The Art of Happiness

conversations, before I began to break out of myown limited perspective. By nature and training,I’ve always tended to address problems from thestandpoint of individual dynamics—psychologicalprocesses occurring purely within the domain ofthe mind. Sociological or political perspectiveshave never held much interest for me. In onediscussion with the Dalai Lama I startedquestioning him about the importance ofachieving a wider perspective. Having hadseveral cups of coffee earlier, my conversationstarted to become quite animated and I began tospeak about the ability to shift perspective as aninternal process, a solitary pursuit, based solelyon an individual’s conscious decision to adopt adifferent view.In the midst of my spirited discourse, theDalai Lama finally interrupted to remind me,