The Book of Joy
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- Create Date：2022-03-11 08:54:03
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Dalai Lama XIV
- ISBN：178633044X
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Summary
Two great spiritual masters share their own hard-won wisdom about living with joy even in the face of adversity。
The occasion was a big birthday。 And it inspired two close friends to get together in Dharamsala for a talk about something very important to them。 The friends were His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu。 The subject was joy。 Both winners of the Nobel Prize， both great spiritual masters and moral leaders of our time， they are also known for being among the most infectiously happy people on the planet。
From the beginning the book was envisioned as a three-layer birthday cake: their own stories and teachings about joy， the most recent findings in the science of deep happiness， and the daily practices that anchor their own emotional and spiritual lives。 Both the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu have been tested by great personal and national adversity， and here they share their personal stories of struggle and renewal。 Now that they are both in their eighties， they especially want to spread the core message that to have joy yourself， you must bring joy to others。
Most of all， during that landmark week in Dharamsala， they demonstrated by their own exuberance， compassion， and humor how joy can be transformed from a fleeting emotion into an enduring way of life。
The occasion was a big birthday。 And it inspired two close friends to get together in Dharamsala for a talk about something very important to them。 The friends were His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu。 The subject was joy。 Both winners of the Nobel Prize， both great spiritual masters and moral leaders of our time， they are also known for being among the most infectiously happy people on the planet。
From the beginning the book was envisioned as a three-layer birthday cake: their own stories and teachings about joy， the most recent findings in the science of deep happiness， and the daily practices that anchor their own emotional and spiritual lives。 Both the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu have been tested by great personal and national adversity， and here they share their personal stories of struggle and renewal。 Now that they are both in their eighties， they especially want to spread the core message that to have joy yourself， you must bring joy to others。
Most of all， during that landmark week in Dharamsala， they demonstrated by their own exuberance， compassion， and humor how joy can be transformed from a fleeting emotion into an enduring way of life。
Reviews
Pearl McNabb
，
This is one of the best books I've ever read。 While both are extremely spiritual men， they took their wisdom out of a religious context in some cases。 Similarly， they talk about all elements of joy as well as things that are obstacles to it。 This book has changed the way that I look at what long lasting happiness is and the importance of compassion。 This is one of the best books I've ever read。 While both are extremely spiritual men， they took their wisdom out of a religious context in some cases。 Similarly， they talk about all elements of joy as well as things that are obstacles to it。 This book has changed the way that I look at what long lasting happiness is and the importance of compassion。 。。。more
Johannes Frederking
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A wonderful， beautiful， joyful book。
Terra Harrington
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One of those books everyone should read 💕
Kate
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Great common ground for how to be happy and serve others。
Jing Tian Ngiaw
，
This book is a beautiful and essential gift to all humankind。 It was incredibly heartwarming to see how， despite differences in religion， the Dalai Lama and the Archbishop Tutu were able to come together to respect， support and honor each other’s views on cultivating contentment。 I’ll be purchasing this book to study for decades to come。
LorieAnn Pipes
，
What an inspiration this book is。 It will be a permanent fixture on my bookshelf to be reread in the future。
Laurie Miller
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Everyone should read this book。 Everyone。 The audio version was especially entertaining with the different accents - it made me feel as if I were really there with the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu。 I feel like this book has changed my perspective on many things in life and I hope I take more gratitude forward。 I listened to it at a time where I was going through a lot and I couldn’t have picked a better time。 It lifted my spirits and helped me immensely。
Paweł
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Life-changing！ Must read！
Balroop Singh
，
When I started reading this book， I thought I know all this – I know suffering ennobles us， I know pain is essential for our emotional and mental growth， I know struggles make us stronger but this book made me ponder， followed me at my walks， haunted me with a number of questions and humbled me beyond words。 The hubris of knowing and only knowing， not practicing， melted like thin air around me。Living with joy even in the face of adversity！ Doesn’t it seem outrageous？ Only exalted souls can make When I started reading this book， I thought I know all this – I know suffering ennobles us， I know pain is essential for our emotional and mental growth， I know struggles make us stronger but this book made me ponder， followed me at my walks， haunted me with a number of questions and humbled me beyond words。 The hubris of knowing and only knowing， not practicing， melted like thin air around me。