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The Happiness Revolution
By Howard C. Cutler
psychiatrist, author
A piece on the subject of compassion would seem to be a natural fit for a site entitled On Faith. After all, most of us would automatically associate compassion with religion, spirituality, morality, philosophy or ethics. For some, the word may evoke an intimate kind of warm and fuzzy feeling, or maybe a new-agey sentimentality. For others, perhaps the word conjures up a lofty image of a spiritual ideal, something practiced by saints, something that one can admire--as long as it's from afar. But whatever one's response may be, there are few who would view compassion as something of material value, something that will put food on the table. Nor would many people ordinarily see compassion as something that will solve the very real, hard, pressing problems of today's world; the violence, hatred, prejudice, poverty, or indifference--at least any time short of the Second Coming.
One person who frequently speaks about compassion is the Dalai Lama. In 1998, the Dalai Lama and I co-authored a book on happiness, "The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living." One of the key principles of the book was the inextricable link between personal happiness and compassion, kindness, or altruism. Looking for scientific evidence to support the views expressed by the Dalai Lama in the book, I was able to find experiments showing that happy people were kinder and more compassionate. But with relatively few studies on happiness and compassion available at the time, I could find no evidence of the reverse, that compassion increases one's customary level of happiness.
Coincidentally, shortly after the release of "The Art of Happiness," a worldwide Happiness Revolution began, characterized by an explosion of interest in the subject among both the scientific community and general public. The watershed event for this movement was the formal establishment of "positive psychology," a new field involving the scientific study of happiness and positive emotions. The "Revolution" has involved a fundamental shift in many people's perception of happiness. More and more people have abandoned the perception of happiness as a "soft" or frivolous subject, associated merely with pleasure or amusement. Instead, they are seeing it as something which brings tremendous practical rewards related to health, longevity, relationships, wealth, and success--and something which can be deliberately cultivated.
Last week we released a 10th anniversary edition of "The Art of Happiness," with an update on developments in the science of human happiness over the past decade. There is now an abundance of scientific evidence confirming the Dalai Lama's claim that compassion increases one's level of happiness. Some experiments, for example, use MRI brain scans to show how compassion activates the brain's "happiness region," while others show how performing random acts of kindness increases day-to-day happiness.
"The Art of Happiness in a Troubled World," the third volume of the series, was also released last week. In this volume the Dalai Lama and I expand the scope of our discussion, exploring the question of how to find happiness in such a troubled world. In this book we also expand our discussion of compassion, seeing it at the intersecting point between inner and outer happiness--the supreme positive emotion, with the potential to bring about personal happiness as well as societal happiness. In the book, I give ample scientific evidence showing how empathy and compassion have effects in the brain that cause very specific changes in perception, behavior, and ways of thinking--that act as if they were custom designed to eradicate prejudice, racism, hatred, conflict and violence.
The Happiness Revolution is barely 10 years old. Although still in its infancy, it is already starting to have a significant worldwide impact not only among the general public, but also in sectors such as science, business, education and even government. There's no doubt that it will have growing influence in the coming years, but as influential as this new movement may prove to be, there is another Revolution on the horizon that may someday eclipse the Happiness Revolution, one with the potential to simultaneously bring about inner transformation and a solution to many of the world's problems--a Compassion Revolution.
Before the Compassion Revolution can be initiated, however, there must first be a radical shift in public perception and attitudes about compassion--no longer perceiving compassion merely as a matter of religion, morality, spirituality or philosophy, but rather with deep appreciation of its very real, practical benefits, seeing it not as discretionary or as a luxury, but as something critical to our survival as a species.
While such a change in public understanding and attitude about compassion is likely to take many years, in the closing pages of "The Art of Happiness in a Troubled World" I offer a single glimmer of hope for a speedy popular acceptance of the practical value of compassion, a sudden shift in public perception. In explaining this ray of hope, I describe an experiment conducted by Dr. Richard Davidson at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. In this study, Davidson taught subjects a visualization technique that resulted in feelings of compassion. He then set about documenting any benefits of this compassion practice. One of the benefits he found was that the exercise normalized secretion of the stress hormone cortisol. One of the common effects of an abnormal pattern of cortisol secretion is the deposit of fat around one's waist--a fat belly.
Thus, the single ray of hope for the possibility of a large segment of the American population suddenly practicing techniques to increase compassion, leading to a radical overnight transformation of American society. Perhaps all we need is a few headlines in the supermarket tabloids:
AMAZING NEW DISCOVERY! THE COMPASSION DIET!!! THAT'S RIGHT! PRACTICE COMPASSION AND LOSE 3 INCHES OFF YOUR WAIST OVERNIGHT!!!
Well, maybe not. But there is one thing that is clear--with the rapidly growing body of research on the many benefits of compassion, including its powerful personal rewards and potential role in reducing societal problems, the Compassion Revolution will arrive some day. Let's hope it is soon.
Howard C. Cutler, M.D. is a psychiatrist, bestselling author, and speaker. He is a leading expert on the science of human happiness. He is co-author with H.H. the Dalai Lama of the "Art of Happiness" series of books, international bestsellers that have been translated into 50 languages.
By Howard C. Cutler |
October 14, 2009; 9:42 AM ET
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Posted by: Cassidy-ToneCity | October 16, 2009 4:15 PM
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What is going on with these comments?
