. Share what you know with the world
15. Be easy on the planet you call home.
16. Visit somewhere you’ve never been every year.
17. The best love is where love exceeds needing one another.
18. The greatest successes are determined by what you had to give up to achieve it.