The Book of Joy
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Date Published: September 13, 2016
The Book of Joy
Book Author: Desmond Tutu, 14th Dalai Lama, Douglas Abrams
Summary reviewed by:
Terrence Timmons
Terrence Timmons
Analyst
Bachelor of Arts (BA), University Of California, Santa Barbara 2019
With over 4 years of experience as an analyst. Terrence Timmons is committed to analyzing summaries without compromising on quality.
The Book of Joy:
TL;DR Summary
Unlock the Secret to Unending Happiness with Two of the World's Most Revered Spiritual Leaders! How do you find joy when the world is crumbling around you? In a world weighed down by an endless barrage of suffering, injustices, and existential dread, two giants of spiritual wisdom, the 14th Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, invite you to take a detour. In "The Book of Joy," Desmond Tutu, the 14th Dalai Lama, and Douglas Abrams bring to you an unprecedented account of a week-long dialogue. These long-time friends, despite their religious differences and coming from diverse cultural backgrounds, come together to offer you an elixir for the soul—a playbook for attaining eternal joy.
While the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu are spiritual celebrities, the alchemy of their friendship and shared wisdom paints an approachable, down-to-earth guide for achieving inner peace. They are not peddlers of quick-fix, superficial happiness. Instead, they present joy as an enduring state of being that can be cultivated through practice and mindfulness. The two luminaries transcend religious boundaries to explore eight "Pillars of Joy," which range from compassion and generosity to humor and acceptance.
Chronicled by Douglas Abrams, the conversations between the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu are at times playful and at other times profoundly moving, as they share personal anecdotes and experiences that have shaped their pursuit of joy. The book is an arresting tapestry of storytelling, philosophical discussion, and practical exercises. Moreover, it challenges you not to shy away from the suffering around and within you but to face it head-on, as it's often through hardship that one can uncover the most profound joy.
In this trailblazing narrative, you're not just a bystander but a third companion in these conversations, an active participant invited to confront your own complexities, paradoxes, and uncertainties. As these two spiritual virtuosos guide you on a joyous journey towards understanding the anatomy of joy, they also remind you that achieving it is not just an individual quest but a collective endeavor, a shared duty to uplift humanity.
So, embark on this once-in-a-lifetime trip with the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu, because joy is not just an emotion; it's an orientation, a way of being that helps you fight the darkness, both within and around you. Your passport to eternal joy awaits!
The Book of Joy:
Genres
Non-Fiction
Self-Help
Spirituality
Philosophy
Biography
Inspirational
Eastern Philosophy
Religion and Spirituality
Personal Development
Personal Growth
Mindfulness
Leadership Management
Happiness and Wellness
The Book of Joy:
Main Characters
14th Dalai Lama: A Tibetan spiritual leader who values compassion and inner peace. Through his practice of Buddhist principles, he embodies the concept of interconnectedness.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu: A South African Anglican bishop and social activist, he champions the power of forgiveness and love. His involvement in the anti-apartheid movement reflects his steadfast commitment to justice.
Douglas Abrams: The narrator and the chronicler of the dialogues, he embodies curiosity and serves as a bridge between the spiritual leaders and the reader, often asking the questions we all want to ask.
The Book of Joy:
Themes
Joy as an Enduring State: The Dalai Lama and Tutu argue that joy isn’t fleeting but an enduring quality one can cultivate. They refer to their own lives filled with struggles yet abundant in joy.
The Eight Pillars of Joy: They explore these eight pillars, like compassion, generosity, and acceptance, as the foundations for lasting happiness.
Interconnectedness: Both leaders discuss the importance of understanding how we are all connected to each other and to the world, pointing to their own friendship as a testament to this concept.
Facing Suffering: Rather than ignoring or escaping suffering, the two propose that enduring hardship can often lead to profound joy and self-understanding.
Collective Responsibility: Beyond individual happiness, the book emphasizes that joy also involves a collective endeavor, underscoring their respective roles in social activism and human upliftment.
