”The Art of Happiness” by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and Howard C. Cutler

I read this book one year ago, but I am not diligent in writing posts and articles on time. Today is a day I would like to share my vision and insights about the book.

This is not the book you imagine; it is not a self-help, spiritual, or psychological book. “The Art of Happiness” is an attempt to combine Eastern Spirituality with Western Psychology, which is why the book is written by Psychiatrist Howard C. Cutler, who spoke and interviewed the Dalai Lama. So, in this book you will find a lot of Cluter’s opinions as he tried to translate the Dalai Lama from the world of spirituality into the world of science and psychology.

According to the Dalai Lama, happiness is not a feeling; it is a trainable skill - something that requires discipline, practice, and conscious mental habits. The word “Art” appeared in the title because His Holiness would like to emphasize that there is no universal formula for happiness; happiness is a great effort and craft.

While the Dalai Lama believes that happiness is a state of mind, not dependent on outer circumstances, it comes from inner peace, compassion, and emotional control, and is something you train through mental habits. Howard Cutles believes that happiness can be understood through psychology, not only spirituality, should be analyzed with scientific methods, and depends on emotional well-being, early experiences, and mental hygiene.

And that is very interesting, how two different people, literally from different worlds, discuss the same universal and pivotal term from different perspectives.

When I was younger, I was sure I must attain happiness, I must search for happiness; now I fully agree with His Holiness - happiness is a state of mind.