FREQUENTLY happiness
THE ART of Happiness
Dalai Lama
Dr. Howard C. Cutler
Nguyen Duc translated
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PART 1. LIFE PURPOSE
RIGHT TO HAPPINESS
"I think the main goal in life is to seek happiness. Apparently so. Whether we are religious or not, whether we belong any religion, people are looking for something good in life. So I think that every action in life are toward happiness. "
The Dalai Lama has used such words to go straight to the heart speech before a large audience in Arizona. But his notion that the goal is the happiness life has made me think. Then, at only two of us left, I asked:
"He is happy?"
"Yes," the Dalai Lama replied. Stop for a moment, he continued: "Yes, indeed so." Seems sincere in his voice dispelled doubts in me. An honest reflection from the eyes to express his style.
"But happiness is a thing not excessive for the people?" I asked.
Dalai Lama meeting:
"I think that happiness can be achieved if our minds are trained properly." Was a man, who would be happy but also knowledge of a psychologist does not allow me believe so. Freud was the philosopher that men are not created to be happy. The method of training the mind in such a profession we have taken to the pessimistic conclusion that most people just expect it to be moved from a state of hysterical pain to ordinary sadness. So the idea that there is a clear path to happiness may seem very radical to us. Recalling the long years of study, I very rarely hear the word happiness is mentioned as a cure. Of course, people talk a lot to reduce the symptoms of patients with depression, resolve inner conflict ... but I have never been heard to make the patient happy.
- Western notion achieve true happiness always seem inaccurate, confusing and unrealistic. Even letters from the word HAPPY HAPP free thai language means that Iceland had the chance, accidentally. Perhaps we all agree that the nature of mysterious happiness. There were moments of joy in life, happiness seems suddenly to, and not suddenly going to be something that people can develop and retain the mind by training.
When I raised this idea, the Dalai Lama quickly explained: "When it comes to training the mind, I have no idea comes to mind is construed narrowly in practice often. The mind that I comes ( Sem in Tibetan language) has a much broader sense, it includes the intellectual, emotional, hearts and minds. By following some internal principle, we can go through a makeover of opinion, perspective, his life. When discussing internal rules, of course, have many, many methods, but in general, people began to identify the causes lead to happiness and the causes of suffering. After that, we seek to gradually eliminate the causes of suffering, and cultivate the cause of happiness. "
The Dalai Lama insists that he has found several dimensions of personal happiness. And during the week in Arizona, I was a witness: How to express this particular happiness to others, how to create a sense of inviting and friendly to others even through a brief encounter.
One morning after talking to the public, the Dalai Lama walked along the corridor outside the hotel to the room with his entourage. Realizing that a hotel employee standing next to the elevator, he stopped and asked, "Where is she home?". The woman seemed a bit shy before strange men in dark red dress is surrounded by entourage but also sheepishly replied: "Mexico." He inquired the woman a few minutes and then move on, leaving me standing there with her face excitement and fun. The next morning the same time she, the woman has been in place with an old friend as well as hotel staff and few offer both gifts Dalai Lama when he was on the elevator. Brief encounter, but both seem very joyful. After that, each day more and more people to the site and the end of the week was, up to a few dozen people in white and gray uniforms formed a line long before the elevator to greet the Dalai Lama.
Everything was arranged. Right at this moment, thousands of baby born. Some live only a few days or weeks because not known to fight disease, unhappiness. Others live more than a hundred years, tasting all of the taste of life: glory, joy, hatred, love. But despite living only a day or a century, the key question remains the same: What is the purpose of life? What makes our life meaningful?
"The purpose of our existence is to seek happiness." This idea may seem normal and the Western thinkers from Aristotle to William James would agree to do so (a). But is life based on seeking personal happiness as she let up and wiggle rooms for installation? Not really, the polls show that people do not usually self-focused happy, do not get along, kept leaking and conflicts. In contrast, those who are more likely to integrate fun, flexible, creative and enduring. But more important is that they love and more forgiving.
Results from the research showed that people tend to be cheerful openness, want to help others. Experimental member posing as a stranger passed by and "accidentally" dropped a bunch of papers to the streets, and people want to see who is standing trial for collecting papers gium not strangers. Or the when people are listening to a little experiment to their farce on the spirit, they were to meet a poor man (who also assumed that the test) to borrow such money. And we found that funny often help other people. So the notion that the pursuit of happiness and personal status generally leads to selfishness and isolation is not true and all of us can experience in the daily living. Suppose we have a traffic jam. After about 20 minutes, the flow starts very slowly and we see a car from the lane next to leave the lights on the car before us. If you're happy appears, we will slow down and let them through, but if you're having, we will increase the speed to shorten the gap and think you have to wait even 20 minutes, the father of our stars!
So we start with a basic premise that the purpose of life is to seek happiness. With the prospect that happiness is a real thing, people began to press forward in a positive way and to identify the causes leading to happiness, we will see that this is the quest for personal benefit people, families and our society a lot.
Source of Happiness
Two years ago, a friend of mine may get a surprise. Grade 18 months before this time, she resigned nurses and partnerships with two friends opened a small company health care. The business to a consortium spiraling then bought the company with a huge amount. My friend through good fortune became wealthy enough to retire at age 32. Recently came across, I was asking her to enjoy life like early retirement.
