In the vastness of our feelings a simple yet profound truth emerges: we all seek happiness.
On the occasion of International Day of Happiness 2025, let us turn our gaze to the teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who like a silent but unstoppable river, has nourished us countless times with his ocean of wisdom, compassion and interconnectedness.
Through the reflections of Venerable Thubten Chodron, held with Rajiv Mehrotra in a virtual conversation presented by His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Universal Responsibility Foundation, we can explore how her philosophy illuminates the path to authentic and lasting happiness.
The Presence that Transforms
Anyone who has had the privilege of meeting His Holiness the Dalai Lama senses a ineffable quality in his presence, an essence that goes far beyond words and deeply touches the heart.
As Venerable Thubten Chodron says, even sitting and listening to teachings in an incomprehensible language – Tibetan for those who don't know it – one is enveloped in a transformative energy. It's not just what he says, but what he è.
The "deep compassion that he feels, you feel it completely, you feel that it is not conceptual and it touches you deeply".
This "inspiration" that emanates from him is palpable and “it imprints itself on one's mind”.
Nonverbal communication is perhaps his most powerful teaching. When he sits in front of thousands of people, some of whom know nothing about Buddhism, many of them start to cry spontaneously. Not out of sadness, but out of recognition of something authentic and universal that resonates in the depths of our being.
Dependent Origination: The Heart of Philosophy
If we had to distill the essence of Buddhism into a single concept, what would it be?
When this question was put to the Dalai Lama, his answer was clear and immediate: “Dependent origin. "
Like drops in the ocean we are all interconnected in a network of relationships. Dependent origination is not simply a philosophical concept but constitutes the very foundation of compassion and, ultimately, of our own happiness.
As His Holiness the Dalai Lama teaches, and Venerable Thubten Chodron has pointed out, All sentient beings, like us, aspire to happiness and wish to escape suffering..
We are not islands, and this interconnectedness that binds us means that for everything we have, from our existence to the food we eat, we depend on others.
This truth dissolves the myth of absolute individualism. How could we exist without others? How could we say that our happiness is more important than that of others?
Enlightened Egoism
In a paradox that overturns conventional logic, the Dalai Lama offers us a revolutionary vision: “If you really want to be selfish, if you really want to care only for your own happiness, then the best way to be happy is to care for others.”
This is not spiritual rhetoric, but a deep understanding of the nature of human experience. Imagine living in a society where everyone pursues only their own interest: such an environment would inevitably generate suffering, dissatisfaction, conflict. Our personal happiness is intertwined with collective well-being, it is like a flower that cannot bloom in poisoned soil.
The Dalai Lama invites us to reflect: if we all had to choose who is more important – a single individual (myself) or all other sentient beings – the outcome would be overwhelming. The countless beings would always win over that one. This thought experiment reveals the logical absurdity of egocentrism.
Beyond Differences: A Universal Dialogue
One of the most revolutionary aspects of the Dalai Lama's approach is his openness to other spiritual traditions and modern science. How can a Buddhist monk wear a kippah in Jerusalem, attend Christian services, or engage in dialogue with atheist scientists without feeling like he's compromising his spiritual integrity?
The answer lies in his understanding of human diversity. As he eloquently explains: Not everyone likes the same food. Some prefer rice, some prefer chapatis, some prefer pasta. It is not what you eat that matters, but that the food nourishes you.
Likewise, different spiritual traditions can nourish human souls differently, sharing fundamental ethical values: do not kill, do not steal, cultivate love and compassion. And for those who do not follow any religion, there is the “secular ethics” – a common ground of values that can be shared by all, regardless of creed.
The Dalai Lama maintains a philosophical clarity that allows him to affirm, when necessary, distinctions between different systems of thought, but without seeing them as a reason for division, but rather as opportunities for mutual enrichment.
The Science of Mind
The Dalai Lama's dialogue with modern science represents a bridge between centuries-old tradition and contemporary knowledge. Far from being a concession to scientific materialism, this dialogue reflects the empirical approach of the Buddha himself, who encouraged his disciples not to accept his teachings with blind faith but to verify them through direct experience.
This openness has led to significant transformations, such as the introduction of scientific education in Tibetan monasteries – a radical departure from tradition. Yet the Dalai Lama does not submit uncritically to science: when scientists try to reduce the mind to mere brain processes, he responds firmly: “You will never convince me that the mind is the brain. They are of completely different natures. The mind is not physical, it is clear and has the capacity to learn and know.”
The Practice of Kindness
One of the most powerful lessons the Dalai Lama offers us is through his humility. He describes himself as “a simple Buddhist monk” – and he acts consistently with this self-definition. In a world obsessed with status and hierarchy, his ability to put himself on an equal footing with others is revolutionary.
At a conference with experts in various fields, when asked a complex question, he simply replied: “I don’t know. What do you think?” This seemingly simple gesture reveals a profound wisdom: the willingness to admit one’s own limitations, to genuinely listen to others, to abandon the pretense of omniscience.
The Path to Authentic Happiness
On this International Day of Happiness, the Dalai Lama's teachings remind us that true happiness lies not in the accumulation of possessions or the obsessive pursuit of personal well-being, but in cultivating a mind that is compassionate, kind, open to others, non-judgmental, and recognizes the interconnectedness of all phenomena.
Like drops of water, we human beings find fulfillment in authentic connection with others.
The practice of “comparing oneself with others” and then “exchanging oneself with others” – teachings that the Dalai Lama has tirelessly transmitted – is not an exercise in self-annihilation, but a path to authentic freedom.
In a world fragmented by divisions, polarizations and conflicts, this vision offers a bright path to shared happiness – not as an unattainable utopia, but as a concrete possibility born of an understanding of our interdependent nature.
This article was published on the occasion of the International Day of Happiness 2025, drawing inspiration from the teachings of His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 and founded the “Foundation for Universal Responsibility”.
The reflections are based on a conversation by Venerable Thubten Chodron (a Buddhist nun and author who has worked closely with the Dalai Lama for decades), in dialogue with Rajiv Mehrotra in a virtual conversation presented by His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Universal Responsibility Foundation. You can watch it below in the Italian translation by Ven. Siliana Bosa.
WATCH “UNDERSTANDING THE DALAI LAMA”
Ven. Thubten Chodron in conversation with and Rajiv Mehrotra
Translation into Italian by Ven. Siliana Bosa of the Sangha ETS Foundation – Lhungtok Choekhorling Monastic Association.