Be Happy

by Dalai Lama XIV

A simple and accessible guide for finding and embracing happiness from one of the spiritual giants of our time Nobody wakes up in the morning wishing for more trouble that day. However, emotional trouble--unhappiness--is essentially our own creation. This book explores two things you need to know about unhappiness and how to replace it with joy. The first is the failure to understand reality, and the second is egotism. Together they result in distress, dis-ease, and a failure to take personal responsibility. His Holiness the Dalai Lama counsels readers to take responsibility for their thoughts and actions; to understand that our problems are of our own making and not the result circumstances or the actions of others. He presents a path for taking charge of our lives. Accessible, direct, and down-to-earth, this slender volume is for fans of the Dalai Lama, as well as anyone looking for an easy-to-understand guide to an authentic and joyful life.

Genres: Nonfiction, Buddhism, Self Help, Spirituality, Religion, Philosophy

112 pages, Paperback

Published March 1, 2019

About the author

Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso (born Lhamo Döndrub), the 14th Dalai Lama, is a practicing member of the Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism and is influential as a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, the world's most famous Buddhist monk, and the leader of the exiled Tibetan government in India.

Tenzin Gyatso was the fifth of sixteen children born to a farming family. He was proclaimed the tulku (an Enlightened lama who has consciously decided to take rebirth) of the 13th Dalai Lama at the age of two.

On 17 November 1950, at the age of 15, he was enthroned as Tibet's ruler. Thus he became Tibet's most important political ruler just one month after the People's Republic of China's invasion of Tibet on 7 October 1950. In 1954, he went to Beijing to attempt peace talks with Mao Zedong and other leaders of the PRC. These talks ultimately failed.

After a failed uprising and the collapse of the Tibetan resistance movement in 1959, the Dalai Lama left for India, where he was active in establishing the Central Tibetan Administration (the Tibetan Government in Exile) and in seeking to preserve Tibetan culture and education among the thousands of refugees who accompanied him.

Tenzin Gyatso is a charismatic figure and noted public speaker. This Dalai Lama is the first to travel to the West. There, he has helped to spread Buddhism and to promote the concepts of universal responsibility, secular ethics, and religious harmony.

He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, honorary Canadian citizenship in 2006, and the United States Congressional Gold Medal on 17 October 2007.

Reviews

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a tiny book, I had a lot of take-aways:

“EMOTIONAL TROUBLE
—UNHAPPINESS—
IS ESSENTIALLY
OUR OWN CREATION.”

Dalai Lama. Be Happy (The Dalai Lama’s Be Inspired) (p. 4). Hampton Roads Publishing. Kindle Edition.

What are we doing wrong?

I think this is largely due to two things: The first reason is our lack of knowledge of reality (essentially because we are absent a holistic view); the second reason is a self-centered attitude.

Dalai Lama. Be Happy (The Dalai Lama’s Be Inspired) (p. 5). Hampton Roads Publishing. Kindle Edition.

So how can I change things?

On one level, you can see negative things, but at a deeper level, you can still be calm,

Dalai Lama. Be Happy (The Dalai Lama’s Be Inspired) (p. 36). Hampton Roads Publishing. Kindle Edition.

If it can be overcome, there's no need to worry, because you can make an effort and take action to make change. If there's no way to overcome it, there's no need to worry either, because there is no action you can take to change the situation.

Dalai Lama. Be Happy (The Dalai Lama’s Be Inspired) (p. 81). Hampton Roads Publishing. Kindle Edition.

And how about the Dalai Lama's final sentence:

Think more about others' well-being, then your own problem and sickness will feel less painful. Otherwise, I don't know.

Dalai Lama. Be Happy (The Dalai Lama’s Be Inspired) (p. 85). Hampton Roads Publishing. Kindle Edition.

I love that. "Otherwise, I don't know."

[Sunil Rajasekar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short and easy read. It’s simple but that does not it make it any less profound than other books which are 10X longer. “Happiness is a state of mind and comes from a sense of calm and fulfillment”.


I am a fan of the Dalai Lama. His child like sense of humor, compassion and kindness while dealing with suffering and displacement is admirable and worth emulating.

[Mario Morales · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a short read. And to be fair, I just finished reading Soul on Ice. So that did make a difference about happiness. I do like how the book did make it about how you deal with things. if you can change something do so and don't worry about it. If you can not change something, there is no need to worry. it is out of your control, why worry. the point is, not to worry.

Simple, good stuff.

[Artemisia Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple prescriptions for contentment and peace of mind, for turning anger and frustration into compassion, and for using pain and suffering to feel more empathy for others. This small pocket sized volume holds a lot of practical wisdom from the life-long personal experience of one of the world's most famous spiritual leaders. And yet, it still feels like a casual discussion with a very wise friend.

[Dee Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never read a book by Dalai Lama that was not good … this one is no different.

This is one of a five book series of short books by the Dalai Lama. It was a good read. The latter part of the book was devoted to Q & A … real different than most books were all the questions posed were real life issues and the Dalai Lama’s response was simple and each followed his simple teaching. I look forward to finishing the remaining books in the series.

[Aaronlisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very easy read and I felt that it focused more on the idea of being happy through being compassionate.

I believe that this book is actually a talk given by the Dalai Lama as opposed to an essay or a book written by him about how to become happy.

It's a good starting place to understand some of the Dalai Lama's teaching on happiness.

[Rama Abh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Short-book, easy to read. Talks about happiness with other related topics. Like, happiness and compassionate; that when you have a goal, compassion toward what you do, you will be happy with the result. Happiness and illness; always look at other people sickness and you will find your self better than others, so stop complaining and thank god or karma for what you have.

[Karla Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

For such a short text it was packed with complex concepts. Enjoyable.

[Jason Zeppa · Rating 2 out of 5]

While this started well, the end felt bigoted and hypocritical

[Ayacchi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Berdamai dengan diri sendiri, lepaskan pikiran-pikiran negatif, dan mulailah melihat dari sisi positif.

[Sophia · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was probably a very good speech, but it did not make for a very good book

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick, insightful, thoughtful read, which I hope to use in improving my life going forward.

This little book is intelligently written and filled with insights born from the true and comprehensive understanding of what it means to be truly happy.

This book shows the Dalai Lama's deeper understanding of happiness in that he can instruct others on how to get there but also on how to maintain it, which I think is vital.

[Narinder Bhatia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A concise and simple take on Happiness. I loved the practical, authentic and honest approach adopted to explain the concepts and different aspects of happiness in context of the present world. My favourite section was the Q&A towards the end, which did address some of the questions that i also had in mind. I found the book quite refreshing and an easy read with the message delivered in plain and simple language.