"Yes, it is interesting to travel and do the things you want to do, but it was after the stimulus money created by initially doing everything back to normal. I mean that Although there are other changes - I bought a new house with full furniture - but overall, I do not feel happier than before ". Also at about this time, another friend of mine (same age as you said she) knew that he was HIV positive. We discuss ways to deal with this illness. He said: "At first, of course, left me stunned and fall I took last year to accept the truth that cruel. But then things suddenly changed. Before I get out more and be or at any time, I feel much happier. I am more grateful for everyday things, I am grateful to think that I was lucky not to be transferred to AIDS and I really enjoy what I there. Although not want to be sick, to recognize that the illness has changed who I am. "
"Changes like?" I asked. My friend replied:
"You know, I respect the previous material, but a year after that to get sick, another world opened up for me. For the first time in my life began to explore spiritual matters, reading and talk with friends ... I discovered the problems that I never thought of. In the morning wake up, think about what will happen during the day is enough to make me comfortable. "
Both characters here also reflects a fundamental problem, that happiness is in our mind, not by external events . Success can make us temporarily elated and tragedies can make people depressed but sooner or later we will return to normal psychological state. In psychology we call this condition to adapt to circumstances and none of us can experience this in everyday life. Increase salary and buy a new car, which was co-honored ... can make us excited for a while but then will return to normal. Also, arguing with friends, or a damaged car minor accident also makes us disappointed, but disappointment will pass quickly. This trend is not limited in the anecdote of life that even the great events, too. The researchers tracked those in the Illinois lottery or betting big prize and that soon, these people are back to normal psychological state or vice versa, those persons with chronic disease risk poverty such as cancer, polio and achieve normal or near normal after a period of adjustment.
So what has led us back to normal psychological condition although a different outdoor scenes in the sky one? And more important is the psychological condition we can improve it? The research suggests that happy state of each individual part influenced by genetics. This view is supported by the survey forms in the psychology of twins, regardless of the pair was brought together or far apart: the twins often have quite a lot in common because they have the same a genetic structure.
Although genetic factors that affect human happiness - large or small effect is not clear conclusion - what psychologists would agree that regardless of humans born more or less optimistic, people can still be improved by mental factors. Because of that happiness depends on our perspective of life and indeed, at any given time, we are not completely happy or not depends on external circumstances that we depend on cognitive domains Assembly circumstances surrounding how and we are satisfied with what we have or not?
COMPARATIVE PSYCHOLOGY
What makes a model for the perception and satisfaction level of our? feeling of satisfaction we are affected by trend comparison . When comparing the current situation with the past, we would be pleased if the present better. For example, our wages for any reason there is increased 30.000 instead of 20.000 a year, but this is not the ideal food to make us happy because soon we will find that 30.000 is not enough and we look forward to 40.000. In addition, we also compared with those around you. No matter how much we do but if less than his neighbors a bit that we are not happy then. The international athletes complained about the salary of one million, two million, three million of them in reference to a higher salary of your colleagues. This trend supports HL Mencken when he defines a rich income is $ 100 higher than the brothers of his rowing.
So is our satisfaction depends on someone that I used to compare with his. And of course we are much more comparable, not just income. Always afraid that someone smarter, more successful, more handsome ... will make us born jealousy, frustration and sorrow. But do not forget that this tendency to compare if used wisely has the opposite effect, means that we can make sense of satisfaction growth by comparison with those less fortunate than we .
Researchers in many cases have found that the level of satisfaction a person can rise very much, but just change the desires of that person, or show them that things could get worse. In one study, female students of the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee were shown a film about the dilapidated state of the gruesome end of the century, or to write about the tragedy they experienced imagine as burned through, malformed ... Then they were asked to rate the quality of their lives. The result is a feeling of satisfaction with the lives of girls is greatly increased. A study by the University of New York at Buffallo proceed as follows: Subjects were required to complete the sentence "I'm glad not ..." and they must do so five times in a row. Later it was found that these people are showing an increasing sense of enjoyment of life. Parallel to this group, another group was required to complete the sentence "I wish I were ...." and as a result of the study, this group pessimistic, more depressed with life.
What this study (the desire for change may increase or decrease the satisfaction level of our life) also show that the supremacy of the mind to be happy or not in life. Dalai Lama explains: "While it is possible to achieve happiness is not an easy task." Happiness is more level, such as in Buddhism, it usually refers to four elements that make up happiness (also known as customer satisfaction): health, adequate physical and spiritual enlightenment . These conditions are the same as in the overall happiness that we pursue.
"Let's temporarily put aside the desire purely as religious and spiritual enlightenment, the perfection ... which only refers to the joy and happiness in daily life with the concept of material . In this framework, often we find the essential elements to create happiness. such health is considered one of the determinants, or material possessions we accumulate. You friends is also a factor necessary for happiness because everyone knows that his friends who can trust, confide or rely on when needed. So, all these elements are essential to achieve be happy, but to use them thoroughly on the goal of building a happy life, every individual should know that our mind is the basic conditions .
"Using the above factors wisely and positive use of wealth, his health to help others such as your life will be happier. Conversely, these conditions only little impact on human life, if not supported by an adequate psychological condition. For example, in the heart of every foster hatred, your health will not be any good or if the heart you are not happy with the money helpful? In other words, if the peace of mind is not very abundance though, you also feel comfortable love life or vice versa in the heart full of hatred, the jealousy of wealth material does not mean anything. In today's world, many countries developed material, but people are not happy. Beneath the glossy shell of matter is the psychological instability leading to frustrating situation, unnecessary controversy makes people forget the men find alcohol, drugs and even worse, destroy life. Therefore, money is not guaranteed for a happy life. Love you What did not help while you are under stress or angry, their presence at this time sometimes makes you treat a cold and unfriendly. All this has been mentioned shows the tremendous influence of mental factors in daily life. So we must properly handle these elements. Not to speak of high things away, even in everyday life, mind idle as the bar was quiet life becomes more exciting happy. "
Dalai Lama to stop for a minute like the idea that saturate my mind and then he continued: "I should also add that when it comes to a quiet state of mind (peace of mind), we not to be confused with accidental emotional neglect. Thoughts peace does not mean empty silence that real peace comes from the compassion, kindness with a high emotional level. In short, absence of internal rules provide peace of mind, these external conditions can not bring happiness to you or in other words, if an interest is whether the lack of conditions (physical ) outside, you still have a happy life, happy.
