Play Book Tag discussion

Matthieu Ricard studied molecular genetics under a Nobel prize-winner, but gave up his research career to go and live in the Himalayas, where he has spent over 35 years studying with master practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism and worked as a translator for the Dalai Lama. This book contains a distillation of what these experiences have taught him about the nature of happiness and how it can be cultivated. These insights come from a Buddhist perspective but are presented as a form of “secular spirituality” that could be useful to anyone.

The idea of happiness presented here is a way of perceiving the world rather than a state of pleasure determined by external circumstances. It is described as “a deep sense of flourishing that arises from an exceptionally healthy mind”, a “state of inner fulfillment” that comes from overcoming obstacles such as hatred and greed, letting go of a false sense of ego, and acting in harmony with our inner nature.

Ricard emphasizes strongly that this type of happiness is a skill: “It requires sustained effort in training the mind and developing a set of human qualities, such as inner peace, mindfulness, and altruistic love.” In recent years his life has come full circle as he has become involved in scientific research examining the effect of prolonged meditation practice on the brains of monks (starting with himself), and he presents examples of dramatic findings from these studies as evidence for the plasticity of the brain. Experienced meditators demonstrate unusual patterns of electrical activity in the brain, as well as heightened abilities such as skill at detecting fleeting ‘microemotions’ on the faces of others, or an exceptional level of control over the startle response.

The book is full of practical examples of how to develop positive habits of mind. Some of these are deceptively simple, such as instructions to reflect on what genuinely brings you happiness, while others are closer to traditional meditation or mindfulness exercises: neutrally observing thoughts as they come and go, or visualizing negative emotions as huge waves on a stormy sea that can be seen as superficial ripples if viewed from a more distant perspective. There are also several that focus on directly cultivating positive emotions and dissolving negative ones, for example imagining other people in similar or worse situations to your own and deliberately feeling compassion towards them.

A recurring theme is that none of the advantages described can be attained without dedicating consistent time to practice of this kind. Ricard also emphasizes that true happiness will result only when the attitudes cultivated in this way spill over into the whole of one’s life. A more simple lifestyle may naturally follow when we “have the daring and intelligence to scrutinize what we usually consider to be pleasures in order to determine if they really enhance our well-being”. Life becomes more meaningful when time is spent pursuing consciously chosen goals, “taking life into one’s own hand, instead of abandoning it to tendencies created by habit and mental confusion”. Above all, a recognition of the interdependence of all living things can lead to a virtuous cycle of kindness and happiness, where one’s own happiness is best served by making efforts to contribute to the well-being of others. Ricard speaks from experience on this: his book profits go directly to his charitable foundation https://karuna-shechen.org/.

I’m well aware that none of this is as simple as it sounds, and that putting the ideas into practice consistently over time is the hard part, but I found the book convincing and inspiring.