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About this quote

What does it mean?
Helping others should be an active part of daily life, not just prayer. If you cannot help, at least do not cause harm.
In plain terms
Help people in real life, not just in thought. If you can't help, do no harm.
What can you take from it?
Practical help matters more than just intention.

Where it applies

  • community service
  • personal conduct
  • charity

Putting it to work

  • offer tangible aid
  • avoid causing pain

Questions to consider

  • When did you last help someone practically?
  • What does doing no harm look like?

Another view

Sometimes structural issues prevent individual help regardless of intent.

More from Tenzin Gyatso

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  3. As Buddhists, while we practice our own teaching, we must respect other faiths, Christianity, Judaism and so forth. We must recognize and appreciate their cont…

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