SATISFACTION IN INTERNAL
In one afternoon, while walking across the parking lot to meet the Dalai Lama, I found a brand new Toyota Land Cruiser. I stopped the car and watching my favorite and which would one day be employed. Then, at the start of session conversation, I asked: "Sometimes people have the impression that the entire Western civilization on the basis of material possession, we were beset by the advertisement of the product new and not easy to not be affected. We want so many things and this desire does not stop. Please talk a bit about his desire. "
Dalai Lama replied, "I think there are two kinds of desire. There is the desire to positively as happiness, the desire for peace, hope for this world harmony, friendship over such . The libido is very useful. But while the desire is often too limited and lead to trouble. For instance, sometimes I go shopping at the supermarket. I like to visit the supermarket because I was see good things here. When you see the different products I engender feelings: "Oh, I like this one, I want that." But the idea will appear: "Well, there is actually something I need this? "the answer usually is not. If you just follow these easy loose first thought is not that you need bags soon. As always the desire of the needs based of life such as clothing, housing, food ... is the desire to appropriate. "Sometimes a desire to become excessive or negative is due to circumstances surrounding society. Suppose a society living in prosperity (in the West) and life should have a dream car, a car nothing wrong but if you live in a poor village in India, in That car is completely unnecessary desire for a car (even if you have enough money) could lead to trouble.
This desire is what causes jealousy from the people around or even in the affluent society, if you just want more and cars "genuine" than the same consequences. "
I argued:
"But I do not find that purchasing a more expensive car will make people see consequences as long as he or she have enough money. If the car is more expensive than my neighbor's car, then the person he is rather jealous and I think that I would meet and enjoy more. "
Dalai Lama shook his head and answered with certainty:
"Not true. Complacency is the condition could not identify a positive action or negative. A murderer can be satisfied at the murder, but that is not satisfying the conditions justify murder . All the evil deed as lying, stealing, adultery .... can be done when people have a sense of satisfaction about it. The line between negative and positive of a action is not satisfied when we take action, but the later consequences of this action. In case a person wants their cars more and more expensive, he will never be satisfied desire that: he goes back to at some point because he will be limited to one's own. But no matter what the limit is reached, he will not give up hope and become a recession, depression I.
"So I think that desire often leads to excessive greed, a desire to exaggerate the state based on excessive expectations and greed often makes people angry, upset and a lot of trouble. When discussion about greed, it was found that although greedy thai escape from the idea of possession, but possession is not satisfied greed so it becomes infinite, a kind of bottomless pockets. One thing special about taking lam is whether its motivation was to find satisfaction but ironically, it was still not satisfied after possession is what you want. Nhut true antithesis of greed is satisfied . If you know enough is enough then whether or not you possess that is enough " [1] .
So how to achieve the state of inner satisfaction? There are two ways. The first is to possess all the things we want from money, homes, cars, even a great body. Dalai Lama said above about how this is a time when we will meet our own limited means can not do any more. The second way is more reliable rather than his desire to possess something, please enjoy what you have.
One night, projection television interview with actor Christopher Reeve (who played Superman is preferred) after a horse fell on in 1994 and is paralyzed due to spinal cord injury itself. When asked if he was faced with the situation how it paralyzed Reeve said that he was completely disappointed in the room during the revival, but this situation go away pretty quickly and he was pleased I still say good luck. He talked about the grace of his wife and children as well as grateful for the outstanding progress of medicine because he said that if the accident occurred a few years earlier, perhaps he was dead. When talking about adjusting to life processes to fit a body paralyzed, Reeve said that while feeling pretty desperate to be overcome quickly, then he would feel uncomfortable, jealousy, bitterness with accidentally saying the others as "I have to run up the stairs and get the item" for example. To cope with this feeling, Reeve said: "I realized that the only way to continue to live a self-review myself, as I still do and in my case, fortunately mind remain alert so I still use it. " Focus on the rest of his body healed, Reeve has used his mind to enhance the interest of the public about spinal cord injury patients, helping others and he was to write and make movies anymore.
Intrinsic value
We have seen that happiness is in our mind rather than the external value of money, or even the health deprivation. There are other sources of happiness are very close to the satisfaction internally, which is said to be the intrinsic value of his and the Dalai Lama has said on this issue as follows:
"For example in my case, assuming as I do not have deep feelings about people, not your ability to make good the loss of water, the loss of political power in Tibet, I will encountered many difficulties to become a refugee. When I was at home, as well as my personal office of a lama respect respect for the masses though sometimes only form. But if considered as the only correlation between mass loss for me, when my country will be extremely difficult. But there is something else worth and dignity to contact with humans: He still contact them because he remains a man in the human community. He shared with them that the overall capital. The common denominator is that makes him worth and dignity. It is the spiritual consolation in case he has lost all all " .
Dalai Lama paused a moment to take a sip of tea. He nodded to say: "It is unfortunate that in his case history have been the king must give up land and usurp the latter part of the story is not very well. I think there is no affection and solidarity with those around us, we will be very difficult to live.
"In a general way, we can split into two different types of people: The first case, he can be a successful, wealthy farmers are respected. If the person's quality based only on material substances when there is wealth, he also has a sense of peace and the material loses, he will not have to rely on. In the second, he also successful, rich, but at the same time are the love and compassion for those around you. When loss of wealth, he still has a shelter and still maintain dignity. It's practical significance of intrinsic value. "
Happiness and happy
Several months after the conversation of the Dalai Lama in Arizona, I visited him at his home in Dharamsala on a muggy afternoon in July and wet. I arrived sweaty people having to wade from the neighbors. Living in a country's climate is dry, I almost unbearable humidity of the day, so start talking, I'm uncomfortable. Conversely Dalai Lama seems excited. That day we exchanged views on the idea of pleasure. At some point in the conversation, the Dalai Lama gave a very important comment:
"Now, sometimes people confuse happiness with pleasure. Not long ago, I talked with a number of listeners at Rajpur in India on the subject of happiness is the purpose of life. A hearing false statements about the doctrine of Rajneesh said that the happiest moment is when sexual. As a result, the sensual man is the happiest lot and he wanted to know how I think about it. I responded that according to my notion, the highest level of happiness is when man reaches of liberation that is no longer suffering. That is what true happiness, eternal and it is related to heart and our minds. Happiness opposite sex based on non-durable material, this also takes tomorrow. " Of course, happiness and pleasure are two different things This may seem obvious that we often get confused and I have found a very eloquent example of this in a therapy session after the visit that .
