Product Description

"Whether one believes in religion or not, whether one believes in this religion or that religion, the very purpose of our life is happiness, the very motion of our life is towards happiness." --H.H. the Dalai Lama, from The Art of Happiness So popular and so rarely understood, this Nobel Peace Prize winner and man of great inner peace brings to a general audience the key to a happy life. In collaboration with a Western psychiatrist, The Art of Happiness is the first inspirational book for a general audience by the Dalai Lama. Through meditations, stories, and the meeting of Buddhism and psychology, the Dalai Lama shows us how to defeat day-to-day depression, anxiety, anger, jealousy, or just an ordinary bad mood. He discusses relationships, health, family, and work to show us how to ride through life's obstacles on a deep and abiding source of inner peace. Based on 2,500 years of Buddhist meditations mixed with a healthy dose of common sense, The Art of Happiness crosses the boundaries of all traditions to help readers with the difficulties common to all human beings.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1918 in Books
• Published on: 1998-10-26
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 336 pages

Amazon.com Review
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to sit down with the Dalai Lama and really press him about life's persistent questions? Why are so many people unhappy? How can I abjure loneliness? How can we reduce conflict? Is romantic love true love? Why do we suffer? How should we deal with unfairness and anger? How do you handle the death of a loved one? These are the conundrums that psychiatrist Howard Cutler poses to the Dalai Lama during an extended period of interviews in The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living.

At first, the Dalai Lama's answers seem simplistic, like a surface reading of Robert Fulghum: Ask yourself if you really need something; our enemies can be our teachers; compassion brings peace of mind. Cutler pushes: But some people do seem happy with lots of possessions; but "suffering is life" is so pessimistic; but going to extremes provides the zest in life; but what if I don't believe in karma? As the Dalai Lama's responses become more involved, a coherent philosophy takes shape. Cutler then develops the Dalai Lama's answers in the context of scientific studies and cases from his own practice, substantiating and elaborating on what he finds to be a revolutionary psychology. Like any art, the art of happiness requires study and practice--and the talent for it, the Dalai Lama assures us, is in our nature. --Brian Bruya

From Library Journal
The Art of Happiness is read like an enchanting Indian tale by Howard Cutler and Ernest Abuba. Gyatso, His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, is the spiritiual and temporal leader of the Tibetan people. Cutler helps to blend psychology with the Dalai Lamas Buddhist meditations and stories. Gyatso talks about how to defeat depression, anxiety, anger, and jealousy through meditation. He discusses relationships, health, family, work, and spirituality and how to find inner peace while facing these struggles. His tireless efforts on behalf of human rights and world peace have brought him international recognition. He is the recipient of the Wallenberg Award (conferred by the U.S. Congressional Human Rights Foundation), the Albert Schweitzer Award, and the Nobel Peace Prize. Recommended for world religion collections.Ravonne A. Green, Virginia Polytechnic Inst. & State Univ., Blacksburg
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
The Dalai Lama's most salient traits are his great beaming smile and hearty laugh, spontaneous expressions of happiness that inspired Cutler, a psychiatrist, to initiate what evolved into a long and productive series of conversations about what aspects of Buddhist thought could help non-Buddhists achieve a sense of fulfillment. Their discussions ranged far and wide, revealing many differences between Eastern and Western thought. When Cutler asks the Dalai Lama if he is happy, the answer is "Yes"; when he asks if he is ever lonely, the answer is an unqualified "No." How can that be? Because, the Dalai Lama replies, he always looks at others positively and experiences a "feeling of affinity, a kind of connectedness." Over and over again, Cutler poses complicated psychological inquiries only to have the Dalai Lama offer responses that reach far beyond the parameters of the self. There really is such a thing as an art of happiness, and this is one of the best how-to books a reader will ever find. Donna Seaman

Customer Reviews

My Number 1 Recommended Book
This book has the power to transform the reader. I often tell people it holds the 'secret to life.'

This book is based on a dialog between Cutler, a Western psychologist, and His Holiness The Dalai Lama. The connections made between western psychology and eastern beliefs are outstanding.

This is the perfect book for someone interested in The Dalai Lama, Buddhism, psychology, or just finding a better way to live.

You'll feel like you are sitting there in the room with The Dalai Lama yourself...and not wanting to leave.

Skim the parts by Cutler
The interview format is a good way of presenting the Dalai Lama's philosophy, but the analysis by Cutler is not particularly insightful, nor is it well written. A little commentary about what he felt about or thought of the Dalai Lama's words on a particular subject would be appropriate, but Cutler goes on and on, with examples from his practice and descriptions of studies and articles from Western psychology. If I wanted to read a Western self-help book, I would. I was finding the whole thing tedious until I gave myself permission to skip Cutler's analysis. I also found Cutler's frequent descriptions of the Dalai Lama's demeanor (he chuckled warmly, he smiled serenely, etc.) smarmy and annoying.

Do read the words of the Dalai Lama. As mentioned in other reviews, they are simple but profound. Many times they caused a figurative light bulb to go off over my head, a genuine "wow, I never thought of it that way before." Cutler's contributions are the polar opposite, nothing I haven't heard or read before.

An excellent book for finding inner peace
I highly reccomend this book to anybody searching for inner peace and happiness and a higher acceptance of all walks of people around us. Reading this book for me was life changing and helped me be more accepting to stressful situations and people around me, decreasing anger and dis-satisfaction significantly. The concept of how we all need each other and are interconnected is very important especially in todays fast paced competetive world. It is a book that I have re-read and reccomended to several people and also given as a gift.