We all want to find and sustain happiness. And for the Dalai Lama, this inner peace may be easily found by doing one thing: determining that whatever is bothering you no longer exist. Well, sort of.
Of course, reaching this plain of enlightenment is far easier said (or read about) than done.
In an interview with ABC News, the Dalai Lama and sat with Dan Harris in a segment that was podcasted called: "10% Happier With Dan Harris."
The Dalai Lama talks about how important studying and practicing meditation is in order to find out if something is bugging us, and to question whether or not this "something" really exists.
"When we analyze the nature, or the very identity of sadness or worry, you can find the appearance of something or 'my sadness, something is here, something solid,' now that no longer there," the Dalai Lama explained.
An example the Dalai Lama gave included anger. He said that if you do find that you are angry towards another person during your meditation, it can be something as simple as identifying that anger and simply "letting it go."
"In the case of one human being who gives you problem, and you feel very negative with that person you consider your enemy. That is a target of anger. Analyze that target. Dissolve. So anger no longer find independent target," he advised.
The Dalai Lama encourages people to learn the art of meditation and practice it daily. His hopes are that scientific studies can help demonstrate the feasibility of this mental practice, and demonstrate how it can benefit the people who use it; both physically and mentally. When properly harnessed, he explains, it provides a better escape than alcohol or drugs do.
However, meditation takes time to learn and is an art form, so to speak. The Dalai Lama suggests that it is not just about being in a state of what he calls "thoughtlessness," but rather is about focusing on specific elements, such as anger, to quell the emotion and ultimately let it go.
The Fabulous Four absolutely had this ideology correct in the hit song, "Let It Be."
Let it be, let it be
Let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom
Let it be
- The Beatles