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The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living
 
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The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living (Paperback)

by His Holiness the Dalai Lama (Author), Howard Cutler (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
RRP: £8.99
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Product details

  • Paperback: 288 pages
  • Publisher: Mobius (8 Nov 1999)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0340750154
  • ISBN-13: 978-0340750155
  • Product Dimensions: 19.3 x 13 x 2.3 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 1,797 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories:

    #1 in  Books > Religion & Spirituality > Buddhism
    #16 in  Books > Religion & Spirituality > New Age > Occult
    #21 in  Books > Society, Politics & Philosophy > Psychology Textbooks

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Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to sit down with the Dalai Lama and really press him about life's persistent questions? Why are so many people unhappy? How can I abjure loneliness? How can we reduce conflict? Is romantic love true love? Why do we suffer? How should we deal with unfairness and anger? How do you handle the death of a loved one? These are the conundrums that psychiatrist Howard Cutler poses to the Dalai Lama during an extended period of interviews in The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living. At first, the Dalai Lama's answers seem simplistic, like a surface reading of Robert Fulghum: ask yourself if you really need something; our enemies can be our teachers; compassion brings peace of mind. Cutler pushes: but some people do seem happy with lots of possessions; but "suffering is life" is so pessimistic; but going to extremes provides the zest in life; but what if I don't believe in karma? As the Dalai Lama's responses become more involved, a coherent philosophy takes shape. Cutler then develops the Dalai Lama's answers in the context of scientific studies and cases from his own practice, substantiating and elaborating on what he finds to be a revolutionary psychology. Like any art, the art of happiness requires study and practice--and the talent for it, the Dalai Lama assures us, is in our nature. --Brian Bruya

Product Description
This will be the first book by the Dalai Lama written to appeal to a general audience and focusing on the practical application of his spiritual values.



The Dalai Lama’s commentary is amplified and augmented from a contemporary western perspective by psychiatrist Howard Cutler to make this a genuinely accessible self-help guide.



Addressing every kind of daily problem, the subjects covered include: the sources of happiness; desire and greed; marriage and romance; resolving conflict; facing our suffering; overcoming fear and anxiety; anger and hatred; honesty and self-confidence; finding balance.

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The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living
81% buy the item featured on this page:
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Customer Reviews

34 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.5 out of 5 stars (34 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Happiness According to the Dalai Lama, 8 Dec 2008
This book is suppose to represent the Dalai Lama's views on happiness. Readers should know right off the bat that the Dalai Lama didn't actually write this book. Rather, the book is written by a Western psychiatrist who has had extensive converations with His Holiness. To insure that there were no "inadvertant distortions" of the Dalai Lama's ideas as a result of the editorial process, the Dalai Lama's interpreter reviewed the final manuscript. You be the judge as to whether that means this there was nothing "lost in translation".

So who is this Dalai Lama, aka "His Holiness" anyway? And, why should we read a book about happiness by him? Well, the Dalai Lama is the spiritual and political leader of the Tibetan people according to Tibetan Buddhism- which in my book makes him a person I'd want to listen to when he talks, especially when it's on one of my favorite subjects, happiness. And if this all sounds like an interesting topic for a book, you should read it- you won't be disappointed.

Now this is the kind of book I could write a long review of- simply because there's just so much wisdom packed into it. But, I think I'll take a short-cut with this one and just hit the highlights.

The Dalai Lama believes that the very purpose of our life is to seek happiness. Other happiness books have also taken this same position. For example, the book Finding Happiness in a Frustrating World refers to happiness as "the ultimate pursuit". On this most will agree, but what exactly does the Dalai Lama tell us about finding it?

As with most of his ideas on things, the concept is clear and simple: happiness can be achieved through training the mind. According to the Dalai Lama, one begins by identifying those factors which lead to happiness, and those factors which lead to suffering.

Having done this, one then sets about gradually eliminating those factors which lead to suffering and cultivating those which lead to happiness. That is the way.

To that end, that's exactly what makes up the majority of this book's pages- ways to eliminate factors in your life that lead to suffering, and learning to foster those factors that lead to happiness. Some specific topics include:

-facing suffering
-dealing with anger, hatred, and anxiety
-building self-esteem
-deepening your connection to others

When all is said and done, I'd have to say that the time you spend mulling over the book's 300-plus pages is going to be well worth it. For most readers, the Dalai Lama's wisdom and views will probably be very beneficial, if not transforming. Happy trails!

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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Dalai Lama's message spoilt by patronising American, 22 Jan 2001
By A Customer
The good sense inerterpretations of orthodox Tibetan Budhist wisdom that we can expect from the Dalai Lama, appear as a series of long quotes from discussions with Howard Cutler who claims to be a qualified psychiatrist. It doesn't show. Whilst there is a great deal of value in the words of the Dalai Lama, this book is spoiled by the constant interruptions of Americal psychobable provided by Cutler. I found him very irritating, especially as he could not stop telling the reader about himself and how he felt - I doubt many readers would be interested in that. If this book had Anthony Clair or Oliver Sacks doing the job it would get five stars.
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66 of 77 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars An exceptional book for readers from any tradition, 12 Aug 2000
By A Customer
Howard C Cutler, an experienced practising psychotherapist, spent years, in America and India, talking with HH The Dalai Lama, presenting him with problems encountered in Western life, and recording his responses. Cutler arranged the results into a sequence which leads us through the universal search for happiness, the obstacles, and how it can really be achieved.

In reading fairly widely on these subjects, from both a Western and an Eastern perspective, I have never before come across a book which compares the two, point by point, resolving apparent conflicts, and extracting the fundamental truths which lie beneath, making the differences seem essentially superficial. For me, this approach resolved problems which I have never solved before. For instance, the anomaly of perceived attitudes to anger - the Western ("don't suppress it, express it"), and the Eastern ("rise above it"). The answer isn't simple, but it's in this book.

The Art of Happiness - A Handbook for Living is, as its name suggests, a practical handbook. It is best read from beginning to end, but thereafter accessible by dipping into a section as needed. I have had my copy for a long time, and keep returning to it. For example, re-reading the section 'Dealing with Anxiety' puts such feelings into perspective and reinforces pragmatic solutions. There's a lively approach throughout, punctuated by illustrations from Howard Cutler's case-book - real examples of the problems of people he has dealt with over many years in practice, and occasionally his own worries about life. The Dalai Lama also contributes some examples from people he has met, and his own experience. Both can be enlightening and humorous. Spiritual and emotional issues are often discussed with reference to scientific research. These contrasts, and the lively pace, mean that although fundamental issues of great depth are being explored, this is no dry, theoretical discussion. In fact, it is a book which can be very hard to put down.

This is a book for those from all faiths and none. Buddhism is not an evangelical faith, and the Dalai Lama makes clear his respect for all religions, pointing out the truths common to all.

Perhaps the ultimate test - on finishing this book, I felt happier than I have for a very long time. Put into daily practice, this really is A Handbook for Living.

JCB, BA(Hons) Psychology

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