Heather is a counselor in the Phoenix area. She was young and single. Although interest in the work related to youth crime, more and more not like her she is in the area. She often complained about the increase in population, traffic and hot summer. She then earned a job at a small village in the mountains and beautiful. She came to this village many times and always dreamed would be living there. It was perfect. Only one problem with the new job, she must communicate with adult crimes.
Many weeks passed, and Heather can not be definitive about whether to get a new job or not. She wrote out a list of things good and bad of the new job but still useless because both sides seem equal. She explained: "I know that I will not like the new job with the story I'm doing, but as the idea is to live in that area is enough to make me happy. I love that area dies, only to be in it is enough, and I could not stand the sun here. I do not know what to do! " Listen to the words used glad that Heather, I suddenly remembered a talk with the Dalai Lama. Scrutiny I then asked her once: "The move to areas that will make her more happy or more happy?".
Heather stopped for a while, seems to think. Finally she said:
"I do not know ... I think it will make me happy but not satisfied certain happiness for me. Actually I do not think I would much fun when interacting with an adult crime, and I feel very happy to work with the children in the current job. "
Just point to the difference between happiness and joy is all seems clearer and Heather then chose a much easier way. She decided to stay in Phoenix. She still complains about the summer here, but after careful consideration and decided to stay, she becomes happier and the heat also seems more comfortable.
Every day we face numerous decisions and choices and often we choose the "good for them" though the right choice in many cases be accompanied by other sacrifices. For decades, men and women were very hard to define the role of happiness in their lives.
Every legion of philosophers, theologians, psychologists are exploring the relationship between us and the joy. In the third century BC, Epicurus argued that "pleasure is the starting point but also the end of the grace of life" and although accepting the important role of happiness, he also recognized the that if not suppresses, happiness leads to misery.
At the end of the 19th century philosopher Sigmund Freud made his own arguments about the rapture. He said that the main driving force to promote all mental activity is the desire to liberate the hidden physical memory. By the 20th century, the researchers looked at the problem with more philosophical ideas and the neurosurgeon was plug the electrodes into the nerve center to find the cause of joy when electrical stimulation. No one needs to philosophers, analysts or scientists to help us know how happy. We know when to feel happy. We know that the smiles of loved ones, through the hot tub on a cold evening or the beauty of the sunset - but at the same time, many people also know that the pleasure caused by drugs, alcohol tea, sensuality and gambling offers. These are very real happy with it so many false leads.
Although not easy to avoid the negative pleasure, fortunately, we also have a place to start: always remember that our life is to seek happiness and as the Dalai Lama say, this is a fact is unmistakable. Keep that idea, we will easily fall and refused even temporary happiness. The reason we have difficulty saying "no" because the word not often associated with ideas rejected, left out - but there's a better way, that we wonder: "Had this gives happiness? ". The question is simple effective means for us to navigate life, not just minor things. Faced with these decisions and choices every day, this question can change the life, instead of denial, we become search (true happiness). Also, as the Dalai Lama said, happiness also depends on the stability and persistence as a new way not affected by the ups and downs, sad happy life. With this perspective, we easily made the right decision because we have acted on the basis for the seizure rather, an attitude of inviting and welcoming rather than away from it caused deep consequences identity: we become more receptive, more open to life.
TRAINING CENTER TO HAPPINESS to receive
ROAD OF HAPPINESS
Recognising that the mind is the most important causes of happiness, of course does not mean abandoning the basic material needs such as rice clothes home. But when these needs are met, then we should know that: We do not need more money, do not have more success and fame do not need to have a beautiful body or a friend tri sound. Right now, right this very hour, we have a mind and it's all we need to have the means to achieve happiness . Dalai Lama says about the heart as follows:
"Heart or mind can take many forms. Just like the conditions and external objects, things are useful, there are secondary effects and secondary neutral. When confronted with the external conditions, we have identify what bad, what good. Good is retained to spend, bad throw. mind or consciousness we also have thousands of different forms and we must also identify to retain the sense of positive, nice and try to reduce the negative sense, immoral. "
"So the first step in seeking happiness is learning" . First, to know why the feelings or bad behavior / bad and good behavior / good for us. Then to find out why bad behavior is not only bad for us personally, but also to social, community and the future of the world. So we understand enough to face that determination overcoming them. Besides being aware of the benefits to support good behavior by giving so that also made a commitment to nurture and develop them despite the difficulties. This is a dual job, two jobs at once. In the process of distinguishing emotions and behavior good or bad, we gradually developed a determination to change the way we feel and how we had in hand the secret of happiness.
"In Buddhism, the causal relationship is considered a natural law and it applies to real life. In everyday life, the best way to stop the things you do not like is to make the base cause of these things are not arising. Similarly, for the things they like it of course is to cultivate, fostering the cause of its committees. For the mind as well. To be happy or want avoid suffering, we must find our roots to grow or stop. Causal must be carefully comprehend.
"We have talked to the role of supreme consciousness of the happiness to be followed by examining different forms of consciousness that we often feel. We have to distinguish clearly that these forms of consciousness. "
I said, "Please him for a few specific examples of the different states of consciousness and how to classify them." Dalai Lama explains:
"For example, hate, jealousy, anger ... is a dangerous emotion. We see them as negative emotions because they destroy happiness. When you hate someone, or if the hearts are filled with hatred for you, others are just full of hostility. As a result of this state are you more afraid, more hesitant and more insecure. In contrast, emotions such as love , kindness is very positive and helpful ...."
