what is

true

happiness?

There is a Greek word - eudaimonia, which is often translated as "happiness." But according to B. Alan Wallace PhD, Buddhist scholar and writer, it should be translated as "human flourishing."

It connotates a sense of happiness that is beyond the momentary vicissitudes of our emotional state.

In the Encyclopedia Brittanica eudoimonia is defined as: “the state of having a good indwelling spirit, a good genius.”

There is another Greek word that is very similar: eudokia, which is commonly translated to mean: good will, kindly intent, benevolence. It is used many times in the New Testament, for example, by St. Paul in the Epistle to the Ephesians, 1:15 "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to (eudokia) the good pleasure of his will"

The Dalai Lama, in describing his religious practice, said, "A religious act is performed out of good motivation with sincere thought for the benefit of others. Religion is here and now in our daily lives. If we lead that life for the benefit of the world, this is the hallmark of religious life. This is my simple religion. No need for temples. No need for complicated philosophy. Your own mind, your own heart is the temple; your philosophy is simple kindness." From "How to Expand Love"

Tibetan Buddhism and Eastern Orthodox Christianity share a rich tradition of ceremonial practices and deeply significant "sacraments." With the intention of not reading too much into what the Dalai Lama says, it seems to imply that the ceremonies and traditions are to act as instruments to help us bring our minds into our hearts. According to Thephan the Recluse, the 19th Century Orthodox Christian saint; When our minds and hearts are in union we are in the correct attitude of prayer.

Perhaps my way of tying these thoughts together for personal application would be to say that true happiness is found in losing your sense of self-centered personal identity by tying your actions to virtue for the benefit of others. Once I "heard" the Holy Spirit say, "Be your true self for the benefit of others."

So true happiness is the process of emptying yourself for the benefit of others. This is the message of the gospel. Jesus Christ demonstrated the path to true happiness, when, being very God, emptied Himself and sacrificed Himself for the eternal spiritual benefit of others. The only One who was justified in being self-centeredly happy, the One Who is the source of happiness, sacrificed His right to that state for the benefit of all.