The Film Bringing People Together in Compassion and Hope Around the World
The moment is quiet. His Holiness the Dalai Lama eases himself into a chair, surrounded by a few people to steady him. He asks, "This camera?" and points to the device that will be recording him. As he waits for what's next, his energy is calm; his expression peaceful. Then subtly, things shift. The Dalai Lama's face pulls upward into a smile that could melt the sun. He offers the look of a person who’s spent a lifetime practicing and teaching the wisdom of inner peace.
This opening scene is from the new documentary, Wisdom of Happiness, which explores His Holiness's deep pursuit of meaning throughout his extraordinary life. Executive produced by longtime Buddhist Richard Gere, the film takes us on a journey toward what it truly requires to live with compassion and to embody happiness.
Throughout the 90 minutes of this poetic film, The Dalai Lama shares his decades of insights, questions, and learnings about the human capacity for love and joy. He is forthcoming and gentle. He is also straightforward, telling us viewers from the beginning that he is a mere mortal like everyone and seeks what every soul yearns for. "Deep inside, without any question, everybody, every sentient being, wants peace, happiness," he says.
But the question then is: How do we weave happiness into our lives when the times we live in have such fear, anger, vitriol, and divisiveness.
That is what the Dalai Lama commits to answering. We learned so many things about what makes a meaningful, contented life from this documentary—and we share three takeaways below. But what stood out most was the emboldening truth that we all deeply know but need to follow more closely: true peace begins with each of us.
As His Holiness says, "Everything depends on your own mental attitude."
Three Lessons from the Dalai Lama
#1: From Darkness Comes Clarity
In 1959, His Holiness escaped Tibet to save himself and honor the safety of the Tibetan people in the face of China’s growing oppression. “I escaped not knowing I will see the next day or not,” he says, admitting he was riddled with fear, anxiety, doubt, hesitation, and sadness. He needed to care for the thousands of refugees who followed him to safety in India. All the while, back in his home country, thousands were being killed or tortured. It was a harrowing time, but from it swelled the Dalai Lama’s fortitude. He committed to making the well-being of humanity his mission. And even though he faced loneliness—“no wife, no children, nothing!” — he found solace in the billions of people across the world who are his brothers and sisters. “As long as sentient beings remain, I will remain in order to serve them,” he says. “So that gives me tremendous inner strength.”
#2: Compassion Is Not an Idle Game
It is common knowledge that anything worthwhile comes from hard work. But do we realize this also pertains to our inner emotional life? “Tremendous determination or willpower” is essential to have “infinite love and compassion,” says the Dalai Lama. These beautiful things in our lives do not come free. We must be determined—and where it starts is with a strong sense of self. We are capable of significant change, and we must know and act on this every day, for the rest of our lives. This is the commitment true peace requires. “Everything depends on our own sincere compassionate motivation,” he continues.
#3: Selfish Is Okay—But Make Sure You Are Wise Selfish
“I love myself,” says His Holiness with a grounded conviction. It is almost surprising to hear this from a man who lives his life for others. But he quickly adds that his self-love is not in a “self-cherishing” sense. Instead, he loves himself because he is human, and every single human being deserves to have happiness and to overcome suffering. To do and have this, we must love and show “maximum care” for ourselves. “We should be wise selfish, not foolish selfish,” he says.
Love for oneself begets love for others. And as we show more and more compassion and love to the world, we find a sense of ease within ourselves. “Altruism really creates inner peace.”
You can learn more about Wisdom of Happiness and learn about screenings near you here.
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