The 16 Guidelines for Life

Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom (FDCW)

The 16 Guidelines for Life is a program created by the Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom (FDCW), an FPMT International Education Project. The Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom was established in 2005 to help create a more peaceful, compassionate and sustainable world. FDCW provides educational programs and training that help transform minds and make people happier.

These programs are based on Universal Education for Compassion and Wisdom (UECW) which is a system of inner learning allowing people to break through their self-limiting beliefs, step outside their destructive patterns, build better relationships, and ultimately develop their own innate capacity to be wise and compassionate.

The key to a happier and more successful world is the growth of compassion. We do not need to become religious, but to each develop our good human qualities.

— His Holiness the Dalai Lama (Honorary Patron of FDCW)

The creation of UECW was inspired by Lama Yeshe’s vision for “a new kind of education for the world,” first developed in the early 1980s. His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Honorary Patron of FDCW, is one of the world’s leading advocates for the promotion of positive human values and secular ethics in education.

Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom

The 16 Guidelines

The 16 Guidelines are a direct and practical tool for making life better. They provide a simple yet robust framework examining the way we think, speak and act.

The latest research into neuroscience suggests that each of us has the potential to continue developing and transforming our minds, from birth right up until death. We can literally re-wire our brains for happiness.

The program is inspired by King Tsongsen Gampo who invited philosophical and spiritual teachers from India into Tibet during the 7^th century CE. He began the process of transforming a war-like nation into a civilization noted for its peace and serenity. The Guidelines are a contemporary presentation of ancient wisdom.

The 16 Guidelines are presented in four wisdom themes. The framework explores our mind more deeply, cultivates the practice of values and a compassionate attitude resulting in a happier, more meaningful life.

How we think

The way we use our mind determines the way we live:

Humility
Patience
Contentment
Delight

How we act

Every skillful action makes for a better world:

Kindness
Honesty
Generosity
Right Speech

How we relate

To take care of others is to take care of ourselves:

Respect
Forgiveness
Gratitude
Loyalty

How we find meaning

If everything is changing, many things are possible:

Aspiration
Principles
Service
Courage