19 Dec The Dalai Lama’s secrets to happiness
Check out this great interview with His Holiness the Dalai Lama on, surprise surprise…happiness!
Re-published from Our World Today (HERE)
Discussing emotions amongst a panel of scientists, the Dalai was asked how he maintained such a happy outlook and if in fact he ever got angry or sad.
“I am (a) normal human being, I think we (all) feel anger, otherwise I would appear in space, like an angel,” laughed His Holiness in response.
Dr Wallace, a leading Buddhist Scholar who has traveled extensively with the Dalai, said he had often comforted His Holiness and even held him weeping in his arms.
The Dalai said that all emotions, even anger, sadness and fear, can all be a positive and lead to greater happiness if we approach them in the right way – with compassion.
“I think sadness, with valid reasons, that’s good. That may bring enthusiasm to overcome that thing which is causing sadness,” he said.
“If sadness can bring that kind of enthusiasm and determination then that sadness is good.”
There are a growing number of reality TV shows that support this idea.
When it comes to ‘positive’ anger, the former Tibetan leader said this can be a powerful driving force in helping us to show compassion to those we care for enough to confront about their problems.
“When you have sincere concern for other’s wellbeing and that being (is) going in the wrong direction, and out of a genuine sense of concern for that person and the circumstances (don’t allow for) any other alternative, sometimes you may need a little sort of harsh word or sometimes you may even need some sort of little harsh physical action in order to care.”
“In that short moment you need some sort of anger or ferocity necessary in order to carry the harsh word or harsh physical action, so that kind of anger is positive, because (it is) motivated by compassion.”
“So there are many variety (of emotions), fear (can be) positive or negative, desire (can be) positive or negative … that is from a Buddhist viewpoint, you have to judge.”
“We can not say all emotions are the same for every person or in every case.”
Raised by an uneducated farming mother who was illiterate, Lhamo Döndrub (or Thondup) as he was born, said understanding how our emotions affect us is one of the keys to happiness…
…keep reading the full and original article HERE