Absolute Happiness
"It is natural that we face problems challenges, setbacks and disappointments if life. Bu faith in Buddhism means that when such tings occur, we chant daimoku with persistence and determination. This gives rise to wisdom, with which we can move things in a positive direction. Concerning living in this world, which is full of both suffering and joy, Nichiren Daishonin said, “Suffer what there is to suffer, enjoy what there is to enjoy. Regard both suffering and joy as facts of life, and continue chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, no matter what happens” (WND, 681). Buddhism nowhere teaches of a life that is free from pain or troubles, or that life should be just a succession of favorable circumstances. In fact, such a life does not exist; even if it did, as Shakespeare suggests, it would probably become quite tedious.
Instead Buddhism encourages us to step confidently into a world and society intertwined with joys and sufferings, and to develop a condition of life to fully enjoy all we encounter. This state of life--the capacity to “enjoy ourselves at ease” unperturbed by external ups and downs--is what Soka Gakkai second president Josei Toda often called “absolute happiness.” It is absolute because it is self-created. We create it. It is not dependent on something or someone else. The purpose and goal of daily Buddhist prayer and practice, and of our activities to teach Buddhism to others, is to create such an inner world of profound enjoyment and ease."
According to Nicheren Buddhism, the only kind of happiness that is unconditional is the happiness we create for ourselves, simply because it is not dependent on another person or force, only on us.
To reach a state of mind/being where we can enjoy life no matter what occurs, to appreciate the good and the bad, to see beauty in all things, easy and hard, light and dark, comedic and tragic.
http://sgi-usa.org/buddhism/buddhismtoday/bc010.htm
Buddhism teaches that this world is a world meant to be enjoyed, meant to be experienced. Suffering and Enjoyment are two forms of experience we are meant to engage in and learn from.
It is essential to learn how to alleviate ourselves of all mental suffering, and experience enjoyment in this world, enjoyment which is not dependent on external influences, or outside sources. Enjoyment and appreciation of life which is not fragile.
Now, many who already study Buddhism may wondor...does this not contradict the First Noble Truth of Buddhism ? Dukkha- that Life is Suffering ?
Life Is Suffering in its most raw state....where we are ignorant, dependent, afraid, fearful....we are born into a world, defenseless and completely at the mercy of our parents, and those around us.
Anamality, the Fourth Buddhist World, is probably the most common stage of mind. To goal to survive rises above all else.
Life does not have to be suffering....Buddhism teaches us to "choose our battles", or rather "choose our suffering"
Some things may feel overwhelming (death of a family member, heartbreak, etc.) But we do not have to suffer over it. We can learn to be happy with or without the attachment, yet still Love others unconditionally.
A feeling is just a feeling, and only has as much power as we give it.
Suffer when there is nothing else to feel, suffer when there is nothing else to be done. But do not suffer for things that do not need to be suffered for.
If someone breaks your heart...rejects you...so what ? What does that person have that you needed ? Nothing...they only had something you wanted
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Desire is what leads to suffering...desire which can poison the mind when not kept under check.
It is okay to desire, it is okay to be attached, in fact, it is essential to life to be attached and desire. It is natural.
But we must be in control.
We must learn to recognize the cause of the suffering...desire...learn to rise above the primitive tendency to suffer over an unfulfilled desire.
Ultamate Happiness is achieved when we look past our own desires..when we learn to be happy with ourselves and with our lives, through OUR OWN effort, for we are OUR OWN SALVATION.
YOU ARE YOUR OWN REFUGE.
No one else can validate you. No one else can choose to be happy for you. No one has your happiness in thier hand.
Does this mean learn to live alone ? NO
We need eachother to survive. And we need eachother to live the best lives possible. It is through other people that you experience life...where you experience passions, enjoyments and sufferings.
The Ultamate Happiness is to love yourself enough to the point where you no longer need anymore for yourself..where you are enough, where you are all you need, where you are your ultamate source of happiness.
Therefore, you only desire for the happiness of others.
Bodhisvattva is the Ninth World, the state of being where our happiness is sustained and increased through the effort to help others become happy. You cannot make them happy, but you can CERTAINLY help them become so. You can help others grow, learn, mature, and be free. It is a path they themselves must take, but you can be the catalyst of someone else's freedom from needless suffering.
I DO NOT MEAN TO MAKE OTHERS LIKE YOU...to want others to like you is a selfish aim.
To genuinely want others to be happy..like you...to achieve the happiness you acheive...that is the highest state according to Buddhism.
To care for, help, free, and alleviate as many people from needless suffering as possible.
I hope this was not confusing....I hope all of you understand what I am saying. If you have any questions, either post them in this thread, or pm me.
I do not have all the answers, but I can help you find your own.
🙂