We chase happiness like it’s just around the corner. Could our final destination, “happiness,” be hidden in a new relationship, job title, city, or home? But His Holiness the Dalai Lama, with his childlike laugh and mountain-like presence, has let us in on a little secret: the true source of happiness isn’t getting what we want. It’s cherishing others. It’s being kind.
The Dalai Lama says, “The basic source of all happiness is a sense of kindness and warm-heartedness towards others.”
Buddhist teachings remind us again and again that when we shift the spotlight from ourselves, a strange thing happens. Our minds soften. Our hearts open. And we begin to feel...better. Lighter. More connected.
Cherishing others means genuinely caring about their happiness and well-being, just like we do for ourselves. And when we practice this, whether by listening with full attention, letting someone go ahead of us in line, or sending a silent wish for a stranger’s joy, we start to feel more joy ourselves. Real joy. The kind that doesn't depend on circumstances.
According to the Dalai Lama, “Thinking only about yourself—having a very self-centered attitude—creates a lot of anxiety, loneliness, fear, and anger.”
It turns out that the road to lasting happiness isn't paved with self-fulfillment, but with love that stretches beyond the self.
Resources
Dalai Lama. The purpose of life is to be happy. Retrieved from:https://www.dalailama.com/messages/transcripts-and-interviews/the-purpose-of-life-is-to-be-happy
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