Tenzin Gyatso; The Fourteenth Dalai Lama
The purpose of life
ONE GREAT QUESTION underlies our experience, whether we think about it consciously or not: What is the purpose of life?
I have considered this question and would like to share my thoughts in the hope that they may be of direct, practical benefit
to those who read them.
I believe that the purpose of life is to be happy. From the moment of birth, every human being wants happiness
and does not want suffering. Neither social conditioning nor education nor ideology affect this. From the very
core of our being, we simply desire contentment. I don’t know whether the universe, with its countless galaxies,
stars and planets, has a deeper meaning or not, but at the very least, it is clear that we humans who live on this earth face
the task of making a happy life for ourselves. Therefore, it is important to discover what will bring about the greatest
degree of happiness.
How to achieve happiness
For a start, it is possible to divide every kind of happiness and suffering into two main categories: mental and physical.
Of the two, it is the mind that exerts the greatest influence on most of us. Unless we are either gravely ill or deprived
of basic necessities, our physical condition plays a secondary role in life. If the body is content, we virtually ignore
it. The mind, however, registers every event, no matter how small. Hence we should devote our most serious efforts to bringing
about mental peace.
From my own limited experience I have found that the greatest degree of inner tranquility comes from the development
of love and compassion.
The more we care for the happiness of others, the greater our own sense of well-being becomes. Cultivating a close, warm-hearted
feeling for others automatically puts the mind at ease. This helps remove whatever fears or insecurities we may have and gives
us the strength to cope with any obstacles we encounter. It is the ultimate source of success in life.
As long as we live in this world we are bound to encounter problems. If, at such times, we lose hope and become discouraged,
we diminish our ability to face difficulties. If, on the other hand, we remember that it is not just ourselves but every one
who has to undergo suffering, this more realistic perspective will increase our determination and capacity to overcome troubles.
Indeed, with this attitude, each new obstacle can be seen as yet another valuable opportunity to improve our mind!
Thus we can strive gradually to become more compassionate, that is we can develop both genuine sympathy for others’
suffering and the will to help remove their pain. As a result, our own serenity and inner strength will increase.
Our need for love
Ultimately, the reason why love and compassion bring the greatest happiness is simply that our nature cherishes them
above all else. The need for love lies at the very foundation of human existence. It results from the profound interdependence
we all share with one another. However capable and skillful an individual may be, left alone, he or she will not survive.
However vigorous and independent one may feel during the most prosperous periods of life, when one is sick or very young or
very old, one must depend on the support of others.
Independence, of course, is a fundamental law of nature. Not only higher forms of life but also many of the smallest
insects are social beings who, without any religion, law or education, survive by mutual cooperation based on an innate recognition
of their interconnectedness. The most subtle level of material phenomena is also governed by interdependence. All phenomena
from the planet we inhabit to the oceans, clouds, forests and flowers that surround us, arise in dependence upon subtle patterns
of energy. Without their proper interaction, they dissolve and decay.
It is because our own human existence is so dependent on the help of others that our need for love lies at the very foundation
of our existence. Therefore we need a genuine sense of responsibility and a sincere concern for the welfare of others.
We have to consider what we human beings really are. We are not like machine-made objects. If we are merely mechanical
entities, then machines themselves could alleviate all of our sufferings and fulfill our needs.
However, since we are not solely material creatures, it is a mistake to place all our hopes for happiness on external
development alone. Instead, we should consider our origins and nature to discover what we require.
Leaving aside the complex question of the creation and evolution of our universe, we can at least agree that each of
us is the product of our own parents. In general, our conception took place not just in the context of sexual desire but from
our parents’ decision to have a child. Such decisions are founded on responsibility and altruism — the parents’
compassionate commitment to care of their child until it is able to take care of itself. Thus, from the very moment of our
conception, our parents’ love is directly in our creation.
Moreover, we are completely dependent upon our mothers’ care from the earliest stages of our growth. According
to some scientists, a pregnant woman’s mental state, be it calm or agitated, has a direct physical effect on her unborn
child.
