The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World

by Dalai Lama XIV

Materialistic values cannot give us peace of mind. So we really need to focus on our inner values, our true humanity.

The remarkable thing about what the Dalai Lama was describing is that as we recognize others’ suffering and realize that we are not alone, our pain is lessened.

‘Wherever you have friends that’s your country, and wherever you receive love, that’s your home.’”

It’s like being put into a fiery furnace to be refined.”

“Too much self-centered thinking is the source of suffering. A compassionate concern for others’ well-being is the source of happiness.

“All dharma teachings agree on one point—lessening one’s self-absorption.”

the three factors that seem to have the greatest influence on increasing our happiness are our ability to reframe our situation more positively, our ability

to experience gratitude, and our choice to be kind and generous.

“If you develop a strong sense of concern for the well-being of all sentient beings and in particular all human beings, this will make you happy in the morning, even before coffee.

ten minutes or thirty minutes of meditating on compassion, on kindness for others, and you

will see its effects all day. That’s the way to maintain a calm and joyous mind.