Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
inspiring
reflective
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Lots of practical advice here:
-Avoid thoughts/things/situations that might cause you to enter an unhappy state, and encourage those that bring happiness. Eventually you can retrain your mind to be happier.
-Meditate to cultivate compassion. Specific meditations are given as examples.
-See yourself as connected to every other human, and recognize that they too are seeking to find happiness and avoid suffering.
Sadly I can't agree with the notion that all humans are inherently gentle and good. While newborn babies certainly aren't little evildoers, nature itself (no humans required) seems to me to be ruthless and selfish. Thus it seems like "human+nature" is at its core just our animal instincts.
On the bright side, it's awesome that those of us who desire enlightenment have a spiritual way out of this mess!
-Avoid thoughts/things/situations that might cause you to enter an unhappy state, and encourage those that bring happiness. Eventually you can retrain your mind to be happier.
-Meditate to cultivate compassion. Specific meditations are given as examples.
-See yourself as connected to every other human, and recognize that they too are seeking to find happiness and avoid suffering.
Sadly I can't agree with the notion that all humans are inherently gentle and good. While newborn babies certainly aren't little evildoers, nature itself (no humans required) seems to me to be ruthless and selfish. Thus it seems like "human+nature" is at its core just our animal instincts.
On the bright side, it's awesome that those of us who desire enlightenment have a spiritual way out of this mess!
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
I've been a meditator for over a decade, and have dipped my toes into the Buddhist pool, but this read really calcified a lot of the beliefs I've held about cultivating peace and happiness.
This found me at the right time I think.
This found me at the right time I think.
This book was very well done and gave me some truly wonderful insights. Much like The Book of Joy, this isn’t something to rush through—it’s a book that invites you to slow down and reflect. I often found myself pausing mid-chapter, staring off into the distance, just thinking. It’s that kind of book. One of the key takeaways for me was the reminder that happiness isn’t a destination—it’s not a place we arrive at and stay forever. It’s something we must actively seek and nurture, especially as we go through life’s inevitable changes. This book offers both practical wisdom and deep philosophical insight, and I’m so glad I took the time to read it. I know I’ll return to it again.
good information but i found it to be very basic and redundant. essentially, a review of what i already knew i should be doing.
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
The Dalai Lama shares advice and meditative exercises to help others acquire his peaceful, happy way of being. As I started to slip into a grumpy mood today, I did one of the exercises and found it quite helpful. (It's the one in which you imagine a loved one feeling the way you do at that moment, and think about how annoying your loved one is when they let a bad mood get the best of them.)