Once, a group of bhikkhus were discussing the question, `What constitutes happiness?’ These bhikkhus realised that happiness meant different things to different people. Thus, they said, ‘To some people to have riches and glory like that of a king is happiness. To some people sensual pleasure is happiness, but to others to have delicious food is happiness.’ While they were talking, the Buddha came in. After learning the subject of their talk, the Buddha said, `Bhikkhus, all the pleasures you have mentioned cannot get you out of suffering. In this world, these constitute happiness: the arising of a Buddha, the opportunity to hear the Teaching of the sublime Truth, and harmony amongst bhikkhus.
Sukho buddhanam uppado
sukha saddhamma desana
Sukha sanghassa samaggi
samagganam tapo sukho
Happiness is the birth of Buddhas. Happiness is the teaching of the sublime Dhamma. Happiness is the unity of the Sangha. Happiness is the discipline of the united ones.
~The Dhammapada~
We all look for happiness in our lives. Many people think excitement is happiness. However, we fail to notice when we are excited we are not peaceful. True happiness is based on peace. Our conception about happiness traps us. Our idea of happiness can prevent us from actually being happy. We fail to see the opportunity for joy that is right in front of us when we are caught in a belief that happiness should take a particular form.
For our Supreme Buddha, the path to happiness starts from an understanding of the root causes of suffering. He also shows the path to end the suffering that is endured throughout the cycle of life. Noble peacefulness is achieved through wisdom which is the intellectual perfection of the four noble truths. The four noble truths refer to suffering, the cause of suffering, the cessation of suffering and the path to the cessation of suffering which can be fully comprehended alone and without a teacher only by a Lord Buddha. His teachings of wisdom and compassion is known as Dharma, and the nurses that encourage us and show us how to take the medicine are the Buddhist community or Sangha.