His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is both the head of state and the spiritual leader of Tibet. He was born on July 6, 1935, to a poor farming family. At the age of two, through a long process that involved him recognizing the possessions of the 13th Dalai Lama, he was recognized as being his reincarnation. He was enthroned in 1940. In 1950, at the age of 16, the Dalai Lama had to assume full political power when China invaded Tibet. In March of 1959, during the national uprising of the Tibetan people against the Chinese military occupation, he went into exile.
Since then, the Dalai Lama has become an international ambassador of Peace, inner peace as well as world peace. In the past decade, he has extensively traveled through Canada and the U.S. to share his wisdom and vision of happiness following the publication of "The Art of Happiness", which he jointly wrote with the American psychiatrist Howard C. Cutler.For the Dalai Lama, the purpose of life IS happiness. He believes that in order to achieve it, we need to systematically train our minds and hearts, and reshape our outlook and attitudes towards life. For him, the state of mind is far more important than any external condition. That is why, it is so important to develop a calmness of the mind.
We also have to eliminate negative emotions from our lives, such as anger and hatred. Those feelings serve no purpose. The Dalai Lama suggests replacing those emotions with positive ones such as love, kindness and compassion.
According to the Dalai Lama, if we really want to be happy, we should identify the factors that lead to happiness and then cultivate them into habits. On the other hand, we have to identify what leads us to suffer, so we can get rid of those destructive states and habits and replace them by positive ones.
The Dalai Lama believes we need to embrace change, which is inevitable, by going with the flow of the river instead of resisting it. We might be able to have some control in the direction, but we can never stop the flow. When we cling on to something that is changing, we become attached, and attachment, because of the impermanence of life, leads to suffering.
Finally, we should develop deep relationships based on love and respect as well as have a long-term perspective of life. Sure, short-term pleasures can give short-term happiness. But, if we evaluate the effects of short-term and long-term oriented behavior, we can clearly see what is more helpful in the long run.
If you have ever seen the Dalai Lama or heard him talk, you will agree that he looks like a peaceful, wise, kind and happy man. All qualities I strive to have.
Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.
Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.
I find hope in the darkest of days, and focus in the brightest. I do not judge the universe.
It is very important to generate a good attitude, a good heart, as much as possible. From this, happiness in both the short term and the long term for both yourself and others will come.
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