The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living

by Dalai Lama XIV

an interesting contrast between the Dalai Lama’s approach to human motivation and that of Western science and psychology. As we previously discussed; researchers who have studied human motivation have investigated normal human motives, looking at both instinctual and learned needs and drives. At this level, the Dalai Lama has focused on developing and using ‘learned drives’ to enhance one’s ‘enthusiasm and determination.’ In some respects, this is similar to the view of many conventional Western ‘motivation experts,’ who also seek to boost one’s enthusiasm and determination to accomplish goals. But the difference is that the Dalai Lama seeks to build determination and enthusiasm to engage in more wholesome behaviors and eliminate negative mental traits, rather than emphasizing the achievement of worldly success, money, or power. And perhaps the most striking difference is that while the ‘motivational speakers’ are busy fanning the flames of already existing motives for worldly success, and the Western theorists are preoccupied with categorizing standard human motives, the Dalai Lama’s primary interest in human motivation lies