How to Achieve Happiness According to the Dalai Lama
The Dalai Lama is considered more than just a spiritual leader to his own people. Loved and respected throughout the world, "His Holiness" is also a well-known proponent of searching for your own happiness. By following his concepts, which are backed by the teachings of Tibetan Buddhism, everybody can achieve happiness.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Study the actual teachings of the Dalai Lama. When it comes to happiness, the book “The Art of Happiness,” which the Dalai Lama co-authored with Howard C. Cutler, M.D. is considered the basic guideline to both understand and follow his teachings. "The Dalai Lama Book of Wisdom” is a great complimentary read (see Resources below).
-
2
Repeat to yourself the basic mantra of the Dalai Lama’s teachings: “The purpose of life is happiness.” Based on this, you should consider renouncing anything that seems to give you immediate satisfaction but is not conductive to true happiness in the long end. A good example of this is working a job you hate for more money versus. working a job you enjoy, even if your income is lower.
-
-
3
Look for the differences between immediate joy, also known as temporary, and future joy, or ultimate happiness. Temporary happiness is mostly material (buying things, eating out) and is often dependent on external factors that are not always under your control, such as money. Ultimate happiness, on the other hand, is based on spiritual and mental content, and comes from doing what you love and sharing your life with the people you love, something that can only be achieved if you become unselfish and open.
-
4
Learn to accept that power to be happy is all in your hands. Problems arise when you leave your happiness in the hands of others, hoping they will be able to understand and give you what you want in order for you to be happy. The Dalai Lama, as well as Buddhism in general, make clear that the power to be happy is individual and can be obtained and mastered by everybody.
-
5
Be aware that happiness is a state of mind, rather than a physical achievement, an event or a set of external conditions. Rather than focusing on changing the external circumstances around you, the Dalai Lama emphasizes the importance of changing your reactions to those circumstances. If you are in peace with yourself and you know who you are and what you want in life, then external factors become simply an obstacle in your course, rather than a tragedy.
-
6
Change your external factors. Because Buddhists believe in Karma (the “cause and effect” law), living a life that is basically good and worthy will eventually result in your own happiness, as the good energy you put out will come back to you. Buddhists also agree that one of the major causes of unhappiness is “wanting.” By wanting less, especially things that are not under your control, you are less likely to be disappointed and more likely to be happy.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Training the mind to accept happiness may take time. The Dalai Lama recommends focusing on the ultimate goal (long-lasting happiness), practicing meditation and being compassionate on the way there.
Resources
- Photo Credit Tosaporn Boonyarangkul
Comments
-
Do you suppose that the Dalai Lama and Tony Hsieh have met?
