Mind training for happiness the Dalai Lama says is the most important path we should be seeking. I’m revisiting a former read, ‘The Art of Happiness’ by the Dalai Lama and Howard Cutler. Much like so many great books I’ve read the second time around it seems to offer insights deeper and much more vast then the first or perhaps they just penetrate more deeply.Everything we’re told about the path that leads to happiness is very much true.
We can train our minds to focus on altruistic positive happy emotions and this will inevitably lead to happiness. The more we focus on gratitude, what we have rather than what we want and what we need or don’t have the more we find peace. It is an exercise in discipline the Dalai Lama affirms. This does not happen overnight, but for the naysayers he assures it will inevitably happen.
Happiness is what we all desire, true solitude and peace of mind. And while there is no perfect reality that is and will always be completely ideal and totally happy there are ways to attain greater peace of mind and more happiness than we may have in the present.We can ultimately attain some level of happiness. Gratitude, compassion, selflessness and altruism are some of the most powerful ways to get closer to that warm fuzzy feeling.
The more we act from a place of compassion and focus on the betterment of our surroundings, others and everyone around us and the more we live from a place of gratitude the higher we elevate from the depths of despair and self pity. Even if it’s just being grateful for your health today and you have nothing else to be grateful for His Holiness points out you have a lot.
It is something to be grateful for while some people have nothing, not the basics, not good health, absolutely nothing.We must have clear perspective on how we keep ourselves from greater prosperity, not superficial material prosperity, but emotional and mental prosperity. We are the gate keepers and we can focus on our pure potential to live powerfully in a place of surrender to what we do not have control over and with confidence and agility over the aspects of our life we do have control over.
Our thoughts and our perspective are aspects we have total control over. What you don’t have is not meant for you. What you have is meant for you, to be appreciated and for your ultimate awakening and liberation. We need not complicate it, but just live powerfully in knowing we are here now and we can choose to be in this moment powerfully and with gratitude for the good around us and in us. We are worthy and owe it to ourselves and our fellow human beings. We are better for this knowing and more able to offer ourselves up to better those around us.
