The Only Way to Happiness

The only way to happiness is by living in the right way religiously, i.e. ardently and resolutely. There is no path to happiness, because happiness is the path. We must stay happy in the happiness path, then only we can be happy here and now, and into the future. If one is not happy now, where does his confidence come from which makes him so arrogantly assume he can find happiness in the future? Is it not false hope?

The only way to suffering is by living in the wrong way religiously. Some people live so dependent on the empty promises from religious leaders or political leaders but still think that they are free. A person can never be free if he is chained by many fetters to this world. A person lives dependent on a “god” to save him, dependent on sensual pleasure more than the basic needs, dependent on relationships with others to supply goodwill and sense of love, instead of personal accountability can never be free. A person lives dependent on rules and rituals, dependent on worldly views, doesn’t have freedom of thought and is effectively fettered. He lives with fear, obligations and guilt.

A person who lives with a lot of ego, thinking he is right and others are wrong, never trust anyone but himself, never learn from anyone nor books, is living religiously with himself as his God. It’s also a way to suffering instead of happiness. He is not free from suffering.

One can liberate himself through perfection of virtue, equanimity and wisdom by cultivating himself religiously to abandon greed, hatred and delusion.

“Bhikkhus, possessing five qualities, a bhikkhu dwells in suffering in this very life — with distress, anguish, and fever — and with the breakup of the body, after death, a bad destination can be expected for him.

What five?

Here, a bhikkhu is devoid of faith, morally shameless, morally reckless, lazy, and unwise.

Possessing these five qualities, a bhikkhu dwells in suffering in this very life — with distress, anguish, and fever — and with the breakup of the body, after death, he can expect a bad destination.

“Bhikkhus, possessing five other qualities, a bhikkhu dwells happily in this very life — without distress, anguish, and fever — and with the breakup of the body, after death, a good destination can be expected for him.

What five?

Here, a bhikkhu is endowed with faith, has a sense of moral shame, has moral dread, and is energetic and wise.

Possessing these five qualities, a bhikkhu dwells happily in this very life — without distress, anguish, and fever — and with the breakup of the body, after death, a good destination can be expected for him.”