Spirit Health Style Relationships Home Food Money World

Dalai Lama and Mother Teresa

teaolive
Level 0

Posted on Mar 12, 2008 9:17 AM

"Don't try to use what you learn from Buddhism to be a Buddhist;
use it to be a better whatever-you-already-are."
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama

Part of an Interview for Time with Mother Teresa 1989

Time: Humble as you are, it must be an extraordinary thing to be a vehicle of God's grace in the world.

Mother Teresa: But it is His work. I think God wants to show His greatness by using nothingness.

Time: You are nothingness?

Mother Teresa: I'm very sure of that.

Time: You feel you have no special qualities?

Mother Teresa: I don't think so. I don't claim anything of the work. It's His work. I'm like a little pencil in His hand. That's all. He does the thinking. He does the writing. The pencil has nothing to do it. The pencil has only to be allowed to be used. In human terms, the success of our work should not have happened, no? That is a sign that it's His work, and that He is using others as instruments - all our Sisters. None of us could produce this. Yet see what He has done.

Time: What is God's greatest gift to you?

Mother Teresa: The poor people.

reply
Replies: 17
sparkledi
Level 5
1. Re: Dalai Lama and Mother Teresa
Mar 12, 2008 9:26 AM   |   In response to: teaolive

That's really beautiful. Thanks for sharing. I don't want to be Mother Teresa or the Dalai Lama (Or Eckhart or Oprah) but damn, I think I want to be a nothing pencil too.

Reply
gab007
Level 2
2. Re: Dalai Lama and Mother Teresa
Mar 12, 2008 9:37 AM   |   In response to: teaolive

thank you..isn't she beautiful.....thanks for sharing

Reply
basanderso
Level 1
3. Re: Dalai Lama and Mother Teresa
Mar 12, 2008 9:43 AM   |   In response to: gab007

Good News - we're all nothing pencils! hah hah :) Sweet..........

Reply
rain_ca
Level 2
4. Re: Dalai Lama and Mother Teresa
Mar 12, 2008 9:49 AM   |   In response to: teaolive

That is very lovely.. We are not alone in our thoughts and we can gain so much insight from the teachings and awareness of others. This part resonates for me: "use it to be a better whatever-you-already-are." Thank you for posting this ...

Rain

Reply
ashadel
Level 1
5. Re: Dalai Lama and Mother Teresa
Mar 12, 2008 10:00 AM   |   In response to: teaolive

Absolutely powerful and beautiful at the same time.....thanks to you for posting it.

ashadel

Reply
markie7
Level 4
6. Re: Dalai Lama and Mother Teresa
Mar 28, 2008 10:12 PM   |   In response to: ashadel

I just caught sight of this post,,,,,I'm calm and I want to be a Pencil too. to. two. 2 Also,yeah that's it,M7:)

Reply
timeflyer2
Level 5
7. Re: Dalai Lama and Mother Teresa
Mar 28, 2008 10:19 PM   |   In response to: markie7

May the lead be with you.:-) Timeflyer

Reply
eefan1
Level 1
8. Re: Dalai Lama and Mother Teresa
Mar 28, 2008 10:24 PM   |   In response to: teaolive

Very beautiful - very inspiring - thank you - will try to remember I am a pencil.

Reply
dangerange
Level 5
9. Re: Dalai Lama and Mother Teresa
Mar 28, 2008 10:26 PM   |   In response to: teaolive

Someone asked the Dalai Lama, "Why didn't you fight back against the Chinese?"
The Dalai Lama looked down, swung his feet just a bit, then looked back up at us and said with a gentle smile,
"Well, war is obsolete, you know."
Then, after a few moments, his face grave, he said,
"Of course the mind can rationalize fighting back... but the heart, the heart would never understand.
Then you would be divided in yourself, the heart and the mind, and the war would be inside you."

Reply
mw84121
Level 2
10. Re: Dalai Lama and Mother Teresa
Mar 28, 2008 10:35 PM   |   In response to: teaolive

About humility and living in nothingness:

"In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love." -- Mother Teresa

Reply
markie7
Level 4
11. Re: Dalai Lama and Mother Teresa
Mar 28, 2008 10:39 PM   |   In response to: timeflyer2

timeflyer2,,,,Yes ,I know this for sure ,I want to be a # 2 Pencil. May the lead , lead you also.:) M7

Reply
jenn_ed45
Level 1
12. Re: Dalai Lama and Mother Teresa
Mar 29, 2008 7:18 PM   |   In response to: dangerange

dangerange wrote:Someone asked the Dalai Lama, "Why didn't you fight back against the Chinese?"
The Dalai Lama looked down, swung his feet just a bit, then looked back up at us and said with a gentle smile,
"Well, war is obsolete, you know."
Then, after a few moments, his face grave, he said,
"Of course the mind can rationalize fighting back... but the heart, the heart would never understand.
Then you would be divided in yourself, the heart and the mind, and the war would be inside you."
Both are becons of Light for the world to live by... They get it and they know how to live in Peace and Love...

  • "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."
  • "All major religious traditions carry basically the same message, that is love, compassion and forgiveness ... the important thing is they should be part of our daily lives."


    • By His Holiness The Dalai Lama
    ______________________________
    It is not how much we do,
    but how much love we put in the doing.
    It is not how much we give,
    but how much love we put in the giving. By ~~~Mother Teresa~~~

    2 separate people with like minds.... hmmm Love this thread.... Thanks for writing it and sharing it. Blessings!

    In Love and Light...♥»-(¯`Jenn´¯)->♥


    Reply
    happns
    Level 5
    13. Re: Dalai Lama and Mother Teresa
    Mar 29, 2008 7:24 PM   |   In response to: teaolive

    Thanx for writing Tea Olive - you little pencil you
    Enjoy :x
    Vanessa - NZ

    Reply
    hkhk2104
    Level 2
    14. Re: Dalai Lama and Mother Teresa
    Mar 29, 2008 7:28 PM   |   In response to: teaolive

    That was very humbling, thanks for posting teaolive.

    Reply
    yoshie1971
    Level 1
    15. Re: Dalai Lama and Mother Teresa
    Apr 9, 2008 3:27 PM   |   In response to: markie7

    Lead, Kindly Light!
    Sorry, couldn't help getting one in here :)
    Great quotes. A reminder to people that what's important is not what you believe or what you say you believe, but how you live your life.

    Reply
    Back To Top
    1 2 | Next

    Actions