Living with joy even in the face of adversity！ Doesn’t it seem outrageous？ Only exalted souls can make such a statement and I read with added interest how one could find joy in difficult situations。 Is it possible to be joyful in the face of our daily troubles？ The answer lies within us， says the Dalai Lama， “The ultimate source of happiness is inside， not outside。 Even the source of physical health is inside， not outside。” We know that happiness is a state of mind， an attitude that needs to be cultivated but the “source of physical health too is inside？” I was bewildered by this thought and have been trying to figure out the ways。 When asked that “nothing can be more devastating than being exiled from your home， from the things that are really precious to you and yet to have wonderful serenity on your face and wonderful compassion in your heart，” the Nobel Peace Laureate enlightens us that fleeing from Tibet gave him “more opportunity to learn， to experience life。 If you look from one angle， you feel， oh how bad， how sad。 But if you look from another angle at the same tragedy， that same event， you see that it gave me more opportunities。” Perspective matters。 This book inspires us to take a “ take a holistic view” of a problem or a situation to respond to it in a more constructive manner。 When we have a wider perspective， we have a natural understanding of our place in the situation。 “We must look at any given situation or problem from the front and from the back， from the sides， from the top and the bottom， so from at least six different angles，” says the global spiritual leader。 “One need not depend on religious faith to educate our inner values。” The conversation between the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu is most light-hearted， exuding with love and friendship; realistic and humorous at places yet it touches the core of your heart。 I was stunned by the positivity of these observations: “When you become a refugee， you get closer to life。” “Torture and hard labor tests your inner strength。 Some lose hope， some keep going， education has very little to do with survival in such circumstances。 It is the inner spirit that matters。” Personal experiences are cited to emphasize that “the depth of our suffering can also result in the height of our joy。” If there is no way to overcome the tragedy， there is no use worrying too much about it。 We cannot control the inevitability of occurrences but we could influence their effect in our life by adjusting our attitude toward them。This book is neither religious nor spiritual yet it could be a life-changing book for those who wallow in self-pity， who can’t think beyond self， who seek happiness in material things， who chase success and contentment。 It is not about some abstract or aspirational theory of joy;it talks about life in a simple way。It discusses fear， grief， frustration， anger， loneliness， envy and self-centered attitude， which creates most of our suffering。 Don’t forget， says the Archbishop “you are a masterpiece in the making。 You are not yet perfect。”Joy in the face of adversity comes with resilience， it comes when we learn to move beyond our suffering， when we train our mind and develop “mental immunity，” when we learn to “avoid the destructive emotions and develop the positive ones。” 。。。more
Michele Datu
，
It took me a while to finish this book but that was because I would get so emotional reading it and didn’t want to face it haha。 After finally completing， this is hands down one of the most influential reads I’ve come across。 It touches on many concepts: forgiveness， happiness， joy， acceptance， death， fear， you name it。 I loved the dialogue and difference of perspectives。 Truly so insightful。 Highly recommend。
Michael
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Theres something truly special about His Holiness the Dali Lama， and in general about transcendent spiritual leaders。 I vaguely remember when he came to Princeton to the extent that I don't remember if I actually attended an event or just saw him outside and watched on TV， but theres just something powerful about being in the vague presence of these people （I felt similar awe when Rav Aharon was around in yeshiva， especially at the beginning）。 Things that are trite and overplayed become powerful Theres something truly special about His Holiness the Dali Lama， and in general about transcendent spiritual leaders。 I vaguely remember when he came to Princeton to the extent that I don't remember if I actually attended an event or just saw him outside and watched on TV， but theres just something powerful about being in the vague presence of these people （I felt similar awe when Rav Aharon was around in yeshiva， especially at the beginning）。 Things that are trite and overplayed become powerful in the mouths of these leaders。 The best parts of this book are the humanizing setting of the scene， the early parts， the parts that dive into the persons （rather than the position） of the Dali Lam and the Archbishop。 The multi-actor strong accent performance of the audiobook contributes strongly here。 Narrations of the two of them laughing and touching each other are powerful。Binging this audiobook may not have been the best move （although I think that slogging through it wouldnt have been great either）。 The triteness catches up with it。 Its almost designed to be a meditation piece rather than informative or formative （except perhaps at the end where many practices are laid out for the listener）。 Overall I liked this。 。。。more
Molly Brown
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Very sweet inspiring dialog and really not what I was expecting。 Listening to the audio version was definitely the best way to go for me。 It was quite an eye opener but I love that it wasn’t preachy but instead very uplifting。
Sarah
，
