by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu with Douglas Abrams

I’m late in the game with this one. It was published in 2016 and was on the New York Times Bestseller List, so I’m sure many of you have already read it. And I typically choose lesser-known books to review because NYT Best Sellers don’t need me! But this is a book I can see myself reading every January, as a way of taking stock and re-setting myself for the new year. It’s an important book.

For those that haven’t read it, The Book of Joy is first a dialogue over five days with two of the world’s most spiritual and joy-filled men, His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The interviewer, Douglas Abrams, captures their humor, their playfulness and teasing with each other, as well as their deep friendship and respect for each other. Reading the book feels more like one is in the room with them, listening in person, not reading their words second or third-hand. The reader hears and sees them interrupt each other, make jokes at each other’s expense, listen and discern what the other says before responding.

What they say is a lesson on what it means to be truly joyful. From the inside jacket cover: Nobel Peace Prize Laureates His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu have survived more than fifty years of exile and soul-crushing violence of oppression. Despite their hardships – or, as they would say, because of them – they are two of the most joyful people on the planet.

The Dalai Lama shares details of his escape from China under cover of night, and his continuing concerns for his people; the Archbishop how he went into prison an angry man but came out a changed one. Both men allow the reader to see how their mind works, how they draw on their respective spiritual beliefs, how and why they have hope for the world. As His Holiness says often in the book, “We are same human beings.”

Second, The Book of Joy is also the story of a Buddhist monk, a Christian bishop, and a Jewish writer who somehow come together in a sacred space and find common ground. Picturing the bishop and the author sitting on the floor in the Dalai Lama’s inner sanctum is moving enough, especially learning he has a crucifix and a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary in there, but the three men transition from a Buddhist prayer ceremony directly into a Christian mass, with the monk taking communion. It’s powerful yet seems so normal.

As I read, there were so many instances when one spiritual leader defines a belief or practice in his spiritual language, and the other excitedly agrees using his language. I found myself thinking, that sounds like the beatitudes, or that’s pretty much what the Christ teaches. The two faith traditions obviously aren’t the same, but they aren’t as far apart as one might believe.

Third, the book is a primer of practical advice on how each of us can find that joy within ourselves. There are eight pillars of joy: perspective, humility, humor, acceptance, forgiveness, gratitude, compassion, and generosity. It makes logical sense that if we master those, we’ll also have joy. But logic and practice don’t always go hand in hand. The book ends with pages of practical suggestions and meditations for strengthening those pillars.

So why would the Dalai Lama prefer to go to hell? The answer comes during a discussion on illness and the fear of death, the afterlife, reincarnation, etc. “So,” the Dalai Lama finally said, slapping the Archbishop on the wrist playfully. “I prefer to go to hell than to heaven. I can solve more problems in hell. I can help more people there.” So even in hell His Holiness would bring joy.

I hope all of you have a joy-filled week! I hope to get out and play in the mud a bit and, since the Christmas tree finally came down over the weekend, I guess it’s time to switch out the Santas for cupids. See you next week!