Happiness (Dhammapada verses)

Acharya Buddharakkhita (trans.), Sukhavagga (Dhammapada XV, Verses 197-208, accesstoinsight.org); Crystal Quintero, Dhr. Seven, Seth Auberon (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

We seek peak experiences and neglect our long-term happiness and bliss (Urban Mystix).

The amazing thing is that I can choose to be happy. Don't need a reason. It's a choice.

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Wearing a sari, Taj Mahal, India (JaumesCar)

The following are verses from the Dhammapada, the Path or Imprint of the Dharma, a book of Buddhist aphorisms accompanied by their origin stories.

197. Happy indeed we [the ennobled Buddhist community] live, friendly amid the hostile. Amid hostile persons we dwell free from hatred.
 

198. Happy indeed we live, friendly amid those afflicted (by craving). Amid afflicted people we dwell free from such affliction.
 

199. Happy indeed we live, free from avarice amid the avaricious. Amid avaricious people we dwell free from avarice.
 

200. Happy indeed we live, we who possess nothing. Feeders on joy we shall be, like the radiant devas.
 

201. Victory begets enmity; the defeated dwell in pain. Happily the peaceful live, discarding both victory and defeat.
 

202. There is no fire like lust and no crime like hatred. There is no ill like the aggregates (of clinging)* and no bliss higher than the peace (of nirvana).

• *[Note 17: (Verse 202) Aggregates (khandha), the five groups the "living being" can be analyzed or broken down into, which the Buddha saw directly: material form (this body), feelings, perceptions, mental formations, and consciousnesses.]

Chandrashila summit, India (Jaume Escofet)

203. Hunger is the worst disease, conditioned-things the worst suffering (disappointment). Knowing this as it truly is, the wise realize nirvana, the highest bliss.
 

204. Health is the most precious gain and contentment the greatest wealth. A trustworthy person is the best kin, nirvana the highest bliss.

 
205. Having savored the taste of solitude and peace (of nirvana), pain-free and stainless one becomes, drinking deep the taste of the bliss of the [ultimate] Truth.
 

206. Good it is to see the noble ones; to live with them is ever-blissful. One will always be happy by not encountering fools.
 

Topics in The Dhammapada

207. Indeed, one who keeps the company of fools grieves for longing. Association with fools is ever-painful, like partnership with an enemy. But association with the wise is happy, like meeting one's own kin.
 

208. Therefore, follow the noble one, who is steadfast, wise, learned, dutiful, and devout. One should follow only such a person, who is truly good and wise (discerning), even as the moon follows the path of the stars.

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