The Art of Happiness | Book Review

The Art of Happiness looks at happiness through different perspectives from two different authors. Firstly, the Western perspective from Howard Cutler, a relatively no-name psychiatrist out of the US. The 14th Dalai Lama was a leader in Tibetan Buddhism and brought the perspective from the East. Although perspectives differ, they attempt to drill things down to the basic human level. Here the little distinctions like gender, race, religion, culture, and language don’t matter. There are similarities that all of us share in being part of the human race. With guidance from one of the greatest spiritual gurus, this is one of the best self-help books ever written. The book demonstrates that happiness is the ultimate goal in life. Our goal in life is to be happy no matter what we do. Additionally, some mistake pleasure for contentment. In his book The Art of Happiness, the Dalai Lama expertly explains the distinction between pleasure and happiness. You may think of this book as a thorough manual on how to achieve mental freedom, prevent common issues, and discover happiness in life. The Dalai Lama and book author Howard C. Cutler have done an excellent job of outlining the key facets of human existence and experiences in the book. I also had a query about why the Dalai Lama is among the greatest sources of advice on happiness as I was reading the book. His picture on the book cover served as the solution. He has a smile on his face that makes you want to smile too. People claim that the Dalai Lama is always grinning or laughing, no matter where or when they see him. The Dalai Lama's book The Art of Happiness is told through anecdotes and dialogue. The Art of Happiness is the best self-help book you should read if you're looking for one. “Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.” ~  emphasizes the significance of feelings that bind us to one another and support the survival and well-being of our species. An intense feeling, of love is respecting and caring for someone or something. It is a necessary component for fostering supportive communities, wholesome relationships, and strong families. People may feel alone and alienated in the absence of love, which can cause social disintegration and a breakdown in the foundation of society. Conversely, compassion is the ability to empathize with and comprehend the pain of others. It entails wanting to make others going through terrible times feel less hurt and distressed. To build a more fair and just society where everyone is respected and treated with dignity, compassion is essential. The Cover Art Of This Book Explains it All ~  (Source: Google Images)  Perspective On 'Enemies' ~  Generally, we don’t want to wish good things for our enemies. We’d love for them to get what’s coming for them. But even if your enemy is made unhappy, what is there for you to be joyful about? If you stop to think about it, nothing can be made for that. Buddhists pay a lot of attention to their rivals and enemies. This is because hatred is a stumbling block to our happiness. And if you’re able to practice patience and tolerance when enemies pop up, then everything else is much easier. So for a happiness practitioner, enemies play a critical role. Imagine if you never had an enemy in the first place. You’d pop out into existence and everyone would pamper, hand-feed you and make goo noises. If from infancy, you never faced challenges you’d never have a chance to grow. It might be cool at first, but sooner or later it turns into a monstrous reality. Having an enemy is a necessary condition for practicing patience. Your mates don’t usually test you and provide opportunities like this, compared to the enemy. So when you stumble across one, you should treat it with gratitude. The struggle and the process of conflict lead to learning, examining, growth, and insights. “In accepting that suffering is a part of your daily existence, you could begin by examining the factors that normally give rise to feelings of discontent and mental unhappiness.” ~ We all grow up in a consumeristic society, so why do some of us acquire strong materialistic ideals while others do not? A growing body of studies indicates that the root cause of consumeristic urges is insecurity, both emotional and financial. The pursuit of money rather than money itself is associated with unhappiness. ''if you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion'' ~  The Dalai Lama’s words are instructive because they refer to the emotional benefits of compassion to both the giver and recipient. In other words, the rewards of practicing compassion work both ways. As such, compassion is not an automatic response to another’s plight; it is a response that occurs only when the situation is perceived as serious, unjust, and relatable. It requires a certain level of awareness, concern, and empathy. What can I do to be more compassionate? Be altruistic. We can be more compassionate by moving beyond our comfort zones and helping individuals or engaging in service work as a way of helping people, animals, and our communities. Altruistic behaviors also improve the self-esteem and well-being of those who offer them. Avoid judgment. It is impossible to know the factors that have led a person toward their current predicament; nor how we would fare in the same situation. Considering our similarities to others in need will help promote empathy and compassion. Practice gratitude. Reflecting on the things in your life that you appreciate will foster a sense of compassion for those less fortunate. Consider Buddhism. The objective of Buddhism is to enhance one’s wisdom, kindness, and compassion; and ultimately to achieve unconditional happiness and enlightenment. Be kind to yourself. Sometimes we are our own worst enemies. Remember that all human beings are flawed and will make mistakes; ongoing rumination and self-loathing do not benefit you or anyone around you. Instead, practice self-forgiveness and coping tools that will help you to move forward more positively. “A disciplined mind leads to happiness, and an undisciplined mind leads to suffering.” ~ Dalai Lama