I interrupted: "I want to know ... as He said there are thousands of different emotions, so he can define what a person is psychologically healthy, easy to get along? I think we we can use that definition as a guide to distinguish the emotions should be cultivated or to be contained. "
The Dalai Lama smiled and he answered me with inherent modesty: "As a psychologist, he knows better than I what a healthy person but psychologically!"
"But I mean the idea of him".
"In my opinion, from the heart, a warm, kind, who are psychologically healthy. If you just keep loving feeling, love, open your mind and through that, you will communicate very easily with others. The warmth will create the friendly liberal, sincere. You will realize that everyone is like you and therefore you can easily contact everyone . friendship will arise and thus do not need to hide and the result is fear, doubt, uncertainty will naturally disappear. It also creates confidence in others: for example you know someone capable of and you know they do the things you need to, but if you think that person is not the kind you seem very doubtful, and from there, creating a gap between them and you.
"So I think that cultivate the positive psychological states such as kindness, love to make people get a psychological healthy and happy."
PRINCIPLES OF MENTAL
Listen to the Dalai Lama said, I noticed a tendency to reach true happiness of his appeal because of the very real and reasonable: Identifying and fostering positive mental state - to identify and remove the state mental negative. Although new, the form heard this analogy may seem difficult but I'm as intrigued by way of arguing with the method of it. I also like the categorization of the mental state of the Dalai Lama. Instead of using the standard critique moral character as: "Greed is a sin", "hatred is evil," to distinguish his emotions positively or negatively on the basis that the This emotion can lead us to true happiness or not.
Continue the conversation in the afternoon the next day, I asked: "If happiness is simply about cultivating positive emotions such as kindness, joy ... the mind why so many people are still not happy, happy ? ".
Dalai Lama replied:
"To achieve true happiness we must change the concept of life, ways of thinking and this is not easy. It requires us to apply many factors from many different ways. For example, should not think only a key or a secret can solve everything. As in the care of his physical body, we need a lot of vitamins and nutrients than to just a few things - also, want to achieve happiness, we need many different methods and different ways. At the same time to overcome the negative thoughts, we can not just use a few methods legal practice. Change takes time . Even the physical changes as well, as the case goes from region to other areas, people need time to get used to the new environment. Go to the mind as well time . There are many negative mental states that we need to remember and resistance point by point. This story is not easy, it requires us to repeat many times the different techniques as well as we need time to become familiar with how to do it. This is a learning process.
"But over time we also create positive change. Every morning wake up, we can develop a positive motivation by thinking," I will use today a More usefully, I should not waste today. "Then the night before going to sleep, review the work done, ask yourself:" I have used today as I intend? "section. If this is intended, let us delight. If not, repentance and self-criticism. With such methods, we can gradually strengthen the positive mind.
"In my own case, as a Buddhist monk, I believe in Buddhism, and through personal experience, I know that the practice of Buddhism is very good for me. But because habits from training set life, the emotion is anger or passion emerged. And I do like this: First, I think the positive value of the practice, and determination to foster connections, and finally attempt to make out. At first, the practice of positive should be done very little negative impact is still strong, but slowly, the growth of the active practice will cause negative emotions automatically reduced. So Dharma practice [2] is a public battle of the mind to replace negative habits anciently by the new rules more positive.
"No matter what method of practice will also help us in the change and transform themselves. There are many ways to help us keep the peace mind when events occur disturbs the mind . If any files to rehearse these methods, we can reach the state that the disorder may occur, but the negative effects of them only appear at the surface of consciousness like the ripples freak out over the water and not affect the lake bottom. Although not very experienced, I was in the process of this practice. So sometimes get the tragic news, I also confused at the same time, but then that feeling passes quickly. Or felt annoyed or angry, too, then I can not glance into the depths of the mind. BE Han Thu - This does not happen overnight, but only after much labor practice. "
Of course not overnight, the Dalai Lama has trained his mind since last 4 years.
Hone your mind in a way that the system is feasible due to the structure and function of the brain. We are born with a brain, including the emotional patterns have genetic traits. We deal with the situation around in ways that help us live longer based on the conditions of mental and physical birth. These conditions are encrypted (encoded) into a multitude of patterns are used to launch the nerve cells, especially brain cells react to an event, an experience or a thought out. But the model still does not boot, which is very adaptable, easy to change. The neurologist noted that the brain can create new patterns, new synthesis between neurons and catalysts to meet the new requirements. Strictly speaking, the brain is so malleable, always changing, rearranging, depending on ideas and new experiences. As a result, the function of each neuron to change so that the signal is easier to move. Scientists call this the shape (plasticity) of the brain. Two doctors and Avi Kami Leslie Underleider at National Institute of Mental Health has made the following experiment: Subjects were asked to do simple movements such as finger span. Part of the brain involved in controlling this movement was connected to a separator image (MRI scan). The objects implement this action for four consecutive weeks, as long as it moves faster and much better performance. After 4 weeks, air distribution shows the brain becomes larger contact. This means repeating a movement to increase the number of neurons and alter the link between these cells together.
This amazing feature of the brain are the basis of the transformation of the mind in terms of physics. By mobilizing the ideas and practice new ways of thinking, we can rearrange the nerve cells as well as change the way the brain. It also is the foundation of the idea that the inner transformation begins with learning (new input), gradually changing the old process (the start of the nervous tissue is available) using the new process (create new neural circuits).
Thus, training the mind to accept happiness is a feasible task.
Code of Ethics
During a conversation about training the mind to receive the happiness, the Dalai Lama has pointed out:
"I think the ethical behavior is a characteristic of the internal rules in order to lead a happier life. People called ethics. The great masters like Buddha advised like us to do good and avoid evil. An action is considered good or evil, depending on state of mind (this action artifacts) with or without discipline. It is thought that mind disciplined to happiness and mental discipline not lead to suffering. Applying this discipline into the human mind is the essence of Buddhism .
