Happiness

lamaramadingdong

Is happiness an emotion felt by the observed, or an assessment, made by the observer?

poptart

Where is the line separating the two?

Jeffrey

Happiness is felt in the body, right?

MaryAnne

Happiness is an emotion. Emotions are 'felt' (experienced) in the mind.

Jeffrey

I read in a chakra yoga book that some people feel emotions in the body and some feel in the mind. I was thinking of meditations I have had where my body glows with pleasure.

how

Zen smell warning. Good luck in experiencing one without the other.

MaryAnne

@Jeffrey, You are right... I need to adjust what I said...
emotions originate in the mind, but I agree with you- they can be felt in the physical body after that. :-)

Citta

how said:

Zen smell warning. Good luck in experiencing one without the other.

Quite. All the Skandhas, including rupam..form ...arise together and are interdependant.

David

I didn't believe it at first but it seems happiness is a choice.

To be honest, I can't rightly make out the question.

lobster

To be honest, I can't rightly make out the question.

The question is:
Do you feel happy
or label your feelings as happy/unhappy . . . and then feel them?

Can I add a little emptiness of form?
When a feeling, the stronger the better, arises during meditation (whatever that is), find out how it is different from its opposite feeling . . .

Did I mention form is emptiness lately?

betaboy

It is an illusion.

pegembara

The final goal is contentment - not "happiness" of getting something which an emotional(fabricated) state.

Solitude is happiness for one who is content,
Who clearly sees and understands this Dhamma.
Udana 10

There is the case where a Bhikkhu is quite content with whatever old robe,
quite content with whatever old alms-food, quite content with whatever hut,
and quite content with whatever bitter medicine for curing sickness.
This Dhamma is for one, who is content, not for one who is discontent!
Thus was it said. And with reference to exactly this salient contentment
with whatever little one has, was this simple, serene modesty well spoken...
AN VIII 30

http://what-buddha-said.net/drops/IV/Cause_of_Contentment.htm

jae

Aren't happiness and contentment the same thing?

hap·pi·ness
ˈhapēnis/Submit
noun
1.
the state of being happy.
"she struggled to find happiness in her life"
synonyms: pleasure, contentment, satisfaction, cheerfulness, merriment, gaiety, joy, joyfulness, joviality, jollity, glee, delight, good spirits, lightheartedness, well-being, enjoyment; More
Translate happiness to
Use over time for: happiness

con·tent1
kənˈtent/
adjective
1.
in a state of peaceful happiness.
"he seemed more content, less bitter"
synonyms: contented, satisfied, pleased, gratified, fulfilled, happy, cheerful, glad; More
antonyms: discontented, dissatisfied
satisfied with a certain level of achievement, good fortune, etc., and not wishing for more.
"he had to be content with third place"
verb
verb: content; 3rd person present: contents; past tense: contented; past participle: contented; gerund or present participle: contenting
1.
satisfy (someone).
"nothing would content her"
synonyms: satisfy, please; More
accept as adequate despite wanting more or better.
"we contented ourselves with a few small purchases"
noun

Steve_B

Contentment, to me, seems to imply less than happiness. Maybe just semantics, but I think there's a spectrum or continuum, with misery on one end, progressing through unhappiness, discontent, neutral, content, and happy.

I don't really think of happiness so much as an emotion, so much as a state of being. Emotions (anger, joy) come and go. Happiness is here if I decide to live in that part of my mind, and not here if I choose to live in another part.

Steve_B

Jae, how are you doing?

wangchuey

Make it last.

lobster

lamaramadingdong said:

Is happiness an emotion felt by the observed, or an assessment, made by the observer?

With contentment there is no polarity.
One can be content with what arises, happiness or unhappiness or other arisings.

This is part of why meditation leads to equanimity/stability/contentment.

By observing (yes a duality) the nature of our being, we come to see the waves of agitation, turmoil, disquiet, calm, meanderings, etc.

As we begin to settle in the space/emptiness/focus of our practice, more and more of our being becomes peaceable, at rest, content.

How does that make you feel? Empty? Content? Happy for a moment?

Watch what happens

:banghead:

Content?

:clap:

Happy now?

:wave:

jae

@Steve_B ... Hi Steve, just popped in for a browse, I'm 'contently happy' thanks for asking how are you?.... The wheels came off my wagon boxing day and new years eve but I got out my tool kit and screwed them 'firmly' back on. I've made contact with a Buddhist group in my area so hoping to learn something there, been doing yoga for an hour a day and the exercise is certainly helping......too knackered to get to the fridge!!