The
Dalai Lama once said, “Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from
your own actions.” This is to say that no matter how many things we can
achieve, happiness ultimately comes from within. Happiness is an abstract,
ambiguous term that has different meanings for each individual. Buddhist monk,
Mattieu Ricard, however, believes he has the singular answer to improving one’s
quality of life. Formerly a biochemist, Ricard is very interested in the inner
functions of the mind, and how we can use our consciousness to achieve
happiness. But what does he mean by happiness?
Equating
“happiness” with “wellbeing” Ricard says, “(Wellbeing/ happiness) is not just a
pleasurable sensation, it is a deep sense of serenity and fulfillment; a state
that actually pervades and underlies all emotional states and all the joys and
sorrows that can come one’s way.” Because it is an emotional state, Ricard says
that instead of looking outward for things to make us happy, we must use the
conscious mirror to train our minds to be happy. Ricard’s ultimate claim is
that by looking inward for happiness, instead of outward, we can better the
quality of every instance of our lives because for him, the way our minds
function is the ultimate factor that determines our quality of life. I too
believe in the power of positive thinking as an important lifestyle to
achieving happiness. To a certain degree, I believe that Ricard’s teachings can
be very beneficial for some.
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| Mattieu Ricard, speaking at a TED Talk in Montreal |
Ricard
calls his practice “Mind Training.” Mind Training is a practice built on the
premise that inner thoughts of love and compassion can serve as an antidote to
the inner conditions of anger, hatred, jealousy, and obsessive desire that
undermine happiness. Ricard explains that achieving true happiness with this
method is a very time-intensive process of meditation. Here lies the rub with
Ricard’s theory. While this practice might be great for Buddhist monks that are
able to dedicate hours each day to meditation, this is not a practical solution
for the single parent working multiple part time jobs just to ensure their children
don’t go hungry, or for the military veteran, unable to find full-time
employment and suffering from PTSD.
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| What we can do with just our minds is amazing. The power of mindfulness is truly something. |
Ricard
acknowledges that outer conditions can and do influence our happiness. Our
relative level of wealth, health, and education are all factors that contribute
to our level of wellbeing. He brushes these things off, however, as “auxiliary
conditions” that are not central to achieving happiness. Here is where Ricard
and I part ways. There are certain material conditions that an individual cannot
reasonably view through a lens of love and compassion. In 1943, Abraham Maslow
established the theory of a “hierarchy of needs,” claiming that an individual
must be able to satisfy their physiological and safety needs before they can
feel love or esteem. Returning to the example of our single parent, we must
wonder how the concepts of love and compassion can overcome the physical
conditions of hunger or illness. Ricard anticipated this type of criticism, and
attempts to answer it through showing a multiplicity of images of individuals
living in the Eastern world, with very little material possessions, living in
destitute conditions, all smiling. But these still images are not convincing
enough for me. One image capturing a smile shows us that these individuals are
capable of appearing happy, but there is no evidence that they are truly living
happy lives. Even if Ricard could prove to me that these individuals are happy,
I would still contend that cultural differences are also an important factor to
happiness.
Ultimately
I agree with Ricard’s conclusion that changing our mindfulness and our
attitudes is one of the most important factors in achieving our happiness. But
I also would add that the ability to focus on mindfulness within U.S. culture
is a privilege that not everyone has access to. Between constant bombardment of
unrealistic life goals, and the reality of layers of inequality, there are some
circumstances in which seeking outside help is the first place an individual
should look to improve their quality of life. Seeking a healthy body, or a
stable income should be central to seeking overall happiness, along with a
mindful perspective grounded in love and compassion. But without health or
stability, it would be foolish to believe that through meditation alone, one
can achieve their happy goals.
Check out Ricard's TED Talk and decide for yourself! https://www.ted.com/talks/matthieu_ricard_on_the_habits_of_happiness?language=en#t-961765