"When it comes to discipline, I mean self-discipline rather than
discipline is not something imposed by others, and I also want to talk about things people discipline is applied to overcome the negative situation. A gang may need discipline to succeed in looting activities, but this kind of discipline is useless. "
Dalai Lama to stop for a moment seemed to think or concentrate. It may be that he is looking for a suitable word in English. I'm not sure but the next time you think about this as I see the learning and application of discipline does not seem to agree with the noble goals of true happiness, advancement, or a spiritual transformation the whole interior. In my opinion, the conquest of happiness is a voluntary process and spontaneous.
I raised this question and said: "He described the emotional and behavioral data is also negative emotions and aggressive behavior is healthy. Then he said that undisciplined mind often creates the negative / evil, so we must learn to exercise the mind to increase positive behaviors / good. But what I wonder as his definition of negative behavior / data are behavior leads to suffering, while the positive behaviors / healing that leads to happiness. He also made a precondition that all beings want happiness and avoid suffering and this wish is a weak congenital factors rather than by train. The question is: If we do not want congenital anguish why people do not automatically shift the negative behavior / data during my growing. Also, if we want to innate happiness, why people are not nearly automatic behaviors active / healthy as more and more experience? I'd say that if you do good and lead to human happiness and want to be happy, people have to heal naturally (as a spontaneous and unconscious) but why should we need education, training and discipline to do well? ".
Dalai Lama shook his head and replied: "In daily life and habits generally speaking, education is key factor to obtaining a successful and happy life. But knowledge is not natural have - we have to go through a learning process systematically. But know that this training process is very difficult (if not, the students were not expecting a summer holiday too much!) but we still need it to achieve a successful life and joy.
"Also, do not sound natural that we have trained to self-healing. It is more necessary than in the modern society as a tendency for that good and evil is a matter within the scope of belief. People often think that religion is responsible for defining what is good and what is evil - but today, religion has lost much prestige and influence in the absence of rules secular ethics instead, so people are less and less attention to living a virtuous life. So I think that people should be trying to have a special right knowledge about this.
"As my example, I still believe that the human self is friendly and loving - but the self is not strong enough (to promote people-friendly living and loving) , so we have to develop self- this and by changing the perception of ourselves through learning and understanding, we can make a huge impact in relationship with others and in the daily life of people " .
I still stubbornly argued: "He said to the similarities between the pure education and training - I agree - but he also talked about the behavior that he called a healthy lead to happiness and suffering resulting data . Why do we have to learn a new hard to identify what conduct is conduct is good and evil, as well as hard to implement the new practice behaviors are positive and avoid negative behavior? Tell easier to understand, if he would hand in a fire burns. His hand drawn and hand actions that will make him into the fire of pain. He did not have education or training to know that no hardship should put your hands into the fire again.
"So why all the behaviors or feelings lead to suffering is not easily identified as a hand into the fire? For example, he said that anger and hatred is clear that the negative emotions lead to suffering, but why do people need to know education is the harm of that away? So anger and hatred makes people feel uncomfortable, uneasy, so why the do not naturally avoid them in the future? "
Dalai Lama listened to me attentively with eyes wide open and he seemed surprised at the question of me grounded. He laughed a seemingly friendly manner and said: "When it comes to free knowledge or solve a problem, you should understand that knowledge has many different levels. For example, in the stone age, people do not know yet cook food to eat because of biological needs, so they eat like wild animals. By the time humanity evolved, there was cooking food, and then adds spice to the password, then how do the many different dishes. Today if we have a disease and evidence that some food that is not good for the body we use to avoid, though there may still appetite these items. Well then, it is clear that the understanding of man as sophisticated, we will confront the world around them more effectively.
He also needs to sense the short term consequences and the public of their actions and consider them carefully. For example, to overcome anger. Animals may feel angry, but they can not understand that this emotion is harmful. We humans are at a level other than that we have self-awareness, which means we can observe when anger rises, and that feeling will ruin us - It is the ability to reason - therefore not as simple as putting your hands into the fire, burns, then that should not do so again in the future. The level of education and more sophisticated knowledge to discern what is good and what is more evil makes him attain happiness more effectively. So I said that education and knowledge are important. "
Realizing that I still do not fully agree with the notion that education is the only way to transform the internal, the Dalai Lama said:
"Society's contemporary we have a problem, it is that we tend to think that the only purpose of education makes people more intelligent and better counsel. Until that sometimes it seems that those who not highly educated, not very subtle are those of the upright, more honest. However, our society does not emphasize much on this point. the weakest application of education and knowledge is help us understand the importance of meditation as well as the application of discipline in mind - the most appropriate application of knowledge and intelligence is to create change within to promote a noble soul .
Restoring Happiness CONGENITAL
THE NATURE OF THE BASIS FOR OUR
"Now, we are born to seek happiness. And it is clear that love, affection, intimacy and kindness are the feelings of happiness. I believe that all of us are essentially fun, be able to achieve a loving state of mind from which to be happy. In fact, one of my inherent belief that people inherit not only our pride is in fact, base to the nature of man is gentle tenderness. "
I asked, "Where he based on that for that?" Dalai Lama meeting:
"In Buddhism, the Buddha nature is the doctrine that the nature of all sentient beings (animals have emotions) is gentle and not aggressive [3] . But one can accept this point without reference to the Buddha Buddha-nature. My belief is also based on a different platform: I believe that love and kindness is the indispensable factor in the daily lives of people not only religious.
"First of all, if you look at the habits of life from childhood until death, we can see that people were raised with compassion of others. Starting at birth, the first action are breastfeeding. This is an act of loving kindness. Without this action, we can not survive. And it is clear that this action will not be satisfied if an affection mutual support. For the child, if not feel love for people to feed the child can not breastfeed, and toward the mother, if there is no love for the baby, the milk can not flow out. It's true. It's life.
