People have different concepts of happiness, people also have different ways to pursue it. One of the most unique concept of happiness is Buddhism. In my previous blogpost, I mentioned that people’s happiness is not necessarily reflected by their wealth since human desire will keep increasing along with increase on their income. Realizing this human nature of desire, Buddhism focused on trying to suppress or containment of desire.
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| thelifequotes.com |
Buddha recognize wealth in this world are all just illusion, for Him, the path to happiness starts from an understanding of the root causes of suffering. Those who consider Buddha a pessimist because of his concern with suffering have missed the point. In fact, he is a skillful doctor — he may break the bad news of our suffering, but he also prescribes a proactive course of treatment. In this metaphor, the medicine is the Buddha’s teachings of wisdom and compassion known as Dharma, and the nurses that encourage us and show us how to take the medicine are the Buddhist community or Sangha. The illness however, can only be cured if the patient follows the doctor’s advice and follows the course of treatment — the Eightfold Path, the core of which involves control of the mind. Buddhism believe that treatment is not a simple swallowed medicine, but a mindful thought and action that we ourselves can test scientifically through our own experience.
The first and second verses (above) of the Dhammapada, the earliest known collection of Buddha’s sayings, talk about suffering and happiness. So it’s not surprising to discover that Buddhism has a lot to offer on the topic of happiness. Buddha’s contemporaries described him as “ever-smiling” and portrayals of Buddha almost always depict him with a smile on his face. But rather than the smile of a self-satisfied, materially-rich or celebrated man, Buddha’s smile comes from a deep equanimity from within.
After his mediation under under Bodhi tree and receive enlightenment, Buddha started to teach his followers about Four Noble Truth:
- Life is/means Dukkha (mental dysfunction or suffering).
- Dukkha arises from craving.
- Dukkha can be eliminated.
- The way to the elimination of dukkha is the Eightfold Path.
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| gitmekvati.blogpost.com |
Buddha also taught his followers the Eightfold Path, paths that he believe would bring people to the end of suffering, which divided into 3 categories; wisdom, ethical conduct, and mental cultivation.:
- Right view/understanding
- Right intention/thought
- Right speech
- Right action
- Right livelihood
- Right effort
- Right mindfulness
- Right concentration
(Source: http://www.pursuit-of-happiness.org/history-of-happiness/buddha/)
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| gopixpic.com |
In my opinion, Buddhism point of view for happiness might seems harsh, but I do agree that happiness is started on human's mind and in order to be happy, human have to be able to contain their desire. In a nutshell, we need to learn to say enough and be grateful for what we already have. I am not so sure about saying life is suffering because for me life is blessing, but I also agree that the Eightfold Path which I mentioned above should be implemented and applied in people’s daily life.
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