At the start of the pandemic, a friend of mine from my undergraduate days started a book club. The intention was to cover pressing and potentially controversial topics that we would have ordinarily not talked about in everyday conversation. We started with books covering racism and its history, such as Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi. However, we soon transitioned to books on other topics as well.

Of particular interest was a book titled Beyond Religion by none other than the Dalai Lama. It was my first time reading a book written by him, and, given my lack of experience, I was unsure what to expect. I am not a Buddhist. I was not sure if it was full of religious metatheory or if the words of a sage man would even resonate with me.

My initial judgments were utterly wrong. The Dalai Lama has the inexplicable ability to write in a manner understood across the generational divide. He weaves storytelling and theory together effortlessly to sound like he is sitting right in front of you, talking to you like an old friend. The way he writes drew me in, making me reflect on myself throughout the process. The book was not expressly about Buddhist teachings either. Beyond Religion is a book on ethics, morals and self-fulfillment. It teaches how to derive happiness in our lives and how to do the same in the lives of others.

With everything that has transpired this past year, finding happiness is even more vital. It is important even in the mundane occurrences of everyday life, because being happy saves a life. I am not talking about the fake happiness of a forced smile plastered across my face when I want to hide emotions inside. But genuine joy comes from something as little as getting a piece of food out from between one's teeth. The relief that comes when a giant belch can erupt from an upset stomach to ease indigestion. And the ease of curling up under a blanket while watching the sunset at night. These emotions are what keep me well-balanced and in a healthy headspace, even when assignment deadlines loom on the horizon.

Finding love, happiness and self-fulfillment is vital. Therefore, I highly recommend you read Beyond Religion, or any book on that matter that makes you reflect and think about your own life. Too often I find myself relying on outside entities to make myself happy. Whether that is a television show, food, or even other people, such types of happiness are fleeting. Once they leave us, we have to go out hunting for them once again. To find fulfilling lifelong happiness, one must find it within. Take time to get to know yourself whenever you can, without the distractions of life, to find out what brings you enjoyment. Because once you do, there is no end to the amount of happiness you can have in your life and the amount you can share with others.
 

Vanessa Davis is a master’s student in the Department of Public Service and Administration.