The expression of love is also very important at the time of birth. Since the very first thing we do is suck milk from
our mothers’ breast, we naturally feel close to her, and she must feel love for us in order to feed us properly; if
she feels anger or resentment her milk may not flow freely.
Then there is the critical period of brain development from the time of birth up to at least the age of three or four,
during which time loving physical contact is the single most important factor for the normal growth of the child. If the child
is not held, hugged, cuddled, or loved, its development will be impaired and its brain will not mature properly.
Since a child cannot survive without the care of others, love is its most important nourishment. The happiness of childhood,
the allaying of the child’s many fears and the healthy development of its self-confidence all depend directly upon love.
Nowadays, many children grow up in unhappy homes. If they do not receive proper affection, in later life they will rarely
love their parents and, not infrequently, will find it hard to love others. This is very sad.
As children grow older and enter school, their need for support must be met by their teachers. If a teacher not only
imparts academic education but also assumes responsibility for preparing students for life, his or her pupils will feel trust
and respect and what has been taught will leave an indelible impression on their minds. On the other hand, subjects taught
by a teacher who does not show true concern for his or her students’ overall well-being will be regarded as temporary
and not retained for long.
Similarly, if one is sick and being treated in hospital by a doctor who evinces a warm human feeling, one feels at ease
and the doctors’ desire to give the best possible care is itself curative, irrespective of the degree of his or her
technical skill. On the other hand, if one’s doctor lacks human feeling and displays an unfriendly expression, impatience
or casual disregard, one will feel anxious, even if he or she is the most highly qualified doctor and the disease has been
correctly diagnosed and the right medication prescribed. Inevitably, patients’ feelings make a difference to the quality
and completeness of their recovery.
Even when we engage in ordinary conversation in everyday life, if someone speaks with human feeling we enjoy listening,
and respond accordingly; the whole conversation becomes interesting, however unimportant the topic may be. On the other hand,
if a person speaks coldly or harshly, we feel uneasy and wish for a quick end to the interaction. From the least to the most
important event, the affection and respect of others are vital for our happiness.
Recently I met a group of scientists in America who said that the rate of mental illness in their country was quite high-around
twelve percent of the population. It became clear during our discussion that the main cause of depression was not a lack of
material necessities but a deprivation of the affection of the others.
So, as you can see from everything I have written so far, one thing seems clear to me: whether or not we are consciously
aware of it, from the day we are born, the need for human affection is in our very blood. Even if the affection
comes from an animal or someone we would normally consider an enemy, both children and adults will naturally gravitate towards
it.
I believe that no one is born free from the need for love. And this demonstrates that, although some modern schools of
thought seek to do so, human beings cannot be defined as solely physical. No material object, however beautiful or valuable,
can make us feel loved, because our deeper identity and true character lie in the subjective nature of the mind.
Developing compassion
Some of my friends have told me that, while love and compassion are marvelous and good, they are not really very relevant.
Our world, they say, is not a place where such beliefs have much influence or power. They claim that anger and hatred are
so much a part of human nature that humanity will always be dominated by them. I do not agree.
We humans have existed in our present form for about a hundred-thousand years. I believe that if during this time the
human mind had been primarily controlled by anger and hatred, our overall population would have decreased. But today, despite
all our wars, we find that the human population is greater than ever. This clearly indicates to me that love and compassion
predominate in the world. And this is why unpleasant events are “news”; compassionate activities are so much part
of daily life that they are taken for granted and, therefore, largely ignored.
So far I have been discussing mainly the mental benefits of compassion, but it contributes to good physical health as
well, According to my personal experience, mental stability and physical well-being are directly related. Without question,
anger and agitation make us more susceptible to illness. On the other hand, if the mind is tranquil and occupied with positive
thoughts, the body will not easily fall prey to disease.
