The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World

The conversation begins with a prayer by the Archbishop, invoking the Holy Spirit to renew and inspire: “Come, Holy Spirit. Fill the hearts of thy faithful people and kindle in them the fire of thy love” (29). The Dalai Lama shares his concerns about the modern world’s focus on material values, highlighting the need for inner values like kindness and compassion. He emphasizes, “Materialistic values cannot give us peace of mind. So we really need to focus on our inner values, our true humanity” (30). The Archbishop complements this by tapping his chest, signifying the heart’s role alongside the mind.

Addressing the differences in their approaches, the Dalai Lama notes that while he values faith, he recognizes the existence of over one billion nonbelievers, underscoring the importance of secular ethics. The Archbishop agrees, highlighting the elusive nature of happiness and the deeper concept of joy. He observes, “Joy subsumes happiness. Joy is the far greater thing” (32), using the example of a mother’s pain in childbirth leading to immense joy.

The conversation also explores the idea of transmuting negative experiences into positive outcomes. The Dalai Lama recounts his exile from Tibet, revealing how it provided new opportunities and perspectives: “Therefore, if you look from one angle, you feel, oh how bad, how sad.