The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World

The importance of perspective as a fundamental quality of the mind in cultivating joy is explored. The Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu discuss how changing one’s perspective can impact the experience of joy and happiness. They emphasize that joy is a product of eight specific qualities of the mind and heart: perspective, humility, humor, acceptance, forgiveness, gratitude, compassion, and generosity.

The Dalai Lama articulates the value of a wider perspective in life, stating, “For every event in life, there are many different angles. When you look at the same event from a wider perspective, your sense of worry and anxiety reduces, and you have greater joy” (194). He shares how he reframed the tragedy of losing his country as an opportunity for new relationships and learning. This approach transformed a negative event into a positive experience, showing the power of perspective in altering our response to life’s challenges.

How perspective towards life affects emotional states is also discussed. Edith Eva Eger, an Auschwitz survivor, illustrates this through the contrasting attitudes of two paraplegic soldiers she encountered, highlighting how one’s perspective can determine their experience of life.