Want to learn the ideas in The Book Of Joy better than ever? Read the world’s #1 book summary of The Book Of Joy by Dalai Lama here.

Read a brief 1-Page Summary or watch video summaries curated by our expert team. Note: this book guide is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher or author, and we always encourage you to purchase and read the full book.

Video Summaries of The Book Of Joy

We’ve scoured the Internet for the very best videos on The Book Of Joy, from high-quality videos summaries to interviews or commentary by Dalai Lama.

1-Page Summary of The Book Of Joy

Overview

In the modern world, it’s hard to live a routine life without being stressed. It is important to practice spiritual lessons in order to be happy and joyful. The Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu are two famous spiritual teachers who give great advice on how people should do that. Studying their teachings will help you learn why suffering is good for your enjoyment of life; how to pursue peace in your everyday life; and why forgiving others is essential when learning how to love yourself.

Big Idea #1: Suffering is a core aspect of both life and happiness.

Suffering in life is unavoidable. Traffic jams, bills and other problems are a constant part of our lives. However, even though suffering has its drawbacks, it’s necessary to enjoy the good moments that happen in life. In fact, pain and suffering can actually be constructive and helpful in some ways.

Every mother knows how painful it is to give birth. However, they accept the pain because of the joy that a new child brings. If women avoided giving birth, humanity would be in trouble!

Take Nelson Mandela, for example. He was imprisoned for 27 years and had to sleep on the floor and work in a factory.

Many people think that suffering is bad and should be avoided at all costs. However, Nelson Mandela’s personal experience taught him that it can actually help one to cultivate kindness and empathy for others. This compassion later played an important role in his becoming the first president of a free South Africa. Suffering is only good if you learn from it by shifting your focus away from yourself and toward others.

The Dalai Lama had a unique experience when he was asked to speak at Bodh Gaya, the holiest Buddhist site in the world.

Before arriving at the site, he felt a sharp pain in his stomach. The pain was severe and required immediate medical attention, but there were no hospitals nearby.

As he was walking, the author saw an old man who looked sick and in pain. He felt sorry for this person and forgot about his own illness.

Big Idea #2: Sometimes suffering is beyond your control, but you can always choose how to respond.

The same way your health affects your body, your mind is affected by how healthy it is. If you’re in good shape mentally, then even the smallest of problems won’t be an issue for you. However, if you’re not feeling well mentally, then a small problem can grow into something bigger and more serious.

If you have built up your mental immunity over time, emotional disturbances may still cause pain. However, if your mental state is weak, suffering can be drawn out for months or even years.

We need to understand that fear and frustration are not a part of reality, but rather facets of the mind. As such, we can find joy in any situation if we choose to do so.

For example, once the Dalai Lama’s flight was canceled. He and filmmaker Peggy Callahan had to drive for six hours in a car to get to their destination. However, they didn’t let that stop them from having fun. They made the most of it by telling each other funny travel stories along the way.

This is a good example of why you shouldn’t beat yourself up when things are out of your control. Another example comes from Desmond Tutu, who was once stuck in traffic and running late for an important meeting.

In previous years, he would have been angry in traffic jams because of the delay. He would grind his teeth and feel like hitting someone. However, after learning to accept that traffic jams are good opportunities for prayer and meditation, he stopped being angry at them.

When you’re in a situation that you can’t change, accept it and use it as an opportunity to exercise patience. That’s easier said than done, so stress can take over your mind.