The Dalai Lama’s Timeless Wisdom on Living in the Present
Origins of This Timeless Quote
The Dalai Lama XIV is attributed with saying: “There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called Yesterday and the other is called Tomorrow. Today is the right day to Love, Believe, Do and mostly Live.” This quote distills Buddhist philosophy into accessible modern wisdom. Various sources attribute similar sentiments to different figures throughout history. However, it has become most closely associated with Tenzin Gyatso, the fourteenth Dalai Lama. He rose to prominence in the second half of the twentieth century. The quote embodies the central Buddhist principle of mindfulness and present-moment awareness. These concepts have become increasingly relevant in our contemporary age of distraction and anxiety. Whether or not the Dalai Lama originally penned these exact words, the sentiment aligns perfectly with his decades of teachings on compassion, reflection, and the nature of human suffering.
Tenzin Gyatso was born on July 6, 1935, in Taktser, a small village in northeastern Tibet. His family were farmers. At age two, Tibetan Buddhist tradition recognized him as the reincarnation of the thirteenth Dalai Lama. Oracles, divination, and lamas identified signs from his previous life. His family brought him to Lhasa for rigorous monastic education. This training would prepare him to become the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism. His childhood involved mastering thousands of pages of Buddhist texts. He engaged in philosophical debate. He also prepared for a role of immense political and spiritual significance across the Tibetan plateau. This extraordinary upbringing, isolated from the outside world in the monastery, shaped his unique perspective on human connection and universal suffering.
Understanding Yesterday Tomorrow and Today
The Dalai Lama’s life took a dramatic turn in 1950. The newly formed People’s Republic of China began its military occupation of Tibet. At just fifteen years old, he assumed political leadership. He negotiated with Chinese officials. He grappled with the collision between ancient Buddhist traditions and communist ideology. By 1959, the failed Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule forced his hand. He made the harrowing decision to flee Tibet. His supporters helped him escape to India. This escape on horseback through mountain passes, while pursued by Chinese troops, became one of the most dramatic moments of his life. It marked the beginning of his long exile. For decades, he lived in Dharamshala in the Himalayan foothills of northern India. He established a Tibetan government-in-exile. He became an increasingly prominent voice for nonviolent resistance, Buddhist philosophy, and human rights on the world stage.
Many people don’t realize the Dalai Lama is exceptionally curious and scientifically minded. He remains deeply rooted in ancient mystical traditions. He has spent considerable time engaging with modern physics, neuroscience, and psychology. He has met with scientists and philosophers. Together they explored how Buddhist teachings align with or differ from contemporary scientific understanding. He has been remarkably open about testing Buddhist beliefs. He accepts the possibility of revising them in light of new scientific evidence. This progressive stance surprised many Western observers. They expected religious leaders to resist scientific inquiry dogmatically. Additionally, few people know he has an unexpected sense of humor and a playful personality. Those who meet him personally know him for his laughter, his willingness to joke, and his warm demeanor. This humanizing aspect of his character makes him relatable to audiences far beyond the Buddhist community.
How This Message Transforms Your Life
The Dalai Lama has repeatedly taught about Yesterday, Tomorrow, and Today throughout his public life. He has witnessed the accelerating pace of modern life and its psychological toll on people across cultures. In various interviews and writings, he has emphasized a key truth. One of the greatest sources of human suffering is the human tendency to regret the past and worry about the future. This causes us to miss the only moment we can actually experience or influence—the present.
This wisdom, while not original to him or to Buddhism, takes on special meaning coming from someone who has lived through extraordinary tragedy and displacement. Yet he has chosen to devote his life to peace and reconciliation rather than bitterness. His emphasis on “Love, Believe, Do and mostly Live” suggests that the present moment is where human agency truly exists. We can exercise compassion, maintain faith in positive change, and engage in meaningful action in this moment.
Over the decades, this quote has become ubiquitous in contemporary self-help literature, motivational speaking, and social media posts. It appears on yoga studio walls, corporate motivational posters, and Instagram memes. Its simple wisdom has resonated with millions of people seeking antidotes to the modern epidemic of anxiety and regret. The quote has been particularly embraced by people dealing with depression, PTSD, and chronic worry. It offers a deceptively simple but profound reframing of how we relate to time and agency. Therapists and wellness coaches often reference this sentiment when encouraging clients to practice mindfulness. They help clients focus on what is within their control. The viral nature of the quotation demonstrates humanity’s hunger for meaning and presence in an increasingly distracted world.