The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World

Both the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu view the practices of cultivating joy and mental well-being as fundamental to their lives, providing a spiritual alignment that sustains them through various challenges. The Archbishop particularly notes the importance of these practices for everyday life, beyond the realm of spiritual teaching.

This chapter outlines various spiritual practices that support the eight pillars of joy. These practices, akin to physical exercises, foster mental health and immunity, enhancing the practitioner’s capacity to deal with life’s challenges with more ease and joy. They are meant to be adapted to individual needs and lifestyles, as demonstrated by the Dalai Lama adapting his practices to accommodate physical changes like aging knees.

Abrams introduces psychiatrist Daniel Siegel’s explanation of the brain’s response to meditation, illustrating the concrete benefits of these practices. Meditation and prayer create neural patterns that reduce destructive reactivity, promoting a more integrated and harmonious brain function. This leads to a response to life’s inevitable challenges with less fear and anger and more ease and joy.

The allure of instant gratification in the modern age is contrasted with the deeper, more time-intensive process of gaining knowledge and wisdom through spiritual practices. Initial experiences in meditation or prayer might provide immediate, pleasurable sensations, referred to as “spiritual sweets” by the Archbishop.