The Art of Happiness

Drawing upon 2500 years of Buddhist wisdom, combined with the latest findings of modern science, and mixed with a healthy dose of common sense, Dr Howard Cutler and His Holiness the Dalai Lama  offer a practical approach to human happiness—a rational approach that can be practiced by individuals from any background, tradition, or religion.

The Art of Happiness offers a variety of techniques to help overcome the destructive mental states that are the source of much of our misery—mental states such as anger, hatred, greed, jealousy, discouragement and fear. Through the lively conversations between the Dalai Lama and Dr. Cutler recounted in these books, supplemented with engaging stories, case histories, practical exercises and supporting scientific evidence, the books present strategies to deal more effectively with the inevitable problems of daily life.

There are many facets to leading a happy life. It begins by understanding the true and legitimate sources of happiness. The Art of Happiness is based on a few basic premises:

1. The purpose of life is happiness.

2. Happiness is determined more by the state of one’s mind than by one’s external conditions, circumstances, or events—at least once one’s basic survival needs are met.

3. Happiness can be achieved through the systematic training of our hearts and minds, through reshaping our attitudes and outlook.

4. The key to happiness is in our own hands.

The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living was a groundbreaking collaboration between His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, and Howard C. Cutler, M.D., a Phoenix-based psychiatrist. Beginning with a small first printing in 1998 the book rapidly spread by word of mouth to become a classic manual on human happiness that has sold over 1.5 million copies in the US alone. The book remained on The New York Times bestseller list for almost two years, and has become a source of help and inspiration to millions of readers throughout the world. Responding to the requests by readers, the Dalai Lama and Dr. Cutler followed this book with another volume in 2003, their second New York Times bestseller, titled The Art of Happiness at Work.