"Next, the structure of our physical well seem more consistent with the feelings of love and kindness. We can see the emotion in favor, affection makes us more energetic, youthful in anger, fear and hatred which the people into the spirit, not comfortable. one can easily see the affection makes us more excited as the people around loving attitude, enthusiasm for with her. The peaceful feelings and positive actions to come to a happy life at home and in society.
"So I think that the nature of man is the basis for peaceful, and if so, then it is obviously very convenient if you live a reasonable life in accordance with that nature.
I asked, "If human nature is love and compassion, He explains how the conflicts and violent acts around us?".
The Dalai Lama nodded once before answering:
"Of course we can not ignore the existence of conflicts and tensions, not only in the mind of the individual, but to the whole family, social, national and international contact us with others. Looking at individual aspects of this, some authors suggest that human nature is aggressive. These people are based on human history and that, compared with other mammals, the more aggressive species. Or they argue that compassion is part of the mind but also the aggressive part of the mind, and two would be equivalent to each other. At this point, tilt the Dalai Lama forward, with a voice full of stocky and looks serious, he said, "But I firmly believe that human nature is love, kindness and this is an outstanding feature. Hostility, aggressiveness, violence also, but I think it belongs to the secondary surface, and only when we are frustrated in trying to make love and kindness. They are not human identity.
"Therefore, even though violent acts have occurred, I believe that the conflict not of nature, which comes from human skills. One thing lacking balance skills, intelligence and abuse gifted imagination. Looking at the evolution of human and compared with other animals, their physical body is quite weak, but thanks to the development of intelligence, people can use invented tools or methods to control the unfavorable conditions of nature. By the time human society and environmental conditions become more complex, skills and awareness to our more skilful to meet the increasing demands of life. As such, human nature is gentle while skills are developed only later - and if skills development is not balanced, not be guided by loving kindness, it can lead to disaster, ruined.
"But it's important to note that the conflict caused by the abuse of human intelligence, but people also can use that intelligence to manage the conflict. 'Intelligence cooperation with kindness and good will is the focal point for cooperation and constructive. Knowledge, education and compassion together will make us respect the views and interests of others and this is the basic spirit of harmony , mediation is used to resolve conflicts and manage aggressive feelings. "
The Dalai Lama looked at the clock and then concludes: "Thus, although through many conflicts and violence, I think the optimal solution to address these actions in internal and external context is to identity of the gentleness and kindness of the people. " He looked at his watch again, and smiled: "We should stop this here, today I pretty much talk then."
SUSPECT ON THE NATURE OF TYPE
For decades, the view of the Dalai Lama on foot gentleness and kindness of the people gradually accepted in the West, though not simple. The idea that human nature is selfish was ingrained in the human brain from the mind long distant past as well as influenced Western culture for centuries. Of course there are many people against this idea as in the case of David Hume in the mid 18th century. David has written a lot about human kindness. Then Charles Darwin in the 19th century also adopted "compassionate nature" of humanity. But overall, but consider the pessimistic ideas about human nature has deep roots in human culture, at least from the 17th century, under the influence of philosophers such as Thomas Hobbes with ideas rather about people gloomy. Hobbes said that people like violence, disputes, conflicts and often only think about yourself. He rejected the notion that people "people spend a good primary computer." One day, people he encountered a beggar alms, and supernatant was asked about this action. Hobbes replies, "I do not have money to help people that are begging to me from feeling sorrow when witnessing his misery."
The same philosopher George Santayana Spain in the early 20th century. He said that the generous, caring man of real though but very faint, transient, not enduring in human nature. "Just dig up a thin layer, you will see a the brutality, intolerance, and extremely selfish. " It is unfortunate science and Western psychology has taken hold of this prejudice and approved, even encouraged the concept of selfishness. In the early days of modern psychology, people also rely on such assumptions.
After easily accept the idea of selfishness, a number of famous scientists for several hundred years says more about the violent nature of man. Freud said: "penchant aggressive (human) is calculated from the original gas, and sale of natural self-preservation." Later in the 20th century, two other authors is Robert Ardrey and Konrad Lorenz after studying the pattern of action of some wild animals (animals live by killing and eating other animals) have the argued that humans, too: always been driven by land tenure orientation.
But in recent years, a new trend of thought have emerged to resist the pessimistic notion about people. This trend is very close to the views of the Dalai Lama on foot gentleness and kindness of humanity. In two or three decades, hundreds of scientific surveys have shown that aggression is not the man's identity and violence is due to the facts of biological, social circumstances and the environment. Table Seville Statement on Violence report was drawn in 1986 after the study the most modern, is the presence and co-signed by 20 leading scientists in the world, perhaps the work scope and content most contact. In this statement, it does not exclude the presence of the violence, but stressed that it is unscientific to say that we have a penchant for war or violence. These behaviors are not programmed by genetic traits in human nature (that behavior is not genetically Programmed into human nature) . It is said that even though we have the neural structures control the violence, but these actions are not spontaneously restart. The physiological functions of the nerves, there is nothing wrong we have to deal with acts of violence. Most research on human nature are seen who have the potential to become a loving tolerance aggressive or violent, but the orders are set.
Many contemporary researchers have not only rejected the idea that human identity aggressive, but even nature is selfish was broke. C. Daniel Batson and Nancy Eisenberg Arizona State University were investigating a lot of research over the years and found that people tend to favor altruistic actions. Some scientists such as Dr. Linda Wilson sociology has quit finding reasons for these findings. She argues that altruism is part of the survival instincts of humanity and this is completely opposite ideas with thinkers days ago, when you said that people hate nature, aggressive. Dr. Wilson has surveyed more than 100 natural disasters, and she found patterns of altruism of the victims have played an important role in how the work of recovery. Cooperation and mutual assistance has made the victims to avoid the psychological problems caused by natural disasters.
