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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
the only happiness I felt is the relief after finishing this book...
I found the suggestions about Happiness at Work in this book to cover a broad range of jobs and people in a helpful and meaningful way.
I really loved The Book of Joy by the Dalai Lama and Bishop Desmond Tutu so I found this which, of course, fits a prompt! I have to say that I was a little bit dubious going in because what exactly is the Dalai Lama's job aside from being the Dalai Lama? So, I wondered how he could relate to "regular" job issues that most people face. Of course, the gift that the Dalai Lama embodies and shares is his total compassion for all, and so, although he may never be in the position of a burger flipper or a data entry typist, he can always see the human aspect within all things. I found this quite amazing as I tend to fall into cynical pretty darn quickly. He pointed out that what brings happiness isn't really the job itself but, of course, the person's approach to it and what they expect to get out of it. One example that stood out to me was a cashier who was always so personable and really enjoyed interacting with the customers and how a co-worker talked about how all of their shifts are more fun and better when they work with her. That is really a gift and makes you think about how small little actions from each of us can really go a long way to helping each other and ourselves. The world needs more souls like the Dalai Lama but maybe if I can step back from life and take even just a few moments to remember that each day and work with that mind frame, it could help make my world a little better too.
This book is a bit of a hoax, if you will. It's not by the Dalai Lama, it's by an American psychiatrist who interviewed the Dalai Lama and followed the path of Me journalism. Too much is about Cutler's preoccupations and too little is the real teaching. I found the whole book rather annoying for that reason; I felt a bit cheated.
Nevertheless, the Dalai Lama has a lot of good things to say about being happy and how to do it.
Nevertheless, the Dalai Lama has a lot of good things to say about being happy and how to do it.
The Art Of Happiness by the Dalai Lama โ Full of so much gentle wisdom. Open to any page and find a gem. Plus itโs hard not to smile back at the cover!
I DID benefit from this, and I found some very helpful meditations documented here, not to mention the extremely moving chapter on suffering. It opens with a mind-blowing paradigm shift that my purpose, my reason to be, is happiness. To have it, to bring it to others. It had never occurred to me that the POINT is...happiness. It's so simply and elegantly posed by the Dalai Lama that I found myself in tears.
Where this book did not deliver for me is actually the voice of the real author. Sure it says it's by the Dalai Lama, but it's actually by a white male American psychologist, whose overly simplistic understanding of things the Dalai Lama says, not to mention awkward shoving of those teachings into a western mindset, offer an unhelpful interpretative lens. I don't know if this person is perhaps quite intelligent and deep thinking, but that did not come across at any point in this reading, and in fact I was very much left to wonder how this person got access to the Dalai Lama in the first place, since they do not seem to have any exceptional skills of perception, metaphysical understanding, or interpretation of universal human experiences.
The American vs. Tibetan mindset is acknowledged, but it continues to be a tension throughout the book that I don't think is ever resolved. While the Dalai Lama's attempts to answer sometimes confusing and overly simplistic questions are helpful, it is his teachings outside of the interview that carry the most wisdom and impact, and I think I would have benefited more had the perspective of the author been removed.
Where this book did not deliver for me is actually the voice of the real author. Sure it says it's by the Dalai Lama, but it's actually by a white male American psychologist, whose overly simplistic understanding of things the Dalai Lama says, not to mention awkward shoving of those teachings into a western mindset, offer an unhelpful interpretative lens. I don't know if this person is perhaps quite intelligent and deep thinking, but that did not come across at any point in this reading, and in fact I was very much left to wonder how this person got access to the Dalai Lama in the first place, since they do not seem to have any exceptional skills of perception, metaphysical understanding, or interpretation of universal human experiences.
The American vs. Tibetan mindset is acknowledged, but it continues to be a tension throughout the book that I don't think is ever resolved. While the Dalai Lama's attempts to answer sometimes confusing and overly simplistic questions are helpful, it is his teachings outside of the interview that carry the most wisdom and impact, and I think I would have benefited more had the perspective of the author been removed.
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Now and then, I need a refreshing of Buddhist teachings, so I keep them at the forefront of my mind. This time around, I chose The Art of Happiness.
Since the last century, we have all been very focused on our search for happiness. I believe the surest way to achieve long-lasting happiness is through Buddhist teachings and strict self-discipline. Like Mahatma Gandhi once said, "Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony."
Here the author mixes psychology studies and the Dalai Lama's teachings that sum up pretty well the essentials of achieving inner peace and happiness. Though, at times, it's painfully obvious that Howard C. Cutler isn't very adept in Buddhism, often sounding clueless.
Since the last century, we have all been very focused on our search for happiness. I believe the surest way to achieve long-lasting happiness is through Buddhist teachings and strict self-discipline. Like Mahatma Gandhi once said, "Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony."
Here the author mixes psychology studies and the Dalai Lama's teachings that sum up pretty well the essentials of achieving inner peace and happiness. Though, at times, it's painfully obvious that Howard C. Cutler isn't very adept in Buddhism, often sounding clueless.
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
perfeito ๐ฅบ๐
I wanted more information on the specific Buddhist practises but I think that was my misunderstanding before delving into this book.
It tackles so many universal and interesting points about mental stability and clarity, the structure and story telling were perfect.
It tackles so many universal and interesting points about mental stability and clarity, the structure and story telling were perfect.