I like the phrasing "Always be sustained by cheerfulness" *. I am a naturally cheerful person, even though I sometimes feel very sad and pessimistic, but my cheerfulness usually wins at the end of the day. It is so interesting that the Buddhist teachers of old knew things we only now rediscover: that it is good for your mental and physical health to smile and to laugh. There are now studies that prove this: blood pressure, immune system and much more benefit from a smile. Sure, a war won't stop being horrific just because you smile, but neither will a frown change the situation. Being able to laugh lightens the burden.
Most of us don't live in a war zone, most of us just have to contend with noisy neighbors or grumpy coworkers or with bad weather or the fact that one has run out of milk. These things are peanuts. One might as well laugh at them and stop taking everything so seriously. I think the slogan is great advice.
* I tried to find the Padmakara translation, but I got lost in lots of Shambala titles. What is the book called? I'd really like to get it.
There is a quote from the Dalai Lama from The Book of Joy, about his relationship with Desmond Tutu, that speaks to this: "It helps no one if you sacrifice your joy because others are suffering."
The Padmakara translation group did the slogans for Dilgo Khyentse's book on the slogans, 'Enlightened Courage'. :)
I like the phrasing "Always be sustained by cheerfulness" *. I am a naturally cheerful person, even though I sometimes feel very sad and pessimistic, but my cheerfulness usually wins at the end of the day. It is so interesting that the Buddhist teachers of old knew things we only now rediscover: that it is good for your mental and physical health to smile and to laugh. There are now studies that prove this: blood pressure, immune system and much more benefit from a smile. Sure, a war won't stop being horrific just because you smile, but neither will a frown change the situation. Being able to laugh lightens the burden.
Most of us don't live in a war zone, most of us just have to contend with noisy neighbors or grumpy coworkers or with bad weather or the fact that one has run out of milk. These things are peanuts. One might as well laugh at them and stop taking everything so seriously. I think the slogan is great advice.
* I tried to find the Padmakara translation, but I got lost in lots of Shambala titles. What is the book called? I'd really like to get it.
There is a quote from the Dalai Lama from The Book of Joy, about his relationship with Desmond Tutu, that speaks to this: "It helps no one if you sacrifice your joy because others are suffering."
The Padmakara translation group did the slogans for Dilgo Khyentse's book on the slogans, 'Enlightened Courage'. :)
That is a wonderful quote. And thank you for the information about the translation.