What is happiness? (Buddhism, Buddhism, taoism)

[zenzero]

Friend Robtex,
The thread was about *HAPPINESS*
As far as BALANCE is concerend you are right.
Would you like to infer that a balanced person is always HAPPY?
Only it can be added that a balanced person is always in the CENTRE / MIDDLE and is neither swayed by HAPPINESS / SADNESS.
To him both are equi-distant from the CENTRE.
Love & rgds

[Master Vigil]

Or true happiness IS balance, and not the "happiness" our ego thinks it is.

[YmirGF]

Originally Posted by Master Vigil

Or true happiness IS balance, and not the "happiness" our ego thinks it is.

True happiness is a byproduct of expanding awareness. By this I mean that when the observer learns that there is more to self than the often tyrannical ego, understanding increases at an ever-accelerating rate. I insist that bliss or happiness is a result of that process... somewhat like a free bonus. The way to do this is NOT to chain the ego tightly into a corner, but to make it a friend of the greater reality of the Self. When this is done the ego doesn't mind when it is asked to step aside on occaision so that light of its Origin can peek through. When the larger identity is allowed to peek out, sort of like sunlight breaking through dark clouds, the ego is enhanced and feels more secure and so becomes a better team player in what can be called the civilization of the psyche. Happiness again, is the side effect of this process and if folks do not know that then they still have many joys ahead of them.

I normally end my pieces with "I could be wrong" but on this score I know that I am not, so there is no point in pretending.

[robtex]

Originally Posted by zenzero

Friend Robtex,
The thread was about *HAPPINESS*
As far as BALANCE is concerend you are right.
Would you like to infer that a balanced person is always HAPPY?
Only it can be added that a balanced person is always in the CENTRE / MIDDLE and is neither swayed by HAPPINESS / SADNESS.
To him both are equi-distant from the CENTRE.
Love & rgds

Zenzero,

It is in the taoist section so I am taking "what is happiness as it applies to taoism". Within in that idea balance (yin/yang) is an instrumental idea to happiness within the tao because a central idea in Taoism is that good things happen when one works within the tao and tougher things happen when one tries to go against the Tao (which could be seen as nature or the natural way).

[zenzero]

Friend Robtex,
The meaning inferred from your response is that when one is working according to nature like if you swim with the tide you do not use effort and you are HAPPY and if you are working against it like swimming against the tide you are SAD.
Is it correct?
Toa as understood as NOTHINGNESS from whicvh both YIN / YANG comes from or all dualities exists. A balanced person who is in TAo or nothingness is equally into both the opposites without getting affected or losing balance. Happiness/ Sadness are also YIN and YANG.
Love & rgds

[robtex]

Originally Posted by zenzero

Toa as understood as NOTHINGNESS
Love & rgds

Tao=the way not as "nothingness".

[Buttons*]

Originally Posted by robtex

Tao=the way not as "nothingness".

are you a Taoist Robtex?

Tao on the surface means "the Way" but there is so much more.... and so much less than that! If you just want to take it as face value, I doubt you'll be able to really understand much of Zen Zero's posts. Try reading the Tao again.

[zenzero]

Friend YmirGF,
What you mention *True happiness is a byproduct of expanding awareness..........*
is correct and agree BUT would put it differently. Mind is ever there and it represents the EGO or the BARRIER to the happiness [depends on what we mean here temporary / permanent]. Instead of fighting with the Mind your suggesstion is to befriend it and take him along the way.
Yes, whatever way one takes the mind remains BUt our objective is to STILL it and make it free of all thoughts, to reach the state of happiness [permanent].
Love & rgds

[zenzero]

Friend Robtex,
Still the clarity has not come about.
Is it correct to state that if one's action is in accordance with TAO like swimming with the current and swimmimg against is going against nature and so against TAO.
Can you clarify if the above is what you are trying to state or if there is a difference, please clarify.
Here we should all be trying to expand our area / zone of understanding by discussions and unless we understand each other, we will not succeeed in as much as understanding is concerened.
Love & rgds

Friend Buttons,
All efforts are been made to be able to get across to each individual in their own language of understanding. If there are failures, they are temporary. Please help us to understand each other better.
Love & rgds