Thank you, Dr. Cutler, for the thought-provoking essay. I do not know what to make of the other comments posted here but for those who are not just seeking to occupy internet space with their (at best) unrelated rants, I'd like to voice my admiration for the agenda for happiness. And by happiness, I think everyone needs to keep in mind that the happiness Dr. Cutler and the Dalai Lama are speaking of is not a happiness of "having it all", wealth, getting the best car, etc. This is the happiness of peace of mind, of leading an engaged, compassionate life, of connecting oneself with those things which truly make one happy--beyond the material or transient.
I look forward to seeing how much further these ideas will continue to travel through-out society.
Posted by: DrabPaleTree | October 16, 2009 3:50 PM
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Western Shugden Society
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Dalai Lama found guilty of persecution by High Court
We have recently received an update regarding the court case against the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government in Exile over their persecution of Dorje Shugden practitioners and their breaking of the Indian Deity discrimination law.
There was a hearing on the Dorje Shugden case on the 14th of September at the High Court in Delhi. This was the 3rd hearing, which was convened to examine the written response from the Dalai Lama's representatives to the allegations of Deity discrimination and religious discrimination against Dorje Shugden practitioners. This is nine and a half months after that response was received by the Court.
The Judge dismissed the Dalai Lama's arguments as unconvincing, further asserting that there was sufficient documentary evidence to prove that the Dalai Lama was in fact persecuting followers of the deity Dorje Shugden and that this would have to cease henceforth. The decision was made to issue a warning to the Dalai Lama to stop the persecution. The Judge declared that punitive measures would be initiated if the Dalai Lama refused to comply.
Happiness is a warm gun tucked into your robe.
Posted by: thomascanada | October 16, 2009 2:58 PM
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Two observations:
1. Unfortunately, the Compassion Revolution will not eradicate swine flu.
2. There is no compassion in the koran for infidels aka atheists, Christians and Jews. Until, this operating procedure for Islamic tyranny and subjugation is changed the Compassion Revolution will not succeed.
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Posted by: ccnl1 | October 14, 2009 11:17 PM
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A lot of conjecture but no references to scientific studies that global warming is occurring nor studies as to what is causing it if it is real. One could speculate, for example, that it is simply due to more active volcanoes under the oceans which is something we have no control over. Then there is that ball of energy aka the Sun that is slowly expanding and gets closer every year. Again something out of our control.
Posted by: ccnl1 | October 14, 2009 11:12 PM
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EKLAH;
is curseth this Sineth WAPO, aka "Washington Post" , George Town University & Burkley Centers et al & Affiliates! And This puppet President of WAPO & CO.!
AMERICANS via WAPO, are really S-T-U-P-i-D!
Thanks WAPO, Thanks NEWS CORP! Thanks NEWSWEEK!
"Mr. APATHY", Rupert Murdock of NEWS CORP [London, England], should dissapear from this world!
Posted by: diplomat-1 | October 14, 2009 7:42 PM
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Can you please explain to me what kind of compassion does this self-proclaimed reincarnated Tibetan parasite has? It seems to me that both of you, the author and Dalai Lama have compassion of is making silly money by fooling the readers.
Posted by: Maersk | October 14, 2009 4:44 PM
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Dalai Lama Found Guilty of Persecution by High Court
We have recently received an update regarding the court case against the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government in Exile over their persecution of Dorje Shugden practitioners and their breaking of the Indian Deity discrimination law.
There was a hearing on the Dorje Shugden case on the 14th of September at the High Court in Delhi. This was the 3rd hearing, which was convened to examine the written response from the Dalai Lama's representatives to the allegations of Deity discrimination and religious discrimination against Dorje Shugden practitioners. This is nine and a half months after that response was received by the Court.
The Judge dismissed the Dalai Lama's arguments as unconvincing, further asserting that there was sufficient documentary evidence to prove that the Dalai Lama was in fact persecuting followers of the deity Dorje Shugden and that this would have to cease henceforth. The decision was made to issue a warning to the Dalai Lama to stop the persecution. The Judge declared that punitive measures would be initiated if the Dalai Lama refused to comply.
"Apparently, Dharamsala is mysteriously silent, and this is not new! They are probably contemplating on the next course of action--whatever it may be. It is possible that they may contemplate peaceful and violent means--or, on the contrary behave as if nothing has happened!"
It's worth noting that, although the Western Shugden Society has stopped its protests against the Dalai Lama, the Dalai Lama has not stopped trying to destroy the practice of Dorje Shugden. He recently spoke out against relying on the Deity in his Medicine Buddha empowerment in Long Beach, California and during his visit to Washington, where he spoke directly to Tibetans about the issue. This is yet more evidence that the Dalai Lama is engaging in actions of religious discrimination, something he now legally has to stop in India.
Posted by: thomascanada | October 14, 2009 3:33 PM
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Two observations:
1. Unfortunately, the Compassion Revolution will not eradicate swine flu.
2. There is no compassion in the koran for infidels aka atheists, Christians and Jews. Until, this operating procedure for Islamic tyranny and subjugation is changed the Compassion Revolution will not succeed.
Posted by: ccnl1 | October 14, 2009 2:49 PM
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"The possibility of a large segment of the American population suddenly practicing techniques to increase compassion, leading to a radical overnight transformation of American society."
What a wonderful dream--and I believe it's possible!