The Art of Happiness in a Troubled World (Art of Happiness Book) by Howard Cutler M.D. & Dalai Lama

Author:Howard Cutler M.D. & Dalai Lama
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Potter/TenSpeed/Harmony
Published: 2009-10-04T14:00:00+00:00

When we sat down the next day, I began, “Your Holiness, we had spoken yesterday about the idea of this pervasive fear that seems to be increasing in today’s world. For the people living here in India, there’s the threat of nuclear attack, threat of terrorist attack for the people living in the States, and of course in Israel it’s a way of life! You never know when or where these events might happen—there’s just this underlying fear. And you sort of implied that on some level there is not much you can do about that kind of valid fear, when it’s not on the level of one’s projection or imagination.

“Of course you are absolutely right about that, and yet I can’t help but still feel there might be something else; I still do not feel totally satisfied with your response that there is nothing we can do about this fear other than to share it with others. So, before we move on to other topics, I’m just wondering if there is anything we have left out in terms of methods to help us come to terms with fear.”

“Yes,” he said, “for example, there is always Shantideva’s approach, which you and I have discussed in the first Art of Happiness book. In brief, Shantideva [the great eighth-century Indian Buddhist teacher] suggests that we analyze the situation and repeatedly reminds us: if the problem is such that there is a solution, there is then no need to worry about it. In that case we should focus on finding that solution. If, on the other hand, there is no possible solution, there is no point in worrying because you cannot do anything about it anyway. So when you approach a situation with that kind of perspective, then even if you do confront tragedy, you have a greater chance of dealing with it. So, that may be helpful in some situations.”

“Of course,” I observed, “I realize that there can be many different kinds of fear, different levels. ‘Fear’ can encompass a spectrum of different mental states that can become progressively more intense and disabling, ranging from a tendency to worry about life’s daily events, to a chronic diffuse sense of anxiety to full-blown panic attacks with physical symptoms to episodes of sheer terror. The type of fear a given individual will experience not only depends on the nature of the situation but also is generally determined by a combination of individual biological, psychological, and environmental factors.”

“That’s right,” the Dalai Lama agreed. “So, we need a variety of approaches to deal with the various kinds of fear or the different contexts.”

“Well, if we are talking about individual fears and anxieties, on a personal level, you’re right that many approaches may be needed, which could include assessment of the person’s physical condition, medical illnesses, mental illness such as clinical anxiety disorders, and various treatments that could include attention to diet and exercise, medication, psychotherapy, and particularly cognitive behavioral techniques. As we’ve discussed in the past,

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