What’s the purpose of life? The Dalai Lama’s provocative perspective
I’ve been contemplating teachings of the Nobel Peace Prize winner, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, for several decades, and his belief on the purpose of life originally stunned me. I was listening to a cassette recording (that really dates me) of him speaking to around 400 psychologists and psychiatrists about the similarities and differences between Buddhism and Western psychology. I was so transfixed that even though I’d arrived home, I stayed in my silver Honda Civic with the ignition off, continuing to listen.
What he said during the question-and-answer period of his speech dumbfounded me, and I’m still processing it more than 30 years later. Since then, I’ve shared it with thousands of my clients, both during individual coaching sessions and with my audiences when I speak. Here’s the Dalai Lama’s conversation with a woman in the audience:
Woman, excited: “Can you tell us what the purpose of life is?”
Dalai Lama: “Can you ask me an easier question, please?” He laughed, as did the whole audience. “Actually, it’s an easy question. The purpose of life is to be happy.”
Everyone was stunned, as was I. For about 30 seconds, there was absolute silence.
Woman, now timid: “Your Holiness, with all the suffering in the world, how can you say the purpose of life is to be happy?”
Dalai Lama: Obviously recognizing that it was hard for this woman to challenge him, replied with great compassion: “Remember, I’m a simple Buddhist monk, and one of my vows is to help alleviate suffering in the world. So I have to ask, will I be more effective at alleviating suffering in the world if I’m happy or not happy?”
Over the years, I’ve contemplated this woman’s question and his response. Like many of his teachings, it changed me. As a young man, I was always deeply philosophical, and everything was very serious. I was seriously serious — really! I was so serious that I had to take a workshop to learn to smile and laugh (after hearing this definition of the purpose of life).
Apparently, I can trust my memory (at least for the above conversation). Recently, I read an amazing story by Douglas Preston for Slate.com, and I encourage you to read it too. Preston’s insightful and hilarious article about the Dalai Lama visiting a ski area for the first time made me laugh until I cried, and it validated the story I’ve been telling my clients for 30 years about the Dalai Lama’s view on the purpose of life. It also provides insight into how he:
- Lives in the moment and with the amazement the eyes of a child
- Is so comfortable with himself that nothing shakes his self-esteem or embarrasses him
- Lives with joy and humility
- Has the courage to be different and stand strong in his beliefs
- Takes mindful listening to a whole new level
- Learns to never wear wing tip shoes on a ski slope
The Dalai Lama is a true Fearless Leader. He inspires others with his courage, reacts to adversity with resilience, thinks with mindfulness and excels with unrelenting fire.
What do you think about his definition of the purpose of life?
