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Happiness?

BunksBunks Australia Veteran
in Buddhism Basics
What do you define as happiness?

The buddhist monk whose teachings I regularly hear defines it as a peaceful mind.

Do people think that the buddha walked around with a huge smile on his face or was he simply content?

Comments

  • JeffreyJeffrey Veteran
    It's like pornograhpy judicial ruling, "you know it when you see it".
  • ThailandTomThailandTom Veteran
    edited September 2012
    There is happiness which is defined as a break from suffering, a brief period that is not permanent and which often involves something material and external to create it. We should not seek out happiness or try to avoid suffering in our lives, rather learn to be content with how things are at any given moment, that something you can rely on to bring you peace. Everything that you may consider to bring happiness will eventually bring suffering.
    RebeccaS
  • PrairieGhostPrairieGhost Veteran
    edited September 2012
    I'd say it's not a positive quality - we tend to think of happiness as light in the darkness, but happiness is more like darkness. It's the absence of suffering.
    amandathetexan
  • BunksBunks Australia Veteran
    ThailandTom said:

    There is happiness which is defined as a break from suffering, a brief period that is not permanent and which often involves something material and external to create it. We should not seek out happiness and try to avoid suffering in our lives, rather learn to be content with how things are at any given moment, that something you can rely on to bring you peace. Everything that you may consider to bring happiness will eventually bring suffering.

    I agree @ThailandTom. And I get a little frustrated at these Western books etc. that claim that buddhism will bring you happiness. I think contentment is a more apt word.
    RebeccaS
  • ThailandTomThailandTom Veteran
    In a sense it can, it really comes down to what you mean or whoever talks about the subject means by saying 'happiness'. IMO the point of Buddhism is to just be content and at peace with how the world is around you at any given moment, how one can actually do that involves practice practice and practice. O yea, and then some practice.
    Bunks
  • VastmindVastmind Memphis, TN Veteran
    edited September 2012
    Bunks said:

    What do you define as happiness?

    The buddhist monk whose teachings I regularly hear defines it as a peaceful mind.

    Do people think that the buddha walked around with a huge smile on his face or was he simply content?


    I'm going with content/peace of mind as well.
    Do I think he was smiling all the time? No.
    As he was offering teachings to certain people,
    I have a belief he knew some things required a
    different kind of form/face.
    Was he content? All the statues sure look that way! :)

    It has been explained to me that 'happiness' implies
    something happening. Which then most people are attached
    to something good happening, so they are only 'happy'
    when something good happens. And, no, no-one wants
    happiness with bad crap, right?
    BUT, if we are content, then we practice being with
    going on good/bad/whatever adjective. It trains us to melt into
    the situation, rather than intention being lead by a preferred
    'happy' ending. Which is lead by our Ego.
    Content means it sits with us.
    Cant runaway from yourself.

    Some days I'm content with where I am in my practice.
    Some days, I feel like beginner's mind.
    Some days I feel like baby mind. lololol


    person
  • vinlynvinlyn Colorado...for now Veteran
    ThailandTom said:

    There is happiness which is defined as a break from suffering, a brief period that is not permanent and which often involves something material and external to create it. We should not seek out happiness or try to avoid suffering in our lives, rather learn to be content with how things are at any given moment, that something you can rely on to bring you peace. Everything that you may consider to bring happiness will eventually bring suffering.

    Tom, are you sure you really believe that?

  • vinlynvinlyn Colorado...for now Veteran
    Bunks said:



    ...I get a little frustrated at these Western books etc. that claim that buddhism will bring you happiness. I think contentment is a more apt word.

    Very good point, I think.

  • ThailandTomThailandTom Veteran
    vinlyn said:

    ThailandTom said:

    There is happiness which is defined as a break from suffering, a brief period that is not permanent and which often involves something material and external to create it. We should not seek out happiness or try to avoid suffering in our lives, rather learn to be content with how things are at any given moment, that something you can rely on to bring you peace. Everything that you may consider to bring happiness will eventually bring suffering.

    Tom, are you sure you really believe that?

