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minniethepooh 's review for:
The Art of Happiness
by Dalai Lama XIV
I really enjoyed all the concepts in this book, though it felt like a textbook - I recognized the importance of the concepts and took copious notes, but it was not a fun or easy read. Loved hearing the Dalai Lama's thoughts, but felt that Howard's commentary didn't add too much.
Some notes I took:
- Life is suffering: "if your basic outlook accepts that suffering is a natural part of your existence, this will undoubtedly make you more tolerant towards the adversities of life"
- Life is impermanent: Both positive and negative experiences will pass. Hold them loose. Everything ebbs & flows - moods, material possessions, relationships
- You can train yourself to feel more positively or negatively towards anyone and anything. Steps to enact positive change: Education & learning - developing conviction - determination - action & effort
- "We cannot overcome anger and hatred simply by suppressing them. We need to actively cultivate the antidotes to hatred: patience and tolerance."
- Self-worth: should not be tied to material success or possessions. If they go away, your happiness will as well. Rather, it should be tied to your character & traits e.g. compassion, patience, kindness, etc.
- Don't compare yourself to people who are "better-off". Instead, cultivate compassion for those who are worse-off
- Want & appreciate what you have
- Respect the good in everyone
- “I think prayer is, for the most part, a simple daily reminder of your deeply held principles and convictions. I, myself, repeat certain Buddhist verses every morning. The verses may look like prayers, but they are actually reminders. Reminders of how to speak to others, how to deal with other people, how to deal with problems in your daily life, things like that. So, for the most part, my practice involves reminders—reviewing the importance of compassion, forgiveness, all these things."
Some notes I took:
- Life is suffering: "if your basic outlook accepts that suffering is a natural part of your existence, this will undoubtedly make you more tolerant towards the adversities of life"
- Life is impermanent: Both positive and negative experiences will pass. Hold them loose. Everything ebbs & flows - moods, material possessions, relationships
- You can train yourself to feel more positively or negatively towards anyone and anything. Steps to enact positive change: Education & learning - developing conviction - determination - action & effort
- "We cannot overcome anger and hatred simply by suppressing them. We need to actively cultivate the antidotes to hatred: patience and tolerance."
- Self-worth: should not be tied to material success or possessions. If they go away, your happiness will as well. Rather, it should be tied to your character & traits e.g. compassion, patience, kindness, etc.
- Don't compare yourself to people who are "better-off". Instead, cultivate compassion for those who are worse-off
- Want & appreciate what you have
- Respect the good in everyone
- “I think prayer is, for the most part, a simple daily reminder of your deeply held principles and convictions. I, myself, repeat certain Buddhist verses every morning. The verses may look like prayers, but they are actually reminders. Reminders of how to speak to others, how to deal with other people, how to deal with problems in your daily life, things like that. So, for the most part, my practice involves reminders—reviewing the importance of compassion, forgiveness, all these things."