HAPPINESS PRESCRIPTION

People tend to think that if they had something (like a good job, money, health, etc) they would be happy. In fact, it should be the other way. If you are happy, you will have the things you want.

Having money doesn't necessarily mean you will be happy. 40% of the Forbes 500 richest people in the world were less happy than the average person on the street.

Happiness depends on three things. First, our brain has a happiness set-point. People who see the same thing will feel differently about it based on the biological set-point. This set-point could be genetically based. However, it can be altered. Drugs can alter the set-point, but it doesn't last and has side effects. Meditation activates the pre-frontal cortex. Chemical neuro-transmitters are sent through your brain to make you happy. Finally, cognitive therapy allows you to get rid of false beliefs that made you depressed.

The second thing that determines happiness is your life situation. Wealth, health and other things in your life like divorce or sudden death of loved ones are all your life situation. However, it is only responsible for 8-15% of the happiness quotient. Changes in your life may change your feelings of happiness, but we ultimately return to our level of happiness that we had prior to that change.

Thirdly, voluntary actions or the choices we make determine our happiness. Pleasures like food, sex or whatever we fancy help make us happy. But these things are transient. However, "fulfillment" or a deeper sense of accomplishment brings great happiness. Research shows that making other people happy has the greatest level of happiness.

The Four Noble Truths
Human beings go through the experience of suffering.

There are causes of suffering and that is our attachment to transient things.

The cessation of suffering is attainable.

There is a path to the cessation of suffering.

Existential Suffering
A philosopher ran into a sadu on the Ganges who was very unhappy. He wondered about life and could not find the answers to all of life's questions.

To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury
Signifying nothing." — Macbeth (Act 5, Scene 5, lines 17-28)

The philosopher went further down the Ganges and noticed a fisherwoman who was very happy watching her children and grandchildren play on the shores. He asked her the questions the sadu thought about but she told him she did not have time for these kinds of questions. He went back to the sadu and told him about the fisherwoman. The sadu anwered that he did not want that happiness.

We can have happiness in ignorance or happiness in enlightenment. This was Buddha's journey.

The Eight Fold Path
1. Right View
2. Correct Thinking
3. Spontaneous Right Speech
4. Right Action
5. Right Livelihood
6. Diligence
7. Meditation
8. Mindfulness

The Impermanence of Life

No Separate Self

Nirvana

The Ten Keys to Happiness
1. Listen to your body's wisdom
2. Live in the present
3. Embrace silence
4. Relinquish your need for external approval
5. Relinquish your anger or opposition
6. Total self-knowledge
7. Don't judge others
8. Eliminate toxins from your body and emotions
9. Replace fear with love
10. Cultivate witnessing awareness