How To Be Happy | Buddhism In English

Summary

This video explores the universal quest for happiness, emphasizing that true contentment is not found in material possessions but within the purity of one's mind. Drawing from Buddhist teachings, the speaker suggests that happiness is a long-lasting state achieved through practices like fasting, accepting life's realities, generosity without expectations, and forgiveness. The ultimate happiness, Nirvana, is described as the state of enlightenment, free from desire, anger, and delusion, attainable through wholesome actions and a clear mind.

Takeaways

• 😀 All living beings seek happiness as a common goal in life.
• 🔍 We are on a never-ending journey to find happiness, often without success.
• 🌏 Buddha teaches that the search for happiness is often misguided, as it is sought from external and materialistic sources.
• 💭 Happiness is distinguished from temporary pleasure, which provides instant gratification but lacks long-lasting contentment.
• 📚 The Dhammapada suggests that happiness and suffering are directly linked to the purity or impurity of one's mind.
• 🧘 Mindfulness and mental purity are key to finding true happiness, according to Buddhist teachings.
• 🕉 Fasting and accepting the reality of life's ups and downs can lead to happiness.
• 🤝 Practicing generosity, or 'Dana' in Buddhism, involves giving without expecting anything in return, which can foster happiness.
• 💔 Forgiveness, both of oneself and others, is crucial for creating happiness and freeing the heart from the burden of past mistakes.
• 🌟 The ultimate happiness, or 'Nirvana', is achieved through enlightenment, which involves the removal of desire, anger, and delusion.
• 🌱 Engaging in wholesome practices and cultivating a good state of mind can lead to a happier life.

Q & A

What is the common pursuit of all living beings according to the video script?

The common pursuit of all living beings is happiness. Everyone seeks to be happy and is on a never-ending journey to find it.

Why do we not find happiness despite our constant pursuit, as mentioned in the script?

The script suggests that we do not find happiness because we are seeking it from external sources and materialistic things, which only provide temporary pleasure, not the long-lasting contentment that true happiness brings.

What does Buddha teach about the source of happiness according to the video?

Buddha teaches that we are seeking happiness from a source where it does not exist, implying that happiness is not found in materialistic possessions or external circumstances.

What is the difference between pleasure and happiness as explained in the script?

Pleasure is described as temporary and providing instant gratification, whereas happiness is long-lasting and brings contentment about oneself.

What does the Dhammapada suggest about the relationship between the mind and happiness?

The Dhammapada suggests that happiness and suffering follow us based on the purity or impurity of our minds. With a pure mind, happiness will follow us like a shadow.

What are some practices mentioned in the script that can lead to a happier life?

The script mentions fasting, accepting the reality of life's ups and downs, practicing generosity without expectations, and forgiving oneself and others as practices that can lead to a happier life.

How does the script define the ultimate happiness?

The ultimate happiness, as defined by the script, is Nirvana or Enlightenment, which is achieved by realizing the reality of life and removing desire, anger, and delusion from the mind.

What is the role of generosity in achieving happiness according to the video?

Generosity, or 'Dana' in Buddhism, is a major practice where one gives and dedicates towards others without expecting anything in return, which in turn brings long-lasting happiness.

What is the significance of forgiving in creating happiness in life as per the script?

Forgiving is significant as it frees the heart from holding onto past mistakes, both of oneself and others, allowing for a happier and more peaceful present.

How does the script relate the acceptance of life's reality to happiness?

Accepting the reality of life's ups and downs helps us to face situations successfully, learn from bad experiences, and not let them make us miserable, which contributes to our overall happiness.

What is the script's advice on how to deal with bad experiences or difficult situations?

The script advises to focus on the lessons that difficult situations teach us and to learn from them, rather than focusing on the pain, which can help in growing and finding happiness.

Outlines

00:00

😀 The Quest for Happiness

This paragraph discusses the universal human pursuit of happiness. It emphasizes that seeking happiness from external, materialistic sources is misguided, as true happiness is long-lasting and comes from within. Buddha's teachings are introduced, suggesting that happiness is not found in material possessions but in the purity of one's mind. The Dhammapada is cited to illustrate that suffering follows an impure mind, while happiness follows a pure one, indicating that happiness is a state of mind that can be cultivated.

05:02

🌱 Practices for Cultivating Happiness

The second paragraph focuses on practical steps to achieve happiness as per Buddhist philosophy. It suggests accepting the reality of life's ups and downs, learning from bad experiences rather than dwelling on the pain, and practicing generosity (dana) without expecting anything in return. The act of giving is highlighted as a means to find joy in helping others, which is a source of long-lasting happiness. Additionally, the importance of forgiveness, both for oneself and others, is discussed as a key to freeing the heart and finding inner peace.