But of course it is also true that we all have an innate self-centeredness that inhibits our love for others. So, since
we desire the true happiness that is brought about by only a calm mind, and since such peace of mind is brought about by only
a compassionate attitude, how can we develop this? Obviously, it is not enough for us simply to think about how nice compassion
is! We need to make a concerted effort to develop it; we must use all the events of our daily life to transform our thoughts
and behavior.
First of all, we must be clear about what we mean by compassion. Many forms of compassionate feeling are mixed with desire
and attachment. For instance, the love parents feel of their child is often strongly associated with their own emotional needs,
so it is not fully compassionate. Again, in marriage, the love between husband and wife - particularly
at the beginning, when each partner still may not know the other’s deeper character very well - depends more on attachment
than genuine love. Our desire can be so strong that the person to whom we are attached appears to be good, when in fact he
or she is very negative. In addition, we have a tendency to exaggerate small positive qualities. Thus when one partner’s
attitude changes, the other partner is often disappointed and his or her attitude changes too. This is an indication that
love has been motivated more by personal need than by genuine care for the other individual.
True compassion is not just an emotional response but a firm commitment founded on reason. Therefore, a truly compassionate
attitude towards others does not change even if they behave negatively.
Of course, developing this kind of compassion is not at all easy! As a start, let us consider the following facts:
Whether people are beautiful and friendly or unattractive and disruptive, ultimately they are human beings, just like
oneself. Like oneself, they want happiness and do not want suffering. Furthermore, their right to overcome suffering and be
happy is equal to one’s own. Now, when you recognize that all beings are equal in both their desire for happiness and
their right to obtain it, you automatically feel empathy and closeness for them. Through accustoming your
mind to this sense of universal altruism, you develop a feeling of responsibility for others: the wish to help them actively
overcome their problems. Nor is this wish selective; it applies equally to all. As long as they are human beings experiencing
pleasure and pain just as you do, there is no logical basis to discriminate between them or to alter your concern for them
if they behave negatively.
Let me emphasize that it is within your power, given patience and time, to develop this kind of compassion. Of course,
our self-centeredness, our distinctive attachment to the feeling of an independent, self-existent “I”, works fundamentally
to inhibit our compassion. Indeed, true compassion can be experienced only when this type of self- grasping is eliminated.
But this does not mean that we cannot start and make progress now.
How can we start
We should begin by removing the greatest hindrances to compassion: anger and hatred. As we all know, these are extremely
powerful emotions and they can overwhelm our entire mind. Nevertheless, they can be controlled. If, however, they are not,
these negative emotions will plague us - with no extra effort on their part! - and impede our quest for the happiness of a
loving mind.
So as a start, it is useful to investigate whether or not anger is of value. Sometimes, when we are discouraged by a
difficult situation, anger does seem helpful, appearing to bring with it more energy, confidence and determination.
Here, though, we must examine our mental state carefully. While itis true that anger brings extra energy,
if we explore the nature of this energy, we discover that it is blind: we cannot be sure whether its result
will be positive or negative. This is because anger eclipses the best part of our brain: its rationality. So the energy of
anger is almost always unreliable. It can cause an immense amount of destructive, unfortunate behavior. Moreover, if anger
increases to the extreme, one becomes like a mad person, acting in ways that are as damaging to oneself as they are to others.
It is possible, however, to develop an equally forceful but far more controlled energy with which to handle difficult
situations.
This controlled energy comes not only from a compassionate attitude, but also from reason and patience. These are the
most powerful antidotes to anger. Unfortunately, many people misjudge these qualities as signs of weakness. I believe the
opposite to be true: that they are the true signs of inner strength. Compassion is by nature gentle, peaceful and soft, but
it is very powerful. It is those who easily lose their patience who are insecure and unstable. Thus, to me,
the arousal of anger is a direct sign of weakness.
So, when a problem first arises, try to remain humble and maintain a sincere attitude and be concerned
that the outcome is fair. Of course, others may try to take advantage of you, and if your remaining detached only encourages
unjust aggression, adopt a strong stand, This, however, should be done with compassion, and if it is necessary
to express your views and take strong countermeasures, do so without anger or ill-intent.
