Buddha and Happiness
I thought it may be useful to see what some important personalities in the history (and in this case a religion) have to say to us about happiness. I will start with Buddha.
Gautama Buddha (approximately 563 BC - 483 BC) was born Siddhartha Gautama; the title Buddha (enlightened one) was later bestowed upon him by his followers. He said that “We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts we make the world”.
The Dhammapada is an anthology of 423 verses which has been recognized as one of the masterpieces of early Buddhist literature. In it we can find the following quote: “All that we are is the result of what we have thought. It is founded on our thoughts. It is made up of our thoughts. If one speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows one, as the wheel follows the foot of the ox that draws the wagon. All that we are is the result of what we have thought. It is founded on our thoughts. It is made up of our thoughts. If one speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows one, like a shadow that never leaves. ”
The website Pursuit of Happiness.org shares with us that “Buddhism pursues happiness by using knowledge and practice to achieve mental equanimity. In Buddhism, equanimity, or peace of mind, is achieved by detaching oneself from the cycle of craving that produces dukkha. So by achieving a mental state where you can detach from all the passions, needs and wants of life, you free yourself and achieve a state of transcendent bliss and well-being”.
This site also points out that for Buddha the compassion was very important: “He taught truth and he also taught compassion because he saw personal happiness as related to the happiness of others, humans and otherwise. Such a lesson is reflected in both the way he lived and the way he died.” From his point of view, we can be happier by helping others to be happy.
In the Dhammapada we can find the following poem about joy. I want to share it with you as a final thought because is beautiful:
Live in joy,
In love,
Even among those who hate.
Live in joy,
In health,
Even among the afflicted.
Live in joy,
In peace,
Even among the troubled.
Live in joy,
Without possessions.
Like the shining ones.
The winner sows hatred
Because the loser suffers.
Let go of winning and losing
And find joy.
There is no fire like passion,
No crime like hatred,
No sorrow like separation,
No sickness like hunger,
And no joy like the joy of freedom.
Health, contentment and trust
Are your greatest possessions,
And freedom your greatest joy.
Look within.
Be still.
Free from fear and attachment,
Know the sweet joy of the way.
How joyful to look upon the awakened
And to keep company with the wise.
How long the road to the man
Who travels the road with the fool.
But whoever follows those who follow the way
Discovers his family, and is filled with joy.
Follow then the shining ones,
The wise, the awakened, the loving,
For they know how to work and forbear.
Follow them
As the moon follows the path of the stars.
By Patricia Rivero.
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