Since ancient times, humans have always pondered the nature of happiness. Each individual has their own concept and way of finding happiness. Some people believe that happiness comes from great achievements, from wealth and prosperity. Others seek happiness in the simple things in life. However, according to Buddhist teachings and some Eastern philosophies, “Contentment” is the key to true happiness.
In this article, I would like to present some of my personal views and understanding on this issue.
So first of all, what is happiness?
Happiness is a positive emotional state, a feeling of satisfaction and contentment with life as it is. According to Western philosophy, happiness is a combination of hedonia (pleasure) and eudaimonia (the good life). While hedonia is the immediate satisfaction of material needs, eudaimonia is a deeper satisfaction that comes from living a meaningful and ethical life.
Material needs and spiritual needs
Material needs are the essential needs to sustain human life such as food, clothing, shelter… When material needs are met, people feel comfortable and at ease. However, this feeling of comfort is often temporary and quickly fades.
Spiritual needs are the higher needs of humans such as the need to learn, the need to communicate, the need to love, etc. When spiritual needs are met, people feel truly happy. This feeling of happiness is often deeper and more lasting than the feeling of satisfaction of material needs.
The spiral of chasing happiness
After each feeling of comfort or elation, whether temporary or deep, it will eventually disappear. People often tend to chase new needs to find new happiness. When one need is met, another arises. This spiral makes people always feel dissatisfied, empty and never achieve true lasting happiness.
How to achieve true happiness?
According to Buddhism and some Eastern religions and philosophies, to escape the spiral of chasing happiness, people need to learn to “be content”. Appreciate what you have, instead of always wanting what you don’t have. Focus on the present moment, enjoy every moment of life. Live a meaningful life that benefits yourself and others.
“Contentment” is a philosophy of life that emphasizes satisfaction with what you have. When they are content, people will no longer crave things that are far away, things that are out of their reach. They will cherish what they have and find joy in the simple things in life.
- A house, big or small, is good enough, it can shelter from the sun and rain, as long as in that house there is love, it is the place where we share moments with loved ones.
- Food, good or bad, is good enough, as long as it fills the stomach, sometimes in life we also want to have delicious meals, but really not every meal has to have delicious food, the presence, the sharing of the participants in the meal really brings a feeling of deliciousness.
- Clothes, good or bad, are good enough, as long as they cover the body, keep warm, and are polite, if only for parties and gala nights that we have to struggle to find expensive dresses, will we be able to have a feeling of true happiness after the party is over?
There are still many examples of contentment around us:
- Billionaire Bill Gates: Despite being one of the richest people in the world, Bill Gates still lives a simple and frugal life. He often wears ordinary clothes, uses old cars and donates most of his fortune to charity.
- Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh: A famous Buddhist monk with the philosophy of life “living for the present moment”. He always teaches his disciples how to cherish every moment of life and find happiness in the simplest things.
Cherish every moment – The secret to happiness
There are many people who have lifestyles similar to Bill Gates and Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. Through these examples, we realize that:
We don’t have to chase after needs, to seek illusory happiness. Focus your mind on the things that are right now, feel and enjoy happiness with those simple things. Who knows tomorrow or in the coming moments we will no longer be on this earth to seek happiness?
Dharma Master Chin Kung once said: “One breath out and not coming back, what in this world is yours?”.
That’s right, a big house, an expensive dress, or even this very body of ours, when we suddenly stop breathing, what is really ours?
Material things and conveniences are necessary for our lives, but they are not the goal, the destination for us to strive for every day. Cherish this present moment, cherish every breath, feel grateful for this life for what we have, we will feel the feeling of true happiness.