Alka Singh
Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia
‘Happiness’ is an abstract term which can be described by philosophy and psychology in different ways. In general, happiness is an experienced feeling that comes from the outer stimulus which we feel through the outside pleasures and comforts. That is why happiness is a short-term emotional state that disappears with a change in the situation or behavior of other people. Desire and fear are two backbones of happiness. When a desire is satisfied, or the cause of a fear is removed, the surface agitation of our mind subsides, and, as a result, impermanent calm and peace arises in our mind which bring sensuous pleasure. Hence, it is a sensual emotional state that varies from person to person and situation to situation as it totally depends on individual perception.
In Buddhism, morality, concentration and wisdom are in a true sense the foundation stone of happiness. Compassion or loving-kindness is the true way to bring about happiness. For each living organism, the elimination of hatred brings calmness to the mind and this calm mind is the master of all our action and directs us towards cultivating morality, concentration and wisdom. In simple words, morality means good behavior and generosity; concentration means meditation. By following and practicing morality and meditation, we can increase our power of concentration and will be able to distinguish between the most important things and the less or useless things that cloud our mind. Finally, wisdom means knowledge. Hence, an ignorant person can never understand happiness being one who believes in sensuous pleasure as happiness, which is absolutely temporary. On the other hand, spiritual happiness is real happiness, which is characterized by feelings of contentment, perfect calmness, inner peace of mind, serenity, fulfillment, compassion and loving-kindness, all with mindfulness.
Consider our modern education system where students are anxious and pressured with the anticipation and thoughts of the future while enduring academic pressure which results in stress, chronic pain, anxiety, depression, and personality disorders. We often read about suicide cases, violent behavior and other unsocial incidents by students in the news, indicating that psychologically they are in an unstable age. Today, students are indulging in short term happiness to escape from the present situation, leading a life full of fantasy and illusion. Therefore, the real concept of happiness according to Buddhism should be taught in classrooms by integrating this concept into the curriculum to help students focus attention, improve their memory, self-regulate behaviors – such as self-acceptance, self-management skills, self-understanding – and calm emotions. These are all crucial factors for achieving academic and social success in school and in life.
The present paper tries to explore the conceptual understanding of happiness with a Buddhist perspective, providing a framework to integrate happiness into our education system. This is in order to promote academic and social-emotional success among students since the present student life is full of stress and pressure from external stimulus. Thus, the paper is focused on presenting the path of happiness in today’s education system, and sets out to open up discussion about its value, practices and relevance in education through a Buddhist context.
(Presented in the 2015 Chulalongkorn Asian Heritage Forum: Understanding Happiness, 16-17 July 2015, Le Meridien Bangkok Hotel, Bangkok, organized by Institute of Thai Studies and Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University)