Inspiration from the Dalai Lama: The Art of Happiness
May 31, 2009
At one of the Dalai Lama’s talks he was asked, “Why is prayer important for a spiritual life?”
His reply was that prayer (meditation) is, “A simple daily reminder of your deeply held principles and convictions.”
Another listener asked, “For someone who is really busy, how does one find the time to do these kinds of prayers and meditation practices?”
The Dalai Lama said, in essence, you can always make time. But then he went on to add:
…if you think seriously about the true meaning of spiritual practices, it has to do with the development and training of your mental state, attitudes, and psychological and emotional state and well-being. You should not confine your understanding of spiritual practice to terms of some physical activities or verbal activities, like doing recitations of prayers and chanting.Â
If your understanding of spiritual practice is limited to only these activities, then, of course, you will need a specific time, a separate alloted time to do your practice — because you can’t go around doing your daily chores, like cooking and so on, while reciting mantras. That could be quite annoying to people around you.
However, if you understand spiritual practice in its true sense, then you can use all twenty-four hours of your day for your practice. True spirituality is a mental attitude that you can practice at any time.Â
For example, if you find yourself in a situation in which you might be tempted to insult someone, then you immediately take precautions and restrain yourself from doing that. Similarly, if you encounter a situation in which you may lose your temper, immediately you are mindful and say, “No, this is not the appropriate way.” That actually is a spiritual practice.Â
Seen in that light, you will always have time.
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This life lesson was taken from The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living
Happy Sunday!!!
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Lisis, this was very nice. I too ask that question “how does one find the time”? This is such a good attitude and great advice: “True spirituality is a mental attitude that you can practice at any time.”
Thanks and have a great Sunday!
Stephen – Rat Race Trap’s latest post… Energize Your Success – Exercise
Hi Lisis.
Happy Sunday to you! “The Art of Happiness” is one of my favorite all time books. So it was a joy to see this passage again. True spirituality is definitely a way of life. As someone who has been on a spiritual journey for quite a long time, I am always humored when I see someone who claims to be spiritual and yet does something that is so unspiritual. You can pray and meditate diligently but if you do not live what you are taught, then it is a waste. That is why this passage is so powerful because the Dalai Lama says that what matters is the essence of how you live and how you live can be your form of spiritual practice.
Nadia-HappyLotus’s latest post… Happy News (May 31, 2009)
I know it… I’ve met so many people who are extremely diligent about performing the rituals but then don’t truly live loving, compassionate lives. On the other hand, I know some very simple people, who have no formal spiritual traditions to follow, but you can tell just by the way they live that they have love, faith, hope, and compassion as an integral part of their being.
There is always time for love and kindness.
=-)
Great post! I’m always trying to find the time for things and reading this post has shown me that all I need to do is see time in a different light. Thanks for sharing this!
Positively Present’s latest post… who’s afraid of the big, bad past?
Every time I run across anything from the Dalai Lama I seem to say Amen. I can’t think of anyone I so consistently and strongly agree with.
Implicit to his assessment of spiritual practice rightly understood as something that can be done anytime is that being on track involves coming closer and closer to practicing all the time, whatever we’re doing.
Once you’ve gotten far down that path, you could say that it’s no longer practice, you’ve pretty well got the hang of it, and that the Dalai Lama is a good example of this.
I like that, Dani… seeing time in a different light.
Paul, I’m with you… The Dalai Lama never ceases to amaze and inspire me because he is so simply and genuinely loving and compassionate. I think you are right that at first we “practice” and eventually we live it all the time… we fully become loving and compassionate.
Thanks for your comment!
My Zen Sensei says the same thing — everything is Dharma. In other words, everything is an opportunity to learn and apply what we have learned.
Roger – A Content Life’s latest post… 12 Happiness Activities – Part 2
This was seen by me at the right time – very wise words. Thank you so much by impacting my personal day by posting this.
Namaste!
Bambi
OutImpact.com – Making a positive impact in the gay community. Make yours.
Thank you, Bambi… I’m so glad it helped you today.
The Dalai Lama always offers Truth in beautiful, pithy words, and you summed it up just right with: “True spirituality is a mental attitude that you can practice at any time.”
When we realize spiritual practice is being, both ’spiritual’ and ‘practice’ are rendered irrelevant.
Thanks for the insight.
Kaushik’s latest post… Zen Rebellion
That’s exactly right! The definition of terms is completely irrelevant when you truly act from a place of love and compassion. He is such an inspiring living example of what is possible.