If we think only of ourselves, forget about other people, then our minds occupy very small area. Inside that small area, even tiny problem appears very big. But the moment you develop a sense of concern for others, you realize that, just like ourselves, they also want happiness; they also want satisfaction. When you have this sense of concern, your mind automatically widens. At this point, your own problems, even big problems, will not be so significant. The result? Big increase in peace of mind. So, if you think only of yourself, only your own happiness, the result is actually less happiness. You get more anxiety, more fear.

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama is the current spiritual leader of the Guleg (“Yellow Hat”) school of Tibetan Buddhism and is considered the religious and political leader of Tibet. He has lived in exile in India since the Chinese annexation of Tibet in 1959, and in 1989, he won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to peacefully liberate Tibet from China. Since retiring from his political role in 2011, his principal commitments have included helping others understand and experience happiness, encouraging harmony among the world’s religions, and preserving Tibetan language and culture. He is the author of more than one hundred books.