Tendency to cooperate with others, working for the benefit of others and themselves may have had roots deep in human identity when people work together to increase the chances of survival from the ancient history. This nature today still exists. The study by Dr. Larry Scherwitz on the risk of heart disease has shown that self-focused (ie those who are saying to yourself, my, my, in the interview) are easily heart disease even though the action to be harmful to their health is under control. Scientists also discovered that non-integration into community life or health problems, unhappy and prone to depression.
Reached out to help others can be a basic demand of the people like to communicate that. One can find similarities with the development of language, the ability of kindness, selflessness is a wonderful characteristic of humanity. There are special areas in the brain for language skills. If we have the appropriate environment, then these areas will grow and become older that language ability more advanced than our own. Similarly, people may be endowed with "seeds of love", and if the circumstances meet convenience - family, society, the efforts of ourselves - the seeds will germinate . With that idea, the researchers now are trying to seek out the optimum environmental conditions to help children develop loving kindness, the care. And we have identified a number of facts: Children need parents to control emotions, love to help - that set the limits for children's behavior - that teach responsible their actions - guiding children's attention on the consequences of their behavior towards others ...
Review the explanation of the basis for the nature of man (from hatred to become assistance) could open up a new prospect. If we start with the assumption of human self-interest of the children is a perfect example - From birth, children seem to be programmed with one thing in mind: to satisfy its own needs (food, facilities for the body ...). But if we remove the hypothesis that basic selfishness, a whole new picture appears. We can easily say that the baby was born with a unique program that brings joy, joy to others. Just look at a healthy infant, we also difficult to deny the essence of human tenderness. And from this advantage, we may assume that the ability to bring joy to others is innate. At birth, a baby only developed sense of smell at the 5% compared with adults and even less taste, but the senses, aiming to smell and taste of milk. Action for child feeding not only provides nutrients for the baby, but also to relieve pressure in the mother breast. Thus, one might say that the baby has an innate ability to bring joy to the mother by reducing the pressure in the chest.
The baby also be programmed in terms of biology to identify and react to the face. Hardly anyone does not feel joy when a child stared into his eyes impartially with a cheerful smile. The study of animal behavior that when the baby laughed for the care of it or look into their eyes it is time to act on the set of biological, emotional release gentle, quiet in when he also adheres to the wrong use of a similar instinct. In the process of learning about human identity, people increasingly realize that the idea of a baby at birth is only a machine eat and sleep, are completely selfish way for a new concept for that it is a living being to the world, with an innate structure is to make others happy joy, only requires the appropriate environmental conditions for the seeds of kindness to have this opportunity nucleation and growth.
When you understand that man is the true nature of love, not violence, our relationship with the world around us will change immediately. Knowing that others from the nature of tolerance instead of selfishness will make us feel secure and confident. This makes us happier.
Reflect on the purpose of life
While the Dalai Lama sat at the Arizona desert to think about human nature, learn about the human mind under explored by a scientist, a true and simple onset detector shines through all of his talk: The goal of life is happiness . This simple idea could be a kind of compass for life as we face these difficulties every day. From that concept, it is our job to give those suffering and bring things to cultivate happiness. The method that we can practice every day is gradual and conscious experience is something that brings happiness and what is not.
When life is too complicated and we as sunk, let's step back a bit and remember the overall goal of our lives. As well as having to face with feeling sluggish or confused, take an hour, an afternoon or even a few days to re-screening, see what really makes us happy in so doing, it adjustment to life. The contrast in the province to help us navigate life, create a new perspective and help us realize the appropriate direction.
Sometimes we are faced with critical decisions that affect the whole life - we decided to get married, have children or to pursue such a program of study to become lawyers, artists, electrician ... a decision for a specific purpose is to make life more happy: learn thoroughly and then boldly implement . Happiness turned to as a real goal and decided to find happiness with a sense of depth can change the rest of us.
Understanding the Dalai Lama about the real facts of happiness based on observations of his own mind throughout life. Explore the nature and circumstances of mankind, he relies on the pattern set by the Buddha from the 25th century. From this context, the Dalai Lama has been the firm conclusion that any act or thought worthy. He summarizes this idea as I think we can use to heuristics:
"Sometimes, old friends meet again reminds me that the time has passed and how quickly I wonder if I have used my life properly or not. Use the proper time It is very important. While there is this body, especially the wonderful mind of this man, I think that every moment counts. The existence of our daily life is to be by hope, though no guarantee in the future. Not sure who held tomorrow, at this hour, we're still here, but who also are working with great hope. So now, use the with optimal way, and in my view, that is: If you let others serve all sentient beings is charming. If not, then at least, do not harm them. That's all My philosophy of life.
"So let's reflect back what the true value of a life, what is meaningful for our lives in so doing, set the priorities for yourself. The purpose of life must actively. We're not born to be troublesome, causing injury to others. For life's worth, I think we have to promote the fine traditions of man as enthusiastic, loving, gentleness and since then life would be more meaningful, more peaceful and happier. "
[1] Tri-sufficiency means sufficient, sufficient treatment time sufficient Galaxy (Translators note added).
[2] FRANCE - Dharma simplest definition is the doctrine preached by the Buddha (Buddhism). All Tripitaka - Business, Law, Reviews - known collectively as the French (teaching) . In the Buddha, the Dharma is used with a broader sense, referring all phenomena in the universe by causes and conditions that birth or cessation (Van legal) Dharma or Dharma is often used to talk about practices or religious Buddhist Circuit. In Sanskirt language, the word Dharma means to preserve resources, protection of a deep moral beings from suffering.
[3] In Buddhist philosophy, Buddhism is the most basic properties of TAM. Buddha nature is available in the minds of all sentient beings and not marred by feelings or negative thoughts (thoughts outlook).END=VIETNAMESE TRANSLATE ENGLISH BY BACH LIEN HOA.NAM MO SHAKYAMUNI BUDDHA.( 3 TIMES ).OM MANI PADME HUM.( 3 TIMES ).
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