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UNIVERSITY OF WAH
COMPETENCE THROUGH EXCELLENCE

SUBMITTED TO

MA’AM FOUZIA AYUB

SUBMITTED BY

TOOBA ALI

BS(hons)

ISLAMIC STUDIES

Uw-20-isl-bs-001

DEPARTMENT OF ISLAMIC STUDIES

FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMINAITIES

BUDDHISM

 CONCEPT OF HAPPINESS ACCORDING TO BUDDHA

In Buddhism, happiness is achieved when a person can perceive the true

nature of reality, unmodified by the mental constructs we superimpose

upon it. This authentic happiness comes from having an exceptionally

healthy state of mind that underlies and suffuses all emotional states and

that embraces all the joys and sorrows that come one's way. The mental

states necessary for authentic happiness are not simply found or

happened upon. Rather, happiness is achieved through mental training

that purges the mind of inflictive emotions, such as hatred and

compulsive desire, which literally poison the mind, and above all

through the eradication of ignorance. This article discusses the Buddhist

conception of happiness and its attainment. In particular, the article

addresses the methods and practices that Buddhism employs to train the

mind to achieve authentic happiness and the recent developments in

contemplative neuroscience that complement and advance these

methods.
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The Pursuit of Happiness

Humans encounter both positive and negative emotions. In Buddhism,

an immediate feeling of happiness does not differentiate between

negative and positive emotions. However, happiness or suffering are the

long-term results of negative and positive emotions because, in the long

term, there are long-term effects of actions. Long-term actions have

more impact than short-term actions with respect to happiness. Hence,

in the long run, emotions will produce unpleasant experiences but if the

actions are positive, happiness is experienced. In Buddhism, happiness

is an emotional state categorized by feelings of joy, serenity,

satisfaction, and fulfillment. The path to happiness involves feeling

more positive emotions than negative ones. The search for happiness is

popular in Buddhism and people say that Buddha wishes happiness and
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less suffering for his people. In Buddhism, happiness transpires through

spiritual teaching that eradicates inflictive emotions, such as hate and

irrational greed that can poison the mind. When Buddhists' minds are

constantly lit up they are more likely to experience positive emotions

and be in a good mood. The Buddhist notion of happiness trains the

mind to attain authentic happiness. Buddhism recognizes suffering in

the world and argues that there is nothing wrong with showing hate,

illusion, and greed because both positive and negative emotions are part

of human life.

According to Buddhism people can get out of despair, wrath, and apathy

by cultivating compassion. Showing love and kindness is a good way to

find happiness. Buddha’s colleagues defined Buddha as "ever-smiling.”

Buddha's smile derives from internal stability rather than external

stability. Buddhists believe that emotional dysfunction begins in the

mind. Everyday happiness results in the joy that people feel until they

realize the mundane and supramundane happiness. According to

Buddhism, there are two levels of happiness mundane and

supramundane. In both, the notion of ordinary happiness does not

contradict the concept of suffering. Dukkha has an ethical meaning

which argues that any trained experience depends on temporary

situations. Conditioned expertise can be extremely pleasant or extremely

unpleasant. Within the conditioned expertise, there can be numerous

levels of desires and pleasures Therefore, Buddha inspired his people to

pursue serenity and peace of mind as the emotional abilities that would

lead to happiness to prevent people from despair, wrath, and apathy.

The Buddhist concept of happiness is a philosophy based on

misconceptions, misinterpretations, and desires. Buddhists believe that

compassion, truth, and kindness can connect individuals to happiness. A

person can accomplish supreme happiness through a commitment to

oneself, the world, and reality. The philosophies confined in Buddha's

concept of happiness direct individuals to have the total obligation of

self-control, a deep sense of safety, and satisfaction achievable through

Buddhist awareness and preparation for life. Achieving deeper

happiness requires a steady look into a reality where all life is seen as a

spiritual dysfunction or dukkha. The outward outlook of existence

means that happiness in Buddhism is complete. True happiness varies

from how people perceive it because some people perceive happiness as

suffering, while others perceive suffering as happiness. In this argument,

Buddha says, "There are some spiritual and philosophers who call the

day the night and night the day and this is a delusion on their

part". Some argue that what constitutes happiness is virtual and depends

on people’s emotions and attitudes. There are two choices if one wants

to be happy; to transform the nature of the world to adapt to their needs

or to be at peace with the heart of the world. Therefore, happiness is

perceived differently and the only way to be happy is when people can

control their thoughts.

References
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 Bodhi, Bhikkhu. 2005. In the Buddha’s Words: An Anthology of

Discourses from the Pali Canon. Boston: Wisdom Publication.

294.3823 I351 B66.

 Bloomfield, Paul. 2014. The Virtues of Happiness: A Theory of the

Good Life. New York: Oxford University Press 2014. Check

holdings at AV & Reserve 2 hour 170B655v81.

 Gethin, R. 1998. The Foundations of Buddhism, New York: Oxford

University Press. 294.3 G394f E book available.

 Guang Xing, 2005. “Filial Piety in Early Buddhism” in Journal of

Buddhist Ethics, Volume 12, 82-106.