10:02

🕊 The Ultimate Happiness: Enlightenment

The final paragraph introduces the concept of the ultimate happiness, known as Nirvana or Enlightenment, in Buddhist teachings. It explains that by understanding the true nature of life and letting go of desires and cravings, one can achieve a state of ultimate happiness. This state is described as the removal of desire, anger, and delusion, leading to a profound sense of contentment. The paragraph encourages the practice of wholesome actions and mental states to create happiness in life and ultimately reach the highest level of happiness through enlightenment.

Keywords

💡Happiness

Happiness is a state of well-being and contentment that all living beings naturally seek. In the video, it is presented as the ultimate goal of a never-ending journey, emphasizing that true happiness is not found in temporary pleasures but in a long-lasting state of contentment. The script suggests that happiness is closely tied to the purity of one's mind and the practice of wholesome actions.

💡Pleasure

Pleasure is described as a temporary and fleeting feeling of gratification, often derived from materialistic or external sources. It is contrasted with happiness in the script, where it is noted that while pleasure can be enjoyable, it does not lead to lasting contentment, which is the true goal according to the teachings of Buddha.

💡Impure Mind

An impure mind, as mentioned in the script, refers to a state of mind clouded by negative emotions or thoughts, such as greed, anger, or delusion. It is associated with suffering, as it leads to actions that result in negative consequences, following the individual like a cartwheel following an ox.

💡Pure Mind

A pure mind is one that is free from negative influences and is the source of true happiness according to the Dhammapada verses cited in the video. It is linked to actions and speech that are wholesome and beneficial, leading to happiness that follows like a shadow.

💡Dharmapada

The Dhammapada is a collection of sayings of the Buddha that is considered a fundamental text in Buddhism. In the script, it is referenced to illustrate the teachings on the consequences of actions and speech based on the purity of the mind.

💡Generosity

Generosity, known as 'Dana' in Buddhism, is a key practice that involves giving without expecting anything in return. The script highlights its importance in creating happiness by helping others and dedicating a part of one's life to the welfare of others.

💡Accepting Reality

Accepting reality involves acknowledging life's ups and downs and understanding that it is not always consistent. The script suggests that by accepting this reality, one can face difficult situations with a better mindset and avoid unnecessary frustration.

💡Forgiveness

Forgiveness is presented as a crucial practice for creating happiness by freeing the heart from the burden of past mistakes, both of oneself and others. The script emphasizes that forgiveness is not about condoning mistakes but about releasing oneself from the negative emotions associated with them.

💡Nirvana

Nirvana is the ultimate happiness or enlightenment that the Buddha teaches, which involves realizing the true nature of life and letting go of desires and cravings. The script describes it as the highest level of happiness, achieved by removing desire, anger, and delusion from the mind.

💡Wholesale Actions

Wholesale actions refer to actions that are morally right and beneficial, leading to positive outcomes. The script encourages engaging in such actions to cultivate happiness and suggests that practicing generosity, forgiveness, and acceptance are examples of wholesome actions.

💡Desire

Desire is depicted as a source of suffering in the script, as it leads to craving and attachment that can cause unhappiness. It is one of the elements that need to be overcome to achieve the state of Nirvana and ultimate happiness.

Highlights

Happiness is a universal pursuit for all living beings.

Buddha's teaching emphasizes that happiness is sought but often not found due to seeking it in the wrong places.

Happiness is not found in external or materialistic things, which only provide temporary pleasure.

Buddha teaches that true happiness comes from within and is long-lasting, unlike temporary pleasure.

The Dhammapada suggests that happiness and suffering follow the purity or impurity of one's mind.

Accepting the reality of life's ups and downs is key to finding happiness.

Learning from bad experiences rather than focusing on the pain leads to personal growth and happiness.

Generosity, or 'Dana' in Buddhism, involves giving without expecting anything in return.

Practicing generosity helps in finding happiness by contributing to others' well-being.

Forgiveness is crucial for creating happiness; it involves letting go of past mistakes and freeing the heart.

Forgiving oneself and others is not about condoning mistakes but about personal liberation.

The ultimate happiness, according to Buddha, is 'Nibbana' or Enlightenment, achieved by removing desire, anger, and delusion.

Nirvana represents the highest level of happiness, a state of enlightenment free from suffering.

Engaging in wholesome practices leads to the creation of happiness in life.

The transcript offers practical advice on how to cultivate happiness through mental and behavioral changes.

The importance of mental purity in achieving lasting happiness is underscored throughout the talk.

