Human Warmth and Compassion

Within all beings there is the seed of perfection. However, compassion is required in order to activate that seed which is inherent in our hearts and minds.

Whenever I meet people I always approach them from the stand-point of the most basic things we have in common. We each have a physical structure, a mind, emotions. We are all born in the same way, and we all die. All of us want happiness and do not want to suffer. Looking at others from this stand-point rather than emphasising secondary differences, such as the fact that I am Tibetan, or a different colour, religion or cultural background, allows me to have a feeling that I’m meeting someone just the same as me. I find that relating to others on that level makes it much easier to exchange and communicate with one another.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama.