The Path to Happiness (Sayalay Susila)

Sayalay Susila (amazon.com) edited by Dhr. Seven, Wisdom Quarterly

The Path to Happiness is a compilation of five talks delivered at various meditation centers in the US and Malaysia from 2010-2013.

The author chose these talks because of each subject’s importance for practitioners:

(1) In the talk “The Key to Happiness,” Sayalay stresses self-restraint — not harming others based on the understanding of the law of karma — as one of the keys to happiness.

Through many years of experience teaching in the US, she has seen that this aspect of Dharma has been underappreciated.

(2) Also included is a talk on how to practice loving-kindness meditation in a systematic way, with the hope that by frequent practice we can remove the hindrance of anger/ill-will that “robs” us of our happiness.

As loving-kindness (metta) goes deep into the heart through repeated practice, we are transformed by its power and are subsequently able to suffuse others with this intense friendliness, making this materialistic world a better place in which to live.

(3) Next there’s a talk is based on Sayalay’s favorite sutra, “The Simile of the Vipers,” as this discourse brings out many aspects of Dharma that insight-meditators need to note.

Sayalay’s exploration of this text brings its subtleties and profound meaning to light.

Unravelling the Mysteries of Mind and Body

(4) In “Understanding the Five Aggregates” Sayalay draws from many sutras and explores this important subject at length, because it is essential to make the Five Aggregates known to free oneself from suffering.

The Buddha taught: “Whatever in the world one might cling to [as self],

• it is just materiality [form] that one is clinging to;
• it is just feeling,
• just perception,
• just formations, and
• just consciousness

that one is clinging to” (SN22:79). After all, clinging is the cause of all suffering.

(5) The final chapter, “Contemplation of Mind,” explores the third foundation of mindfulness from the sutra on the “Four Foundations of Mindfulness.”

This way of practice, although recommended by the Buddha as being very effective at helping depersonalize many different states of mind, is also not well propagated nowadays. Sayalay deftly explores this alternative approach to watching the mind.

This little book is a gem that will inspire readers to look deeply into their practice, working on the essentials of how to balance the faculties of mind in order to maintain one’s course on The Path to Happiness and enlightenment.