Spirituality

The Art of Happiness: 6 key ideas

by The Dalai Lama and Howard Cutler

The core ideas of The Art of Happiness, each in under a minute, written in our own words. Want the full depth? Get the book.

1. IDEA 1 OF 6

   Happiness depends on the mind

   The Dalai Lama argues that the purpose of life is to be happy, and that happiness depends more on our state of mind than on what happens to us.

2. IDEA 2 OF 6

   Train the mind like a skill

   Happiness can be learned.

   By steadily strengthening positive states like kindness and contentment and weakening harmful ones, the mind slowly changes.

3. IDEA 3 OF 6

   Warmth makes the giver happy

   Compassion is not only good for others; it is the surest source of our own calm and confidence.

   A warm heart opens doors that fear keeps shut.

4. IDEA 4 OF 6

   Want what you have

   Lasting satisfaction comes less from getting what we want than from appreciating what we already have.

   Contentment is a choice we can practise.

5. IDEA 5 OF 6

   Pain is part of life

   Suffering is a natural part of life.

   Accepting this removes an extra layer of suffering: the feeling that it shouldn't be happening to us.

6. IDEA 6 OF 6

   Look from another angle

   Almost any problem looks different from a wider view.

   Stepping back to see the bigger picture, or another person's side, often shrinks the problem.