    Which part?
  • vinlynvinlyn Colorado...for now Veteran
    I would suggest that you are living in Thailand in search of happiness.
  • ThailandTomThailandTom Veteran
    I am living here for a variety of reasons. When I initially left I would say so yes, but it is really complicated and I won't go into it over the internet. But I do believe that the key to finding inner peace is to be accept things for how they are, that does not mean to say that I am able to do that of course, but I believe that is essential.
    amandathetexan
  • vinlynvinlyn Colorado...for now Veteran
    ok...makes sense
  • Geoff-AllenGeoff-Allen
    Interesting discussion!

    I like this quote from Michael Leunig -

    "Love one another & you will be happy - it's as simple & as difficult as that."

    He's NOT a Buddhist - he's actually a cartoonist -

    http://www.curlyflat.net/cartoons/L111299.gif

    http://tinyurl.com/988hnfl

    Here's a Buddhist monk talkin about the subject of happiness -



    Have a good one!
    Jeffrey
  • DairyLamaDairyLama Veteran Veteran
    PrairieGhost said:

    I'd say it's not a positive quality - we tend to think of happiness as light in the darkness, but happiness is more like darkness. It's the absence of suffering.

    I think light in the darkness is a pretty good description of what we're aiming for.
  • PrairieGhostPrairieGhost Veteran
    edited September 2012
    As an image, light in the darkness is uplifting. My point is that light is something 'extra', whereas happiness is not. Hence Ananda's 'just that is bliss, when there is nothing felt', from the Tripitaka. It's easy to understand what he's talking about as unconsciousness, but he isn't talking about that at all.
  • amandathetexanamandathetexan Explorer
    edited September 2012

    The ability to find happiness exists within us all, it's just when we get rid of all the crap piled up on top of it that we can really experience it. Everything else is just a distraction from the crap, but an illusion still.

    I've re-defined happiness for myself, through learning and experiencing Buddhism, that happiness is when you get rid of everything and have the freedom to just be in the present moment. You don't need anything to do that, and in fact, having anything weighing you down just detracts from it.

    PrairieGhostpoptart
  • Geoff-AllenGeoff-Allen
    I think forgiveness is another key 2 happiness -

    http://tinyurl.com/8k3vg9e

    Hapy Trails!
  • Geoff-AllenGeoff-Allen
    How 'bout a quote from Buddha himself ...

    “The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, nor to worry about the future, but to live the present moment wisely and earnestly.”

    http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/2167493.Siddh_rtha_Gautama

    Have a good one!
    poptartThailandTomRebeccaS
  • Geoff-AllenGeoff-Allen
    At that same site comes this ...

    “Don't Seek Happiness. If you seek it, you won't find it, because seeking is the antithesis of happiness”

    http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/111931-don-t-seek-happiness-if-you-seek-it-you-won-t-find

    :)
  • BonsaiDougBonsaiDoug Simply, on the path. Veteran
    Wow... great comments one and all. I think for me, my happiness comes in those rare times when I actually do feel I'm living "in the moment."

    These quotes from HH Dalai Lama are, for me, also quite fitting:

    “Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.”

    “If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”
  • karastikarasti Breathing Minnesota Moderator
    I'm not sure I personally can separate content from happy. Today, I spent the day with my family on a little adventure. We had a nice afternoon together, and it's safe to say we were all happy. The fall colors are glorious here right now, and I am happy looking at them when I see them. But when they are gone, and when our adventure ended, I was not sad, or disappointed. I just enjoyed it for what it was, while I was present. But, the effect lingers, and I'm still happy about it, even though I'm just sitting on the lazy chair eating soup and typing on the computer. However, I don't think I will suffer even minimally when the happiness from the day's activities leaves me. It's just moving on to the next moment in life, whatever it might bring. I think you can be happy as long as you aren't clinging to what makes you happy in a way that makes you never want to lose it because you fear losing that feeling.
  • pegembarapegembara Veteran
    Happiness is contentment, having enough.

    I WANT HAPPINESS.

    Remove the I, remove the Want and what is left is Happiness.
  • DairyLamaDairyLama Veteran Veteran
    karasti said:

    I'm not sure I personally can separate content from happy.

