Apparently, we need reminding. All human beings share a basic, innate desire for happiness and a wish to avoid suffering. The Dalai Lama teaches that this understanding should extend to everyone—especially to those who fuel or have fallen victim to division. He reminds us that our deepest contentment arises not from physical comforts or material success but from the mind. And because the mind is malleable and educable, we have the power to train ourselves toward greater understanding, patience, and genuine care for others.

This article can be read as an introduction to how happiness and tranquility grow through the cultivation of love and compassion. Kindness is a courageous act that expresses your values even when others do not.

By refusing to mirror hostility, you exercise moral autonomy, refusing to let anger, fear, or bitterness dictate your response. We can learn to choose our orientation and our actions, not just our emotions. Every act of kindness becomes a small intervention against the hostility around us, reminding others—and ourselves—that another way is possible.

"True compassion is not just an emotional response but a firm commitment founded on reason. Therefore, a truly compassionate attitude towards others does not change even if they behave negatively."

"For a person who cherishes compassion and love, the practice of tolerance is essential, and for that, an enemy is indispensable. So we should feel grateful to our enemies, for it is they who can best help us develop a tranquil mind! Also, it is often the case in both personal and public life, that with a change in circumstances, enemies become friends."

"I believe that at every level of society - familial, tribal, national and international - the key to a happier and more successful world is the growth of compassion. We do not need to become religious, nor do we need to believe in an ideology. All that is necessary is for each of us to develop our good human qualities. I try to treat whoever I meet as an old friend. This gives me a genuine feeling of happiness. It is the practice of compassion."

ARTICLE: Compassion and the Individual

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