by Tenzin Gyatso; The Fourteenth Dalai
Lama
One Great Question underlies our experience,
whether we think about it consciously or not:
What is the purpose of life?
I have considered this question and would like to share
my thoughts in the hope that they may be of direct,
practical benefit to those who read them.
I believe that the purpose of life is to be happy.
From the moment of birth, every human being wants
happiness and does not want suffering. Neither social
conditioning nor education nor ideology affect this.
From the very core of our being, we simply desire
contentment. I don't know whether the universe, with
its countless galaxies, stars and planets, has a deeper
meaning or not, but at the very least, it is clear that
we humans who live on this earth face the task of
making a happy life for ourselves.
Therefore, it is important to discover
what will bring about the greatest degree of happiness.
How to achieve happiness
For a start, it is possible to divide every kind of
happiness and suffering into two main categories:
mental and physical. Of the two, it is the mind that
exerts the greatest influence on most of us. Unless we
are either gravely ill or deprived of basic necessities, our
physical condition plays a secondary role in life.
If the body is content, we virtually ignore it.
The mind, however, registers every event, no matter
how small. Hence we should devote our most
serious efforts to bringing about mental peace.
From my own limited experience I have found that the
greatest degree of inner tranquility comes
from the development of love and compassion.
The more we care for the happiness of others, the
greater our own sense of well-being becomes.
Cultivating a close, warm-hearted feeling for others
automatically puts the mind at ease. This helps remove
whatever fears or insecurities we may have and gives
us the strength to cope with any obstacles we encounter.
It is the ultimate source of success in life.
As long as we live in this world we are bound to encounter
problems. If, at such times, we lose hope and become
discouraged, we diminish our ability to face difficulties.
If, on the other hand, we remember that it is not just
ourselves but every one who has to undergo suffering,
this more realistic perspective will increase our
determination and capacity to overcome troubles. Indeed,
with this attitude, each new obstacle can be seen as
yet another valuable opportunity to improve our mind!.
Thus we can strive gradually to become more
compassionate, that is we can develop both genuine
sympathy for other's suffering and the will to help
remove their pain. As a result, our own serenity
and inner strength will increase.
Because we all share an identical need for love, it is
possible to feel that anybody we meet, in whatever
circumstances, is a brother or sister. No matter how new
the face or how different the dress and behavior, there
is no significant division between us and other people.
It is foolish to dwell on external differences,
because our basic natures are the same.
Ultimately, humanity is one and this small planet is our
only home, If we are to protect this home of ours, each
of us needs to experience a vivid sense of universal
altruism. It is only this feeling that can remove the
self-centered motives that cause people
to deceive and misuse one another.
If you have a sincere and open heart,
you naturally feel self- worth and confidence,
and there is no need to be fearful of others.
I believe that at every level of society - familial, tribal,
national and international - the key to a happier and
more successful world is the growth of compassion.
We do not need to become religious, nor do we need
to believe in an ideology. All that is necessary
is for each of us to develop our good human qualities.
I try to treat whoever I meet as an old friend.
This gives me a genuine feeling of happiness.
It is the practice of compassion.
Contributed by efstathiouisabelle
