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Happiness, The Great Illusion
DaltheJigsaw
Mountain View Veteran
Most of us have been raised on various stories that end in “And then they lived happily ever after.” Our media pushes the importance of happiness, as though any other state of mind is repulsive. We tend to gravitate towards people who seem happy, and let’s face it, we all enjoy the feeling of happiness.
But something I’ve noticed over the years is that many people come to Buddhism in the hope of finding happiness. They think waking up is a state of constant happy. When they discover that the practice actually lands them square in the heart of reality, which includes a lot of change and suffering, and a whole assortment of emotions, they become disenchanted, disappointed. They want Happiness.
In a recent discussion on Facebook it hit home for me that many people have happiness as an expectation in their life. In fact, one woman went as far to say that she is “chasing” happiness, and that has become the meaning of life for her. I have great compassion for this woman, as I know disappointment is going to be a pesky companion for her
http://secularbuddhistassociation.com/2012/02/14/happiness-the-great-illusion/
But something I’ve noticed over the years is that many people come to Buddhism in the hope of finding happiness. They think waking up is a state of constant happy. When they discover that the practice actually lands them square in the heart of reality, which includes a lot of change and suffering, and a whole assortment of emotions, they become disenchanted, disappointed. They want Happiness.
In a recent discussion on Facebook it hit home for me that many people have happiness as an expectation in their life. In fact, one woman went as far to say that she is “chasing” happiness, and that has become the meaning of life for her. I have great compassion for this woman, as I know disappointment is going to be a pesky companion for her
http://secularbuddhistassociation.com/2012/02/14/happiness-the-great-illusion/
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Comments
"When they discover that the practice actually lands them square in the heart of reality, which includes a lot of change......"
The 'changing' usually means the Right Effort part.
I have experienced, days, weeks, even months when I would say I was very happy. But then there are the other times. A perfect example of the fleeting/impermanent nature of things that we, as Buddhists, believe.
I think people should hope for and strive for happiness, but also realize that life is a balance.
These are the bedsheets I had as a child. It was a sinister plot of subliminal messaging.
http://newbuddhist.com/discussion/14028/happiness#Item_0
my opinion is If after decent efforts, people aren't getting results in the form less suffering and personal realizations, which also leads to less suffering, these people should indeed be disenchanted.
Buddhism describe a path that leads somewhere, and many different approach to suit people coming from different background, and many techniques developed over the years for specific purposes. On top of so many different teachings from all different angles to suit peoples predispositions.
if these people aren't getting anywhere they are doing something wrong and should explore different teachers/traditions/techniques to deepen their understanding, get unstuck, if the one they have now cannot help them progress.
This is achieved through meditation: by repeatedly being confronted with the true nature of reality (that is unsatisfactory, not permanent and uncontrollable), our minds will eventually let go of it...
Dana Nourie, author of Happiness, the Great Illusion. Www.secularbuddistassociation.com
Dana Nourie.
Several studies about internet dynamics have shown that, by some figures, 80% of conversation about content happens off-site (see PostRank Analytics just for an example of those kinds of studies). There's nothing wrong with that; conversations happen where communities are.
It's the same as a bunch of old pals meeting up in the pub in the evening; one of them brings in the newspaper and the pals begin talking about the news of the day in the pub. At least that's the way I try to see it
@Leonbasin, the more appropriate way to post content like this would have been something like:
"Hey everyone, I'd love your thoughts on this post over on SecularBuddhistAssociation about happiness. Here's an excerpt: Etc.
And we got a new member who has clearly defined something we discuss all the time.
Welcome, darling. You write well.
I have always asked people to give links, cite sources or supply verifiable references, if the text or article they are posting is not theirs.
I hope that Dana's presence on the forum, and contribution to the thread helps to underline how important this is, now, for people to 'get it'.
Authors have every right to be acknowledged and recognised, and it's extremely important to give factual origin...
We're extremely lucky that @Dana has been so good-natured about the matter.
Future authors may not be so generous.....
Thanks all!
..maybe we need a few rules.
That and be nice to one another.
covers it really.