The Secret of Happiness (It's Not What You Think)

The following is an excerpt from Daniel Goleman's new book, A Force for Good: The Dalai Lama's Vision for Our World. "What's the source of happiness?" a student at Princeton University asked the Dalai Lama. Looking around at the students waiting for his answer, the Dalai Lama paused a beat or two, then called out: "Money!" Another beat or two: "Sex!" And then: "Nightclubs!" His joke brought down the house. Then he went on to say that when we see the world through a materialistic lens, we look to such sensory stimulation--even things like shopping, food, music, watching sports--as the source of satisfaction or joyfulness. But, he added, focusing only on sensory delights leaves us perpetually dissatisfied, because such pleasures are short-lived. Immersion in consumerist indulgence as a way of life, so rampant in the First World and quickly spreading now throughout emerging economies like China and India, does not lead to real happiness but "cheapens life, feeding our lesser nature." From time to time the Dalai Lama mentions once being the guest of a very wealthy family, at whose house he stopped for a lunch visit to break a long journey. In the bathroom, he says a bit sheepishly, he noticed the medicine cabinet door was open, so he peeked in--and found the cabinet full of tranquilizers and painkillers. The Dalai Lama's critique of modern economics goes to its very assumptions about the basis of fulfillment. "Many people feel money is the source of a happy life. Mone...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news