It's not an exaggeration to say this book is changing my life。 There were so many incredible nuggets of truth and practices that are truly improving my life and my heart。I found the differences between the Archbishop's， the Dalai Lama's， and my own views fascinating， but those difference have some truth that I knew a reframing to help me understand them better。 For example， I practice morning and evening prayer。 But hearing the Dalai Lama talk about using morning meditation to set intention made It's not an exaggeration to say this book is changing my life。 There were so many incredible nuggets of truth and practices that are truly improving my life and my heart。I found the differences between the Archbishop's， the Dalai Lama's， and my own views fascinating， but those difference have some truth that I knew a reframing to help me understand them better。 For example， I practice morning and evening prayer。 But hearing the Dalai Lama talk about using morning meditation to set intention made me think differently about my morning prayer， making it more purposeful and clear。 And hearing the Archbishop talk about self evaluation in his evening prayer inspired me。 He said he asks not if he got everything he wanted done， but if he lived up to his values。 Then he acknowledges his mistakes and resolves to improve， letting go of the past and having hope for the next day。 I also really loved the practice of when I'm upset I can think about other who are in nearly identical situations。 This allows me to not feel alone， but to be connected with humanity。 Then instead of focusing back on myself I can offer a prayer on behalf of their suffering。- I've tried this a few times and it's truly comforting。And another truly revolutionary thought to me was that we are part of humanity， thus when we are suffering that whole of humanity is suffering more but if we can alliviate even our own suffering we are reducing suffering in the world。 The best way to solve suffering in the world is to work in your own circle and let it ripple out。 Be "a reservoir of joy， an oasis of peace， a pool of serenity， that can ripple out to all those around you。"And here are a few other gems I loved:We must look at any problem from at least 6 different angles to offer a complete solution。 We become less attached to a single solution。 What will this problem look like in a month， year， or ten？Laughter is the quickest way to connect people "We are born and die totally dependent on others and the Independence that we think we experience in between it's a myth。"I'mRelationship is the true proving ground for spiritually。 Joy is not something to learn it's something to live and it's best done through deep rich relationships。 Of 。。。more
Ashton Selig
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A very enlightening view about joy！ The parallel relations and view points between Buddhism， Christianity and science regarding joy are quite fascinating。
Sarah
，
Excellent book！ The audio was very well done， I felt like I was actually listening in on the conversation between the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu。 I think having a physical copy would be nice too， especially when it comes to the final section that includes the joy practices they recommend。
Ashley
，
This book was amazing。 Truly life changing in the examples set by these men， and the suggestions they offer to living a life full of joy。 It’s definitely one I’ll be buying and reading again。
Kirsty Heappey
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Beautiful， funny， joyful and incredibly touching
Christie Chambers
，
the background of these two men is as interesting as their ideas for lasting happiness
Nate
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This book made me very calm for some reason！
Amy
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This is an amazing book everyone should read it， take it heart and live by its precepts and we would all be better off。
Lyn
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A Christian， a Buddhist and a Jew walk into a bar …Actually there was not a bar， but that’s how many good jokes begin。A Christian – Archbishop Desmond Tutu， a Buddhist – His Holiness the Dalai Lama， and their Jewish but secular co-author – Douglas Abrams， all collaborated to make this very special book。The context is that this was the Dalai Lama’s birthday and the two great spiritual leaders， each the recipient of the Nobel Prize for Peace， met in India， the site of the Dalai Lama’s exile， to ce A Christian， a Buddhist and a Jew walk into a bar …Actually there was not a bar， but that’s how many good jokes begin。A Christian – Archbishop Desmond Tutu， a Buddhist – His Holiness the Dalai Lama， and their Jewish but secular co-author – Douglas Abrams， all collaborated to make this very special book。The context is that this was the Dalai Lama’s birthday and the two great spiritual leaders， each the recipient of the Nobel Prize for Peace， met in India， the site of the Dalai Lama’s exile， to celebrate and to discuss the spiritual but very real concept of joy。Not happiness necessarily or laugh out loud funny （though there are some humorous anecdotes） but joy – the joyful life。Life is suffering， but how we deal with it is what’s important。I don’t usually go for self-help books， and this is really not one either， but it is an enjoyable visit with two very spiritual men who have become leaders teaching peace and understanding in spite of tragic obstacles – for the Dalai Lama， the forceful takeover of Tibet and his decades of exile and for the Archbishop， living through the decades of apartheid。 Recommended。 。。。more
Evelyn Petschek
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5-plus stars！ Thought provoking and fun！ I learned， I laughed！ These two men are deep thinkers， who have contributed so much to the world despite the personal hardships and sacrifices…and yet they laugh and kid and tease and neither has an arrogant bone in his body。 An important lesson there。 After waiting weeks for the book at the library， I’ve now bought my own copy so I can reread it。
