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Sunday Morning News

Psychiatrist Discusses Collaborating With Dalai Lama on Book About Searching For Happiness

Aired February 27, 2000 - 8:41 a.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The search for happiness is definitely a universal quest. Dr. Howard Cutler, a psychiatrist in private practice, has done extensive research on the topic and he collaborated on a book with the Dalai Lama. The book, titled "The Art of Happiness," has been on the "New York Times" best seller list for more than a year now and Dr. Cutler joins us live from Phoenix, Arizona.

Good morning, Dr. Cutler.

HOWARD C. CUTLER, AUTHOR, "THE ART OF HAPPINESS": Good morning, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, let's start with how you met the Dalai Lama.

CUTLER: Well, I met him in 1982. I was doing a research grant to study Tibetan medicine and as it turned out the Dalai Lama's older brother was director of the Tibet Medical Center at that time and I got to know his older brother and family quite well and they initially introduced me to him.

PHILLIPS: What was it like to work with him?

CUTLER: It was just wonderful. He's a really remarkable man. He has a great sense of humor, he's very intelligent, very well educated and he's the type of person that when you sit down and talk with him you feel like there's nobody else in the room or nobody else on the planet, basically. You're talking and communicating one-on-one with a very special individual. So it was really fun.

PHILLIPS: Well, what's so practical about this book to its readers when it comes to genuine sources of happiness?

CUTLER: Well, I think the practical aspects involve the idea of dealing with basic human traits, traits of the mind that are common to all people. For example, the Dalai Lama's approach to happiness involves recognizing that once we have our basic physical needs met for food and clothing and so on, at that point the mind determines one's happiness much more than one's external circumstances, events or situations.

PHILLIPS: All right, so let me ask you this, why is it that so many times we go through these fleeting moments of happiness? So many times I think I have everything I could ever ask for, I should be very happy, but yet I feel depressed?

CUTLER: I'm sorry, can you repeat the question? I'm getting somebody else talking.

PHILLIPS: No problem. Fleeting moments of happiness, we all experience them. How do we combat that because so many of us have so much to be happy for yet there are days where we feel awful?

CUTLER: Well, you know, first of all I think we need to recognize that, you know, always there is going to be events and situations that bring us down a little bit or days that we feel bad but that's part and normal aspect of the human condition. But I think generally speaking we can raise our sort of set point for happiness and achieve a state of inner containment through a variety of techniques and methods.

For example, a simple technique is reflecting on a consistent basis of all the advantages that we have and reflecting on those who are less fortunate than we are rather than constantly comparing ourselves to those who have more or who are richer or smarter, thinner and so on, you know, cultivating this kind of attitude of gratitude. It sounds kind of naive and simplistic, but studies have shown, in fact, that we can shape our attitudes and our outlook by choosing who we compare ourselves to and comparing ourselves in a sense that creates a feeling of gratitude rather than envy.

PHILLIPS: Such a good point. Many people believe that only true happiness comes from a relationship with god. What do you think about that?

CUTLER: Well, I think for many people that's true. In fact, some studies have shown that those with a strong religious faith, there is some correlation with greater levels of life satisfaction and greater ability to deal with traumatic situations and crises and so on. So that's certainly a valid approach for many people.

But people, even without a religious faith or a specific religion that they adhere to, can still increase their levels of happiness. There's many methods and techniques where we can cultivate a happier feeling regardless of whether you have religion or not. It involves cultivating positive mental states, kindness, compassion, tolerance, forgiveness and so on in a very systematic way and working hard on eliminating anger and hatred and greed and jealousy. And these are things that people from any religion can address and accomplish.

PHILLIPS: One of my favorites, Chapter 7, it talked about compassion. Dr. Howard Cutler, the book is "The Art of Happiness." Thanks so much for being with us.

CUTLER: Thanks, Kyra.

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