Originally Published: September 22, 2016
One Sentence: The author moderates and documents an historic meeting between the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu to share their understanding of how we can achieve joy and happiness as individuals, how the process can change the entire world for the better, and, as a bonus, we get an understanding of the friendship, humor and personalities of these two magnanimous human beings.
Summary:
This book works on three separate levels. It is a…
- treatise on the “secrets” to achieving joy and happiness
- mini-biography / exposé / get-to-know-you session with two incredible spiritual leaders
- reference handbook on practical advice to improve your happiness
As a treatise on the concepts and principals of personal happiness, it is unique in bringing together the Buddhist and Christian approaches to focus on a common philosophy from both leaders that focuses on tolerance, love, compassion, forgiveness and charity. It’s central thesis: that the only path to happiness is to unselfishly give to others, is backed up throughout the book as the two provide their own points of view, banter with one another, tease one another and demonstrate their own humility over and over again in the process.
This portion of the book is divided into two major sections: the obstacles to joy (fear/stress/anxiety, frustration/anger, sadness/grief, despair, loneliness, envy, suffering/adversity, illness/fear-of-death), and the eight fundamental “pillars” of joy (perspective, humility, humor, acceptance, forgiveness, gratitude, compassion and generosity). The insights that come from the discussion of each of these topics are at once highly personal to our “teachers” and globally applicable to all of humanity.
The book itself is the written (and audio) documentation of the meeting of an 80-year-old Dalai Lama, and 82-year-old Tutu, but there is also video of the meeting – even though a Google Search didn’t seem to turn up a movie or documentary. The two met in Dharamsala for five days of discussion on this topic. They are old friends and the book exposes their friendship as much as it does spiritual principles. Seeing the two of them enjoying their own personal joys, even as they describe the deep suffering each has experienced in his their lives, is as inspiring as the lessons provided.
Finally, the book finishes with a highly practical guide to getting started on practices that can bring more joy into each of our lives. These are a combination of meditative practices, but also ways to involve ourselves in the lives of those around us. What they all have in common are they ask us to start with ourselves and our own attitudes. It is only be changing our own perspective that we can impact the happiness of ourselves, those around us, and change the world.
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