Mackenzi Simpson
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This is my favorite book in the world。 Everyone needs to read it and then nobody will be mean or sad！！！！！！！
Misty
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Book was a little repetitive but I needed to hear them multiple times。 Very therapeutic read for me。 Absolutely adore both of these spiritual leaders。
Stephanie
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I gave out a different book at Christmas for people about stress， but I wish it had been this one。 This book is an endearing look at the friendship between the Dalai Lama and Bishop Desmond Tutu， as well as discussing the science behind our feelings and joy and why a sense of humor as well as connecting with others matters for a healthy life。 It also shares exercises at the end of the book that anyone can do to feel and live better through breathing and meditation。 The Dalai Lama discusses his a I gave out a different book at Christmas for people about stress， but I wish it had been this one。 This book is an endearing look at the friendship between the Dalai Lama and Bishop Desmond Tutu， as well as discussing the science behind our feelings and joy and why a sense of humor as well as connecting with others matters for a healthy life。 It also shares exercises at the end of the book that anyone can do to feel and live better through breathing and meditation。 The Dalai Lama discusses his approach to connecting with others and finding happiness in strife from his unique perspective while the Bishop shares things through his religious perspective。 There is something for anyone， whether religious or not。 I personally would have enjoyed reading more about the science， too， but this inside view of these two men was still worth the read。 。。。more
Rubi Altamirano
，
The Book of Joy written by Dalai Lama XIV was a great book。 It helps to understand the meaning of joy and what one must do to make their lives a positive and healthy way of living。 And the answers to how a person could find joy in the face of suffering。 They offered the eight pillars of joy that provide the foundation for lasting happiness in a persons life。 Their stories of pain and difficulties help us to understand how one can go through a great deal of pain and still find joy in the little t The Book of Joy written by Dalai Lama XIV was a great book。 It helps to understand the meaning of joy and what one must do to make their lives a positive and healthy way of living。 And the answers to how a person could find joy in the face of suffering。 They offered the eight pillars of joy that provide the foundation for lasting happiness in a persons life。 Their stories of pain and difficulties help us to understand how one can go through a great deal of pain and still find joy in the little things in life。 Such as helping those in need。 。。。more
David Felipe
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Haz lo que haga mover tu corazón， disfruta la vida， preocúpate menos， apoya más， sirve a otros sin esperar nada， mantente aplacado y se feliz， aun cuando la vida te la ponga patas arriba。 La riqueza está en tu corazón， alma， espíritu …
Monica
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I chose to read "The Book of Joy" early in 2022 after nearly 2 years of pandemic and many personal and social hardships。 On January 1， 2022 I started reading a section a day - and intentionally spread out the reading by taking small chunks and not trying to rush through。 The truths and encouragement found in this book are delightful。 The way that these two brilliant and internationally active leaders - the Deli Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu - interacted with one another and offered truths tha I chose to read "The Book of Joy" early in 2022 after nearly 2 years of pandemic and many personal and social hardships。 On January 1， 2022 I started reading a section a day - and intentionally spread out the reading by taking small chunks and not trying to rush through。 The truths and encouragement found in this book are delightful。 The way that these two brilliant and internationally active leaders - the Deli Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu - interacted with one another and offered truths that are more universal than personal is inspiring。 Archbishop Tutu passed away late in 2021 and that was part of my inspiration for picking up the book that had been on my shelf and making my way through it。 I am glad to have had the opportunity to consider Joy for each day for January and February 2022。 The book also prepares me well for the season on Lent， which begins on Wednesday - with Fat Tuesday plopped right in the middle。 。。。more
Stephanie
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This book was the gift I needed for a time when joy is harder to find in the world。 It also has some actionable principles to use in day to day life to change mindset。 Highly recommend。
Ebitari Larsen
，
Gratitude through tears as I readI have admit that I cried through much of reading this book。 It had so many moving stories of people from little children to the elderly who have experienced so much hardship and yet they have changed their perspectives to see the change that they can make in the world through the joy they cultivate in their hearts。 There are many valuable tools to learn about how to cultivate joy in our own lives in this book。 I loved it。
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=The Book of Joy
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=The Book of Joy&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft
The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,The Book of Joy&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0