Of course, when I say that human nature is gentleness, it is not

Hear the compassionate voice of the Dalai Lama, who spoke with clarity and humility: “Of course, when I say that human nature is gentleness, it is not 100 percent so. Every human being has that nature, but there are many people acting against their nature, being false.” In this teaching, he reminds us of a truth that is both comforting and sobering: that within every person lies the seed of gentleness, yet this seed does not always blossom. Some nurture it, letting kindness flow from their lives; others deny it, acting against their deeper selves, and thus become estranged from their own essence.

The heart of this saying lies in the Dalai Lama’s vision of human nature as fundamentally good. Against philosophies that describe man as cruel or corrupt at his root, he declares that the truest quality of the human heart is gentleness—the ability to care, to love, to show compassion. We see this in the instinct of a mother who cradles her child, in the way people rush to help in times of disaster, and in the countless small kindnesses that pass unnoticed each day. This is the current that runs beneath all of humanity, soft yet enduring.

And yet, he warns, not all live according to this current. Some choose the path of greed, anger, or deceit. They act “against their nature,” as he says, and in doing so, they become false—not merely to others, but to themselves. This is why cruelty feels jarring, why hatred leaves a bitter aftertaste, why injustice breeds unrest: it is because such acts are not in harmony with the deep order of the soul. When man acts against gentleness, he creates a fracture within himself, a dissonance that leads to suffering.

History bears witness to both sides of this truth. Consider the life of Mahatma Gandhi, who in the face of violence chose the path of nonviolence. He believed that gentleness was not weakness but strength, and by holding fast to it, he moved empires without lifting a sword. In contrast, history also recalls the tyrants who ruled by fear, men who abandoned compassion for cruelty. They gained power for a season, yet their legacies are remembered with bitterness, their names marked with shame. Their falsehood was not only in their deeds but in the betrayal of their own human nature.

The deeper meaning of the Dalai Lama’s words is therefore both an encouragement and a challenge. Encouragement, because he affirms that no one is devoid of gentleness—all have it within them, waiting to be lived. Challenge, because he reminds us that it is not automatic. To live in harmony with one’s nature requires choice, awareness, and discipline. It is easy to be swept into anger or selfishness, but it is nobler—and truer—to act with compassion, even when it costs us.

The lesson is clear: you must nurture the gentleness within you. Do not be fooled into thinking that cruelty is strength or that harshness is necessary. Real power is not in domination, but in restraint, in patience, in kindness. If you act against your nature, you may gain short-term victories, but you will lose the deeper battle of the soul. But if you act in harmony with your nature, you will live in peace, no matter the storms outside you.

Practical steps follow: begin each day with an intention to act with gentleness—in your words, in your thoughts, in your deeds. When anger rises, pause and remember that it is not your true nature. When others act falsely, do not mirror them, but remain rooted in truth. Cultivate compassion through service, meditation, or prayer. And above all, remember that every person you meet carries the same seed of gentleness, even if it lies buried. To call it forth in others, you must live it first yourself.

Remember always: human nature is gentleness. It is the quiet strength at the heart of mankind. Many deny it, many act against it, but still it remains, waiting to be lived. The task of each soul is to cast aside falseness and return to what is most true. For in gentleness lies our dignity, our strength, and our path to peace.