His Holiness The Dalai Lama on Happiness

I wanted to share some words from the (current) fourteenth Dalai Lama, on how we can be happy in this world.

Here’s a hint/in a nutshell: it involves compassion. Compassion does not always come easily to me. But then, it may not come easily to anyone. It is, however, a blessing to all, when it is given.

How to Achieve Happiness (By HH Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso)

For a start, it is possible to divide every kind of happiness and suffering into two main categories: mental and physical.В  Of the two, it is the mind that exerts the greatest influence on most of us.В  Unless we are either gravely ill or deprived of basic necessities, our physical condition plays a secondary role in life.В  If the body is content, we virtually ignore it. The mind, however, registers every event, no matter how small. Hence we should devote our most serious efforts to bringing about mental peace.

From my own limited experience I have found that the greatest degree of inner tranquility comes from the development of love and compassion. The more we care for the happiness of others, the greater our own sense of well-being becomes. Cultivating a close, warm-hearted feeling for others automatically puts the mind at ease. This helps remove whatever fears or insecurities we may have and gives us the strength to cope with any obstacles we encounter. It is the ultimate source of success in life.As long as we live in this world we are bound to encounter problems. If, at such times, we lose hope and become discouraged, we diminish our ability to face difficulties. If, on the other hand, we remember that it is not just ourselves but every one who has to undergo suffering, this more realistic perspective will increase our determination and capacity to overcome troubles. Indeed, with this attitude, each new obstacle can be seen as yet another valuable opportunity to improve our mind!

The full text of his statement is here. Read it… and be happy!

June 15, 2009  Tags: , , ,   Posted in: Resources, Sane, Tips

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