Don't pursue Happiness?

I had the pleasure yesterday of listening to a lecture by Matthieu Ricard, renowned buddhist monk, writer, etc.  He was brought to us here in the Twin Cities by Ruth Stricker in unison with the University of Minnesota Center for Spirituality & Healing.  Because I have contemplated "happiness" myself, I found his perspectives….."enlightening"…..I guess as they should be!

Here are my favorite, most memorable concepts that I took away from Matthieu. 

1) How does one have "happiness"?  Is it the acquisition of feelings, or the absence of opposite feelings?  Matthieus suggested that to have happiness, the most effective way to be happy is to remove sorrow and suffering.  So, if we remove the CAUSES of suffering, happiness will result….or in a sense be able to shine out because that is what is left.  Happiness and sorrow are opposites, right? 

So maybe the simplest way to "be happy" is to find a way not to "be sad"….end causes of suffering etc.?

2) How do we achieve the calm and peace and satisfaction with life that others have found.  Most of the emotions and feelings that we as humans experience are in one of 2 camps…..either nice (my word) or "afflictive" (Matthieu's word).  So, following the same logic as the happiness/suffering questions above, how best do we achieve, love, kindness, helpfulness, compassion, joy, thankfulness, etc.?  As humans, we all have the afflictive emotions: hatred, greed, selfishness, etc..  So, if we can manage our minds to minimize these afflictive emotions, won't the "nicer" emotions….the more enlightened emotions shine through more…..and occupy more hours of our existence?

So maybe the best way to be more the person we want to be is to focus on not having the emotions and feelings associated with the person we don't want to be? 

I find this perspective intriguing because I have also believed that they way people can achieve their highest potential is to take skills and abilities in which they have strength…..and increase their use.  I am a firm believer that although we should all work to improve on things which are weaknesses, the best way to maximize our individual human potential is to know what we are good at….and enjoy…..and do more of it. 

So, Matthieu's thoughts are certainly thought provoking and give an interesting perspective that is certainly worthy of contemplation and incorporation in our lives.

Barb

3-19-08