Transforming Problems Into Happiness

by Lama Zopa and Thubten Zopa

Book Overview

"Happiness and suffering are dependent upon your mind, upon your interpretation. They do not come from outside, from others. All of your happiness and all of your suffering are created by you, by your... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 086171038X
• ISBN13: 9780861710386
• Release Date: January 1993
• Publisher: Wisdom Publications (MA)
• Length: 88 Pages
• Weight: 0.27 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

TRANSFORMING PROBLEMS INTO HAPPINESS

AS A TEACHER, THIS IS A 'REQUIRED READING' WHEN I AM ABLE TO WEAVE THE TOPIC OF 'HAPPINESS' INTO ANY COURSE ! THE FOREWARD BY HIS HOLINESS, THE DALAI LAMA SHARES IMPORTANT FOCUS ON TOPIC OF HAPPINESS. IT IS TRUE THAT EVERYONE WHO DOES READ THIS BOOK AS A 'REQUIRED READING' ... ADMITS TO READING THIS MAGNIFICENT SIMPLIED 'WAY' MANY MORE TIMES,BY CHOICE, AND, I AM TOLD REFER TO THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY... WHICH I DO ALSO... WHAT WAS ESPECIALLY VALUED WAS THE 'GLOSSARY' OF TERMS WHICH ARE USED THROUGHOUT THE BOOK; ALONG WITH, THE SUGGESTED FURTHER READINGS ONE COULD EXPLORE. STILL STUDYING THE 'COURSE IN MIRACLES' ~ JOEL GOLDSMITH AND WALTER STARCKE WISDOMS, THIS INSPIRING BOOK ELEVATED MY ABILITY TO WELCOME ...'WHAT IS'... AND NEVER LABEL ANYTHING! HAPPINESS IS THE WAY... AS DR. WAYNE DYER TEACHES (ANOTHER FAVORITE AUTHOR). PLEASE DON'T MISS ADDING THIS TO 'YOUR WAY' ~ WITH PEACE IN EVERY STEP FORWARD ~ THIS IS MY FIRST RATING BECAUSE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF LETTING YOU KNOW!

Wow!

What is the first noble truth set forth by the Buddha Shakyamuni? That we all suffer! We face trials and tribulations all throughout this human experience. Lama Zopa Rinpoche shows us how to successfully deal with such adversity, and as the title suggests, transform this into joyful experience.It's essential, Rinpoche highlights, to be prepared for unhappy situations before they ever occur. Having the capacity to use these afflictions as a basis for cultivation of wisdom and happiness is a pretty difficult task. Lama Zopa makes no secret of it. But with previous training we can all straightforwardly apply the teachings of the Buddha to transform these afflictions via our practice. We must in a concrete way realize that our life's problems, beyond any doubt, are the necessary conditions required for a quality life and meaningful practice. The only way we can receive continuous happiness in our lives is from our misgivings and misfortune.Lama Zopa points out that the idea the problem is an affliction is the one and only boundary holding your confines in misery, looking wan tingly into the field of joy and happiness. In that sort of state, there is no way we can transform the affliction into practice. So acknowledging that these problems are a true friend in our Buddhist practice, is the first essential step towards liberation. This book really helped me through some rough points not so long ago. Even though I knew what Lama Zopa was expressing long before reading this work, it was a bright and gentle reminder to employ what I knew to be the medicine into actual practice. When I did, I experienced vast relief. Buy this book, it can do wonders for you in your practice.

Powerful, Transformative Teachings!

This brilliant, powerful book is not the sort that's just to be read once. If you keep this book with you like a companion in your journey through life then it will serve as a great support and comfort. When you're going through good times, it will remind you to enjoy them without attachments or illusions. And, especially during difficult times, if you listen to its wise counsel, then it will comfort you and help you to find great strength, confidence and even joy!

Tibetan Mathematics

This is a book on how to destroy mental and physical suffering. Lama Zopa Rinpoche discusses Mahayana Thought Transformations. These are statements or views that we can use in our everyday life to massively destroy suffering and create happiness. In Tibetan Buddhism, it is believed that all our suffering is caused by selfishness or what Lama Zopa Rinpoche calls, "self-cherishing." We all have comitted selfish acts in the past. We must experience the results in the future. But we can experience all these problems in such a way as to put a stop on all suffering sometime in the future. Simply because the impetus of suffering has lost it's ability to cause a chain reaction. Lama Rinpoche gives plenty of thought transformations. And a comprehensive list is given in the back. Some of these ideas may strike the reader as a bit strange. Using suffering to destroy suffering. As Harry Truman said, "The buck stops here!" In this book, "The suffering stops here. I blame all this suffering on selfish actions and thoughts which I have performed in the past. I will not blame anybody. And I am suffering for all beings." Having done so, Lama Zopa Rinpoche explains how this stops suffering. Usually, when we experience a problem, we blame other people, places, or things. This blaming increases our self-cherishing stance. "If only my tire didn't go flat..." and so forth. We can learn to like suffering so that we can put a stop at it's nucleus. Which is that suffering leads to more selfish actions. Lama Zopa Rinpoche even goes as far as stating that we can enjoy suffering like eating ice cream or listening to classical music! You can actually experience problems, which are the result of selfish actions, and state, "Well! I got rid of that selfish action. My tire went flat!" This may sound strange. The author is not asking you to stick your hand into a fire. He is just asking you to give Mahayana Thought Transformations a try. Or as Jesus said, "Ye Reap What Ye Sow." The object of this book is to sow no more. You have been in pain long enough. So buy this book and give it a good test run. I think that you will be happy with the results.

advice from the heart

I highly Recommend Lama Zopa's, "Transforming Problems into Happiness." This is a book about finding some meaning in our problems. The message is that in the midst of our suffering (Physical, Mental, and Emotional) we can find the seeds of happiness. For it is in skillfully experiencing our pain we develop compassion for the pain of others and the pain of the world (poverty, disease, hunger, environmental degradation). Obviously, Rinpoche goes into greater detail. His words Heal. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wishes to develop their Heart.