    Yes, contentment goes a very long way. Imagine being deeply content all the time, that would be nice.
  • MaryAnneMaryAnne Veteran
    vinlyn said:

    Bunks said:



    ...I get a little frustrated at these Western books etc. that claim that buddhism will bring you happiness. I think contentment is a more apt word.

    Very good point, I think.

    I think "acceptance" might even be a little more apt.... :)
  • jlljll Veteran
    the buddha has no mental suffering.
    is that how you define contentment?
    Bunks said:

    What do you define as happiness?

    The buddhist monk whose teachings I regularly hear defines it as a peaceful mind.

    Do people think that the buddha walked around with a huge smile on his face or was he simply content?

  • Geoff-AllenGeoff-Allen
    Just found this -

    http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma6/enlightnirvana.html

    Have a good one!
  • Geoff-AllenGeoff-Allen
    This may be better -

    http://www.viewonbuddhism.org/dharma-quotes-quotations-buddhist/joy-happiness.htm
  • DairyLamaDairyLama Veteran Veteran
    jll said:

    the buddha has no mental suffering.
    is that how you define contentment?

    It seems like a pretty good definition. The absence of craving and aversion.
  • ThailandTomThailandTom Veteran
    edited October 2012
    'Our foolish ideas of what happiness is keeps us eternally searching for the unfindable. Ensnared by these false thoughts, we do not recognize the joy that lies within all of us.' - Shi Wuling
    federica
  • pegembarapegembara Veteran
    image
    musicJeffrey
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    ....where the Bluebird of Happiness, which is already sitting there, will snap it up as a tasty opportune meal....

    Happiness isn't a destination. It's an ongoing process, and one we have to be determined to cultivate ourselves, not wait until it 'comes and sits softly on our shoulder'.
    Lovely thought, Bit idealistic in reality...
  • SonghillSonghill Veteran
    The desire for happiness is the disease of attachment; one can be happy only when free of desires. — The Supreme Source (a Dzogchen work)
  • tmottestmottes Veteran
    Here is a great dharma talk on this topic.

    Thanissaro Bhikkhu: Happiness
  • karastikarasti Breathing Minnesota Moderator
    Having read a lot of Thoreau, I took the quote to be pretty accurate, in that happiness isn't something we are supposed to be seeing in the distance and chasing after, not paying attention to what we are doing along the way and only on the end goal. But when you stop and pay attention to the things in your life and give them due time and attention and patience, you will start to see happiness is right there. That's pretty much the truth. Doesn't mean it's easy to give every moment that attention and awareness, and it most certainly does take practice, but until you do that, happiness will elude you. Then all of a sudden one day you'll realize it's there, and has been there all along if you'd only known where to look.
    Jeffrey
  • Geoff-AllenGeoff-Allen
    Here's an interesting site -

    http://tinybuddha.com/blog/11-more-life-lessons-for-peace-love-and-happiness/

    Have a good one!
  • driedleafdriedleaf Veteran
    There are many types of happiness. May all our happiness be true and everlasting.
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    Having happiness, and nothing else, is much better than having everything except happiness.
    S.K.

    A good buddy of mine.
  • JeffreyJeffrey Veteran
    pegembara said:

    image

    I interpreted this to be about 'gaining mind' as they say in Zen rather than an urge to do no positive mind training or effort. I think like many things in the dharma it can be taken the wrong way like Fed was saying. Yet the craving to have 'okayness' at all times is really just making us more fearful and tense. It's the paradox of craving happiness. It's right and good to want happiness, but all the knee jerk neurosis gets to us. As pema chodron says 'we try to put ground underneath ourselves'.

    Hard to explain.
  • zenffzenff Veteran
    Bunks said:

    What do you define as happiness?

    Another shot at it:
    Happiness is our natural state of mind; when we are at ease, here and now, and we don’t add words, concepts and preferences.

  • ThailandTomThailandTom Veteran
    I read something a while ago now and my words won't express the message as well, but is was something like if you re at peace with how things are in the present without any attachments or defilements, even if the situation is bad at that time it is better than living in ignorance as you can find happiness anywhere.
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