Realize, know, and experience that the reality underlying suffering is freedom from suffering, or nirvana, rather than just believing it.
Practice the educational curriculum, or path, to stop suffering and recognize the nirvana quality of everything, aiming for 100% happiness by eliminating error about reality.
When you understand the true nature of reality, realize that love is all you can do in your relations with things, leading to an effortless 100% positive outlook.
Cultivate the ability to hold two opposite things in your mind simultaneously without damaging either, as this tolerance of cognitive dissonance is a sign of a great mind and enlightenment.
Challenge the idea that scientific materialism is the superior and final answer to all philosophy, as it is a dangerous and scientifically incorrect belief.
Develop a strong degree of happiness as a worldly and spiritual duty, aiming to be so happy that you would die happy even if killed, demonstrating the mind’s malleability.
Realize that all terrible problems will never be solved unless you stay cheerful, as cheerfulness enables patience and systematic thinking.
Avoid anger when addressing problems, as it accomplishes nothing; instead, be patient and think systematically, and don’t expose yourself to those who profit from provoking anger.
When dealing with activist issues, make a plan and prioritize being happy, rather than getting angry, to effectively address the problems.
Engage in activism for global problems with a strong degree of happiness and cheerfulness, avoiding hatred towards evildoers to prevent further violence.
Cultivate love, kindness, and happiness as a core part of your life, connecting your profession to following your bliss to benefit yourself and others.
Learn how to control your mind and understand the deeper nature of the altered states of awareness that human beings can achieve, as this is part of the skill and art of life.
Counter the saying ‘ignorance is bliss’ by understanding that wisdom is bliss, as knowing and experiencing the full reality brings freedom, not fear.
Acknowledge the friendly fact of suffering to avoid placing false expectations on regular, normal, self-centered interactions, as this is the first step in Buddha’s path to happiness.
Understand how suffering happens and the reason for it, which is the cause of it, as this is the second friendly fact and diagnosis of the problem.
Acknowledge that our normal delusional awareness, which makes us think we are the center of everything, is unworkable and will lead to frustration.
Identify with more people altruistically, recognizing that others are as important as you, to increase your own happiness by helping them be happy.
Follow the three educations – ethical, mental (meditation), and scientific/wisdom – as part of the path to realize nirvana and freedom from suffering.
Cultivate a more harmonious way of relating to others through ethical education, focusing on kindness, love, and altruism, before pursuing deeper realizations.
Engage in scientific or wisdom education to actively disbelieve that what you habitually perceive is the real reality, critically deconstructing delusional perceptions.
Ensure meditation is built upon a foundation of ethics and critical analysis of delusional reality to effectively reach toward the real, bliss reality.
Avoid blind faith or belief in teachings just because they are stated; instead, seek to understand and experience them, as Buddha was non-dogmatic.
Do not aim to convert others to Buddhism or any other religion; instead, follow the Dalai Lama’s advice to help people convert to their own better self from within themselves.
Follow the Dalai Lama’s advice to keep your grandmother’s religion, implying respect for one’s inherited spiritual or cultural background.
Train yourself to be cheerful in daily life, choosing peaceful responses like having a cup of tea instead of engaging in conflict.
When trying to make change in a world filled with horrors and obstacles, it helps to stay cheerful while going about your business, as argued passionately by the guest.
Find consolation in the understanding that upon achieving full bliss in the future, you will retroactively experience all past moments, including current struggles, as nirvana.
Consider a midlife crisis at a younger age, like 20, as potentially lucky because it can enable an earlier spiritual quest and self-discovery.