Discovering 'The Art of Happiness'

Author uses Dalai Lama's insight to find best-seller contentment

Cutler

From CNN's Kyra Phillips

February 28, 2000
Web posted at: 2:16 p.m. EST (1916 GMT)

(CNN) -- The search for happiness is a common quest in modern society. Some people dedicate their lives to it.

Dr. Howard Cutler, a psychiatrist in private practice, has done extensive research on the topic and he collaborated on a book with the Dalai Lama.

"The Art of Happiness" has been on the New York Times best seller list for more than a year now. Dr. Cutler spoke with CNN Anchor Kyra Phillips on Sunday.

	AUDIO
Dr. Howard Cutler on... Working with the Dalai Lama 241K WAV or 176K MP3 sound The Dalai Lama's approach to happiness 207K WAV or 150K MP3 sound

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Let's start with how you met the Dalai Lama.

DR. HOWARD CUTLER, AUTHOR OF "THE ART OF HAPPINESS": I met him in 1982. I was doing a research grant to study Tibetan medicine and as it turned out, the Dalai Lama's older brother was director of the Tibet Medical Center at that time and I got to know his older brother and family quite well and they initially introduced me to him.

CNN: What was it like to work with him?

CUTLER: It was just wonderful. He's a really remarkable man. He has a great sense of humor, he's very intelligent, very well-educated and he's the type of person that when you sit down and talk with him, you feel like there's nobody else in the room or nobody else on the planet, basically. You're talking and communicating one-on-one with a very special individual. So it was really fun.

CNN: What's so practical about this book when it comes to genuine sources of happiness?

CUTLER: I think the practical aspects involve the idea of dealing with basic human traits, traits of the mind that are common to all people. For example, the Dalai Lama's approach to happiness involves recognizing that once we have our basic physical needs met for food and clothing and so on, at that point, the mind determines one's happiness much more than one's external circumstances, events or situations.

CNN: Why is it that we go through these fleeting moments of happiness? How do we combat that? Because so many of us have so much to be happy for, yet there are days where we feel awful.

CUTLER: First of all, I think we need to recognize that there (are) always going to be events and situations that bring us down a little bit or days that we feel bad, but that's part and normal aspect of the human condition.

But I think, generally speaking, we can raise our set point for happiness and achieve a state of inner contentment through a variety of techniques and methods.

For example, a simple technique is reflecting on a consistent basis (on) all the advantages that we have and reflecting on those who are less fortunate than we are, rather than constantly comparing ourselves to those who have more or who are richer or smarter or thinner, and so on. It sounds kind of naive and simplistic, but studies have shown, in fact, that we can shape our attitudes and our outlook by choosing who we compare ourselves to and comparing ourselves in a sense that creates a feeling of gratitude rather than envy.

CNN: Such a good point. Many people believe that (the) only true happiness comes from a relationship with God. What do you think about that?

CUTLER: I think for many people that's true. In fact, some studies have shown that (for) those with a strong religious faith, there is some correlation with greater levels of life satisfaction and greater ability to deal with traumatic situations and crises and so on. So that's certainly a valid approach for many people.

But people -- even without a religious faith or a specific religion that they adhere to -- can still increase their levels of happiness. There (are) many methods and techniques where we can cultivate a happier feeling regardless of whether (we) have religion or not. It involves cultivating positive mental states, kindness, compassion, tolerance, forgiveness in a very systematic way, and working hard on eliminating anger and hatred and greed and jealousy. And these are things that people from any religion can address and accomplish.

Time 100: Dalai Lama
August 1999
Writer searches for happiness with the Dalai Lama
January 27, 1999

Free Tibet

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.