2020 – electronic – 3:07

Recording

Album: Happiness in a Troubled World
Date: January 15, 2021
Composer & Producer: Frank Horvat
Mixed & Mastered: Jean Martin
Label: I Am Who I Am Records

Programme Notes

In Chapter 10 of the book, The Art of Happiness in a Troubled World, The Dalai Lama says…

“Much of our suffering in life is caused not by external causes but by internal events such as the arising of disturbing emotions. And the best antidote to this inner disruption is enhancing our ability to handle these emotions, and learning how to cope with our environment, the negative situations, and so on.”

This really resonates with me because, in the past, I have seen myself fall into the trap of allowing external pressures to take control of me and drag me down even further. Everyone faces hardships and challenges in life. Between the pandemic, climate change, and uncertainty around human rights and democracy, there’s so much in our world that can drag us down. I think what the Dalai Lama is trying to say here is that we tend to see those external events as the cause of our problems and issues. But when he says that by looking deep within, it quickly becomes apparent that that’s the only place where suffering comes from. If we can conquer that, then it doesn’t really matter what’s happening on the outside.

– Frank Horvat