Transcripts

number with the higher welcome and

welcome back to another video

if there is one thing in common in this

world that all living beings search for

that is the happiness

we all like to be happy

we all seek happiness in this world

if I ask from you would you like to be

happy in your life

what will be your answer

you will say of course I want to be

happy in my life

I want this peaceful state

I need to be in that

that is your answer that is the answer

of all living beings

Buddha says that all living beings likes

to be happy and they seek the happiness

if you really think about our life we

are in a never-ending journey of

pursuing happiness

let me tell that again we are in a

never-ending journey of pursuing

happiness

that means we are pursuing happiness we

are chasing and we are seeking for

happiness but yet

not found it

so

what is the reason for this not finding

happiness why we don't find happiness in

our life we are seeking it we are

fighting for it but we don't find it

what is the reason

well the Buddha teaches us

that we are finding or we are seeking

this happiness from a source that the

happiness does not exist

because we are seeking happiness from

external world

we are seeking happiness from this

materialistic things

well when you seek happiness from

materialistic things or external world

you get pleasure

but that is not happiness

pleasure is something temporary and it

gives you this instant gratification

but in happiness

the happiness is long-lasting

and it gives you this happiness or the

contentment about yourself

so that is why Buddha teaches us that

you are finding the happiness from a

source where the happiness does not

exist so the more you find it the more

you become frustrated

so will we ever be able to find

happiness in our life

the Buddha answered this question he

says yes

you can find happiness in your life

how to do that

if you look closely to the first and the

second verses of dharmapada Buddha says

if one with an impure mind speaks of

Acts the suffering will fellows him

like a cartwheel following the ox

if with an impure mind one speaks or

acts the suffering will follow him

and in the next verse Buddha says if

with an pure mind if with a pure mind

one speaks or Acts

the happiness will follow him like a

shadow following a man

so that means

the happiness and the sadness entirely

depends on the Purity and the impurity

of our mind when our mind is pale we can

find the happiness

so

how can we find or how can we gain this

Purity in our mind in order to find the

happiness well do the teachers ask there

are a lot of things that you can do to

make your mind appear

so today I'm going to share with you few

things that can give you the happiness

in your life that you can find the

happiness in your life

fasting

accepting the reality of life will give

you the happiness

you know life is full of ups and downs

you sometimes you have good days

sometimes we have bad days sometimes we

have beautiful memories sometimes we

also have miserable memories

so life is not something that is going

equally every day

Sometimes good sometimes bad when you

realize this reality

you can face these situations

successfully

right it is not always this bad

experience makes us frustrated

it is our reaction towards this bad

experience makes us frustrated

whenever you get a bad experience or a

bad day or a bad situation tough

situation difficult situation

you have two choices

either you can focus on the pain and

feel miserable about that situation

or you can focus on the lesson that bad

situation teaches us

and learn from it and start growing your

life

[Music]

so if you accept the reality of life it

is not temporary sometimes the people

around us are not in our control we

cannot control their reactions

we cannot control their opinions

so when you realize these situations

you can face those situations

successfully that is one thing accepting

reality of the life

number two

Buddha said be generous

practicing generosity is a major

practice in Buddhism

well in Buddhism the generous city is

known as dhana

in Dana Buddha says that you have to

give without any expectations

we have to give and we have to dedicate

towards others without

expecting anything in return

that is one thing that we have to

practice

most of the time we like to hold on to

things or gather the things towards us

that is what people think when you

gather more when you collect more things

you will get rich and you will gain

happiness

but that does not gives you the

happiness it will give you the pleasure

but it is temporary

so what we have to do for this is be

generous give help others dedicate a

part of your life on behalf of others

when you do that when you become more

generous let's say like this you give

some foods to

uh for a person

I'd say like that

when you see that person is having those

foods and overcoming his and his hunger

and making his life much better you can

be happy by seeing that

when you become happy like that you feel

happy about yourself

right nothing can give you that

happiness like by eating a good food by

dressing a nice dress you cannot gain

that happiness you don't feel happy

about yourself

right after let's say after 100 100 of

years later maybe 10 decades later when

you think about that that incident I

gave this food to this poor person when

you when you remind that you'll feel

happy even then you feel happy that

means happiness is long lasting so

Buddha says be generous help people do

something nice every day for a person

that is one thing we can do

and number three forgiving

forgiving is one of the most important

things that we can do to create

happiness in our life we have to forgive

ourselves also we have to forgive others

too

because forgiving when you forgive it

doesn't mean that you are saying okay to

others mistakes it's okay no you're not

saying like that

when you forgive you make your heart

free

so when you forgive it's not for that

person it is for you

and also we have to forgive for

ourselves

there are so many mistakes that we all

have done in the past if you hold on to

past

and if you make this present moment

miserable that will not give you the

happiness so what do we have to do

whatever the bad thing that we have done

in the past we have to have this ability

to forgive ourselves and start all over

again

we all have that ability

right we all have that privilege to

start our life again and make it a

better one okay so no one is perfect in

this world we all have done mistakes one

thing that we have to do is to forgive

and start doing good things

so these are 50 things that we can do to

create happiness in our life and also

there is one happiness that is called

the ultimate happiness in this world

that the Buddha teaches us that is

called nibana so Nirvana that is The

Enlightenment

when you realize about the reality of

this life and when you remove this

desire all the craving that arises

within your mind then Buddha says that

is the ultimate happiness

simply the nibana means

that means removing of the desire anger

and the delusion of the mind is called

the enlightenment so that is the highest

level of happiness that we all can reach

so when you practice these practices

when you when you engage yourself in

wholesome state that will create you the

happiness in the life so practice these

things and make your life a happier one

number but higher