Whenever you see a painting, statue, or artistic depiction of Buddha, he is smiling. He seems to have a deep inner self-understanding and smiles with the pleasure of that knowledge. Yet that pleasure and happiness comes at a price. One of Buddha’s teachings instructs his followers that to truly be happy they must first have total understanding of suffering (Gunaratana 1). When an individual understandings suffering, which is the opposite of happiness,the individual can truly understand happiness. However, the philosophy of Buddha extends far beyond mere knowledge of suffering.
There are many small lessons concerning how happiness should be attained. Similarly to Christianity and other religions, Buddhists believe that revenge will not bring happiness. Revenge will actually “make everybody miserable,” and will not lead to happiness (Gunaratana 1). This philosophy alludes to the idea that the world would be ideal if people did not try to fulfill their own selfish desires. In the same way, Buddhists try to detach themselves from the needs and wants of life in order to achieve a peaceful state of bliss. One of the paths to “enlightenment” or happiness is by habitually changing a person’s negative thoughts to positive thoughts. When one “frees its mind from the factors that oppose it,” one can be happy. This includes thoughts of trying to be happy. In a near paradoxical way, Buddha also instructs that if an individual stops trying to find happiness and making it a main focus of their life, one will find happiness. Charity is also important to Buddhists. Practicing compassion and connecting with others that will support your spiritual journey are also key factors in finding a truly blissful state as a human being (Gunaratana 1).
However, because of the immense difficulty of maintaining compassion, Buddhism does not try to live life alone. By having a spiritual community that is concerned and committed to each other’s spiritual happiness it is more easily attained. Buddhism is a peaceful practice of self-enlightenment. For Buddhists, enlightenment is the way to find life.
This enlightenment will bring confidence. Happiness can come from a life full of confidence (Gunaratana 1). The whole journey of Buddhists can attain happiness by many means. By finally finding happiness, a Buddhist can be confident, and when one is confident, one can be even more happy.
Work Cited:
Gunaratana, Bhante. “Buddhists Concept of Happiness.”Bhavanasociety.org. Bhavana Society, Web.
Happiness 