You should realize that even though your opponents appear to be harming you, in the end, their destructive activity will
damage only themselves. In order to check your own selfish impulse to retaliate, you should recall your desire to practice
compassion and assume responsibility for helping prevent the other person from suffering the consequences of his or her acts.
Thus, because the measures you employ have been calmly chosen, they will be more effective, more accurate and more forceful.
Retaliation based on the blind energy of anger seldom hits the target.
Friends and enemies
I must emphasize again that merely thinking that compassion and reason and patience are good will not be enough to develop
them. We must wait for difficulties to arise and then attempt to practice them.
And who creates such opportunities? Not our friends, of course, but our enemies. They are the ones who give
us the most trouble, So if we truly wish to learn, we should consider enemies to be our best teacher!
For a person who cherishes compassion and love, the practice of tolerance is essential, and for that, an enemy is indispensable.
So we should feel grateful to our enemies, for it is they who can best help us develop a tranquil mind! Also,
itis often the case in both personal and public life, that with a change in circumstances, enemies become
friends.
So anger and hatred are always harmful, and unless we train our minds and work to reduce their negative force,
they will continue to disturb us and disrupt our attempts to develop a calm mind. Anger and hatred are our real enemies. These
are the forces we most need to confront and defeat, not the temporary “enemies” who appear intermittently throughout
life.
Of course, it is natural and right that we all want friends. I often joke that if you really want to be selfish, you
should be very altruistic! You should take good care of others, be concerned for their welfare, help them, serve them, make
more friends, make more smiles, The result? When you yourself need help, you find plenty of helpers! If, on the other hand,
you neglect the happiness of others, in the long term you will be the loser. And is friendship produced through quarrels and
anger, jealousy and intense competitiveness? I do not think so. Only affection brings us genuine close friends.
In today’s materialistic society, if you have money and power, you seem to have many friends. But they are not
friends of yours; they are the friends of your money and power. When you lose your wealth and influence, you will find it
very difficult to track these people down.
The trouble is that when things in the world go well for us, we become confident that we can manage by
ourselves and feel we do not need friends, but as our status and health decline, we quickly realize how wrong we were. That
is the moment when we learn who is really helpful and who is completely useless. So to prepare for that moment, to make genuine
friends who will help us when the need arises, we ourselves must cultivate altruism!
Though sometimes people laugh when I say it, I myself always want more friends. I love smiles. Because of this I have
the problem of knowing how to make more friends and how to get more smiles, in particular, genuine smiles. For there are many
kinds of smile, such as sarcastic, artificial or diplomatic smiles. Many smiles produce no feeling of satisfaction, and sometimes
they can even create suspicion or fear, can’t they? But a genuine smile really gives us a feeling of freshness and is,
I believe, unique to human beings. If these are the smiles we want, then we ourselves must create the reasons for them to
appear.
Compassion and the world
In conclusion, I would like briefly to expand my thoughts beyond the topic of this short piece and make a wider point:
individual happiness can contribute in a profound and effective way to the overall improvement of our entire human community.
Because we all share an identical need for love, it is possible to feel that anybody we meet, in whatever circumstances,
is a brother or sister. No matter how new the face or how different the dress and behavior, there is no significant division
between us and other people. It is foolish to dwell on external differences, because our basic natures are the same.
Ultimately, humanity is one and this small planet is our only home, If we are to protect this home of ours, each of us
needs to experience a vivid sense of universal altruism. It is only this feeling that can remove the self-centered motives
that cause people to deceive and misuse one another.
If you have a sincere and open heart, you naturally feel self- worth and confidence, and there is no need to be fearful
of others.
I believe that at every level of society - familial, tribal, national and international - the key to a happier and more
successful world is the growth of compassion. We do not need to become religious, nor do we need to believe in an ideology.
All that is necessary is for each of us to develop our good human qualities.
I try to treat whoever I meet as an old friend. This gives me a genuine feeling of happiness. It
is the practice of compassion.
