A Story from The Art of Happiness

One of the most memorable stories from The Art of Happiness that reflects the quote “A calm mind brings inner strength and self-confidence, so that’s very important for good health.” is the story of a Tibetan monk who endured years of imprisonment and torture yet emerged with unshaken peace and inner strength.

The Story of the Tibetan Monk

During a conversation, the Dalai Lama shared the story of a Tibetan monk who had been imprisoned by the Chinese government for nearly 20 years after the invasion of Tibet in 1959. The monk had been tortured, starved, and subjected to brutal conditions in a Chinese prison camp.

When the monk was finally released, he traveled to India and met with the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama, knowing the suffering he had endured, asked him,

“What was the greatest danger you faced during your time in prison?”

The monk replied, “The greatest danger I faced was losing my compassion for my captors.”

What This Story Teaches Us

Despite experiencing unimaginable suffering, the monk maintained a calm mind and inner strength. He understood that if he allowed anger, hatred, or fear to take over, he would have lost his inner peace and self-confidence—which, in turn, would have destroyed his mental and physical health.

Instead of focusing on his suffering, he focused on compassion, forgiveness, and maintaining a peaceful state of mind. He survived the ordeal not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually intact.