Steps to Sustainable Happiness: Achievable or Just a Dream?
Ven. Narongchai Thanachayo, President of Chiang Mai International Monks’ Retreat, elaborated on developing happiness according to Buddhism:
Buddhism teaches that life begins with suffering, but happiness can be cultivated in stages, whether it is physical happiness or mental happiness.
Happiness of the Householder:
- Happiness from Wealth (Bliss of Ownership): The joy derived from possessing wealth.
- Happiness from Spending (Bliss of Enjoyment): The joy experienced from spending wealth.
- Happiness from Being Debt-Free (Bliss of Debtlessness): The joy of living without debt.
- Happiness from Good Conduct (Bliss of Blamelessness): The joy that arises from living a life free of blame and wrongdoing.
Levels of Happiness in Buddhism:
- Sensual Happiness: The happiness derived from satisfying the senses—seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, and touching.
- Mental Happiness: The happiness that arises from practicing the Dhamma, such as through meditation, leading to a deep and peaceful state of mind.
- Supreme Happiness: The ultimate happiness that comes from escaping all suffering, a state of incomparable bliss.
What is Sensual Happiness?
Sensual happiness is derived from experiences we enjoy through our five senses:
. Visual: Happiness from seeing pleasing things, like watching a desired movie.
. Auditory: Happiness from hearing pleasant sounds, like listening to favorite music.
. Olfactory: Happiness from smelling delightful scents, like fragrant flowers.
. Gustatory: Happiness from tasting delicious foods.
. Tactile: Happiness from touching pleasant textures, like soft fabric.
For instance, if we desire to watch a movie, we may feel anxious until we do so. Once we watch it, the anxiety fades, and happiness ensues from fulfilling that desire. The same applies to wearing clothes that we admire on others; happiness arises when we purchase and wear that desired shirt.
Is There a Happiness Greater Than Sensual Happiness?
According to the Buddha’s teachings, there are two forms of happiness more refined and superior to sensual happiness:
- Jhana (Mental Happiness): This form of happiness arises from practicing Dhamma and is more subtle and profound than sensual pleasure. It is attained when monks (and people in general) calm their minds, detaching from sensual desires and negative states. In this state, the mind achieves the first level of concentration, characterized by inner peace and bliss. This pure and serene happiness stems from the detachment from external distractions.
- Nirvana Happiness: The Buddha taught that all worldly happiness pales in comparison to the bliss of Nirvana, the highest form of happiness. This state is characterized by the cessation of all suffering and the liberation from defilements—a happiness that is incomparable.
Conclusion:
Developing happiness according to the Buddhist method is not only possible but also leads to profound and lasting happiness. Buddhism offers a clear and gradual approach to cultivating happiness, beginning with basic forms that everyone can experience and progressing to the ultimate happiness derived from liberation from defilements and suffering. By fully understanding and practicing the Buddha’s teachings, one can develop happiness at every level of life.
In Buddhism, the happiness that surpasses everyday pleasures is found in the monastic life—through ordination, observing the precepts, and cultivating mindfulness, concentration, and meditation. This happiness is born from simplicity and detachment, making it more refined than the happiness associated with sensual desires. Furthermore, the Buddha taught that the highest form of happiness is “Nirvana,” which is the profound peace and bliss that comes from liberation from all suffering and defilements.