What is happiness? (Buddhism, Buddhism, taoism)

[gnomon]

Originally Posted by Master Vigil

When we think of happiness, what do we think about? What is the true nature of happiness, and is it something we want, have, need, don't need, etc...

Can we really ask ourselves... "Am I happy?"

Glad to see you back.

I think that a non-spiritual point of view somewhat coincides with that of the Taosist or Buddhist.

We can always ask ourselves if we are happy. Are we free of anxiety? Free of depression? Free from fear?

I recognize that I will always feel some anxiety, some depression, some fear. There are those moments in my life when I realize that those emotions do not exist and I can truly realize happiness. Even in some moments of anxiety, depression or fear I can realize happiness.

I would say happiness is a need and all needs at some point is a want. The various subjective means we attain that need are many.

[may]

But he said: "No, rather, Happy are those hearing the word of God and keeping it!" LUKE 11;28

[may]

The Scriptures are like a storehouse of happiness, for they enrich the mind and the heart. They enliven the spirit. They give hope. They point the way to a productive, pleasant life. They contain thoughts of God that we can reflect on at any time. They are the basis for true wisdom.—Compare Proverbs 3:13-18.

[Azakel]

And may these are your opinion from the Bible and not ever one will agree. To me happens is being me and bettering myself(that make me happy).

[Buttons*]

Originally Posted by may

But he said: "No, rather, Happy are those hearing the word of God and keeping it!" LUKE 11;28

cool, are you a mystic, then?

[Melissa G]

whatever happiness means to the individual is of course subjective. I would say that if basic human needs are not met, unhappiness is inevitable. Beyond having basic needs met, I would say happiness, or perhaps elation, is a short lived phenomena in the brain.

Melissa ~~~

[Buttons*]

Originally Posted by OP

When we think of happiness, what do we think about? What is the true nature of happiness, and is it something we want, have, need, don't need, etc...

Can we really ask ourselves... "Am I happy?"

Now, I want us to try something different..... answering the question!

Keep in mind, you're in the Taoist forum, so if you're not mystic, you're probably free to participate, but it's highly unlikely that you'll grasp what's going on here.

[Scarlett Wampus]

Originally Posted by may

The Scriptures are like a storehouse of happiness, for they enrich the mind and the heart. They enliven the spirit. They give hope. They point the way to a productive, pleasant life. They contain thoughts of God that we can reflect on at any time. They are the basis for true wisdom.—Compare Proverbs 3:13-18.

I've no doubt this works for you May. I'm wondering whether you would agree that is also possible to have all these things that the Scriptures can give without using them as a basis for wisdom.

If not, what do you make of people who appear to be very happy but aren't familiar with the Bible?

If so, does this mean that the presence of God precedes the words of God in some way that people can discover without Scripture?

[zenzero]

Friends,
Happiness / sadness are just STATES of the MIND.
Enlightenmed persons are beyond dualities of any kind.
Love & rgds

[robtex]

Relating this thread to taoism I would like to ante up Wu Wei's part in the Tao. Wu Wei meaning without action or effortless doing. There is a range of what we can do in life and what we cannot. I think people sometimes create their own misery or unhappyness by attempting to move beyond that range which is natural or within their Tao. People who go to med school but have marginal science and math skills. People In sales who work 70 hours a week to get a bonus on quota and miss life when making that money for extended periods of time. And other ideas of super-ambition aligned with the idea of "attitude equal altitude" and "winning at all cost" create a mentality that pushing the limits is the key to success and by association happiness. I remember thinking about this years ago when I had a friend in a drug rehab and she was telling me her therapists were telling her that over-indulgence was her addiction with drugs being a by-product of that behavior pattern.


I would say Wu Wei creates a natural moderation of action that in Taoism may be part of balancing ones yin/yang in regards to action and inaction. (wu wei being associated with yin in some writings). Maybe for Taoist and their understanding of the Tao understanding they are a part of the Tao and flow of that Tao that Wu Wei is the action of inaction that lets them flow mentally, within the congruence of the tao instead of pushing harder to "achieve with great sacrifice". I would say in my limited understanding of Taoism that could be an answer to what is happiness, within the philosophy of Taoism. Because within the Tao every application to any idea is Yin/Yang of doing or not doing. Acting or not acting, active participation or passive observation. Wu Wei is the balance of inaction to action

footnotes:
Taoism - The Wu-Wei Principle - Part 4
wu-wei --* Britannica Online Encyclopedia
WU WEI