Expert: Anandapanyo Bhikkhu - 1/7/2010

Question
Hello, my name is Tyler R Anzalone and i am slowly losing my own internal happiness. I have followed my own inner rules believing in my own form of karma and the golden rule of "treat other the way you would want to be treated" so far it seems i am one of few who choose to do so. I have asked a few questions and did a little research and am now leaning towards becoming a Buddhist. I respect the thought of meditation to better ones self and the thought that WE are not just "I's" but "Us'" and together we are all one.

But my question is this.

I understand the meaning of nirvana and true happiness, but is it found within a religion/way of life, or found within ones self.

I guess what i am asking is, is happiness created through the Buddhist way of life, like a chair is created from a carpenter?

Or is it more of a pseudo happiness in which it only exist because you believe in its existence and therefore create its existence?

I apologize if this has confused or been a waste of your time for you are, im sure, an honorable and respectable being, and also i thank you for taking the time to enlighten me with what knowledge you can.

Tyler R Anzalone.

Answer
Dear Tyler,

I thank you for the opportunity to answer your questions.

I would like to ask you what your understanding of nirvana and true happiness is?

However, to answer your question:

Happiness comes from not suffering

True happiness comes from NEVER suffering again

There are two types of suffering:

Suffering of the mind, suffering of the body

Suffering of the body cannot be stopped or prevented. As long as we are born, we are subject to aging, decay and death.

However, suffering of the mind is not mandatory. It is not necessary. Our suffering comes from our minds (or if you want to call it a soul-spirit-heart-mind-self). They are stored in our perceptions within our minds. It is these perceptions that cause us to suffer.

For example, we desire to be rich. Why do we desire this? Why do some people desire this? If money was instead feces, would we still desire to be rich in feces? NO WAY. However, since it is money, we would kill, steal and fight for it. Why? What perception do we hold that causes us to act this way? We feel more money will lead to new opportunities and HAPPINESS!!!! However, is this true? We have never stopped to even think about it. Who do we know who has money and is completely happy? Does Bill Gates have ENOUGH money? Is he still working? Is he still trying to make more? Is he completely happy? Does he still have desires? Does he still get lonely? Does he still get bored? Angry? Upset? Frustrated? If so, then money does not lead to happiness.

Then what about love? Freedom? Cars? Entertainment? Which of these will lead to happiness? Happiness that doesn't fade.

The freedom from these desires, the freedom from these external things, that is true happiness. That is found within oneself, within our correct and right perceptions.

It doesn't matter whether you are Buddhist, living any particular way of life or believe in the Buddha or not. Do you know why? Because the Buddha did not teach BUDDHISM. He not teach make believe things. He taught TRUTHS. Where are these truths and where did they come from? They are all around us, in nature, within us. This was the basis of his teachings. He did not teach about Gods, or Mystics or luck or spirits, he merely taught truths. So, it doesn't matter if we believe in him or are Buddhist, as long as we contemplate the truths, we can be happy.

This happiness, that comes from right perceptions, is not a pseudo happiness, it is a true lasting happiness. On the other hand, the happiness that comes from obtaining desires, is the pseudo happiness, for it does not last, for this is the nature of desire, you need to want more.

Take cancer for example. If the cancer gives you coughs, taking cough medicine will make you happiness. It will make you feel good for a while. But what will happen? You will begin coughing again, why? Because the cause, the root cause of your coughing is the cancer. Cough medicine is the pseudo happiness you mentioned.

Imagine how happy you would be to have surgery and find that the cancer is COMPLETELY gone. There is nothing left. No more Chemo-therapy, no more radiation, no more watching what you eat, no more seeing relatives sad, no more coughing and physical pain. Would that make you happy? Truly happy?

This is the true happiness from understanding the truth.

I hope I have answered your questions.

Sincerely,

Phra Anandapanyo