Happiness is the shadow

When we are in a positive and wholesome state of mind, we are naturally happy.

It is common for people to look for happiness, search for happiness, think about it, and try to achieve their perceived happiness.  In reality, happiness is not a quality or object that we can find and develop, happiness is a result, conditioned by qualities of mind such as contentment, mindfulness, awareness, generosity, and gratitude; if we look for happiness outside, we would not be able to find it anywhere.

In Dhammapada verse 2, the Buddha said that when we develop good qualities of the mind, happiness will follow us like the shadow that will never leave us (“chāyāva anapāyinī” – happiness follows him like a shadow that never leaves him).  If we are looking for happiness, we won’t be able to find it.  However, with the right kind of qualities that condition happiness, then we will experience happiness.

There are 5 factors that condition happiness as expounded by the Buddha in the Dhana Sutta (Anggutara Nikaya 5.47) that we can develop:

Saddhā  or faith, means having confidence in the Three Jewels, our potential for enlightenment.

Silā or morality give rise to happiness for being blameless and enhances the first factor of Saddhā.

Suta or knowledge, means learning the right knowledge of Dhamma, which is based on the universal and undeniable truths.

Cāga or generosity, means to have liberality in mind.  For example, when we give and we do so with good intentions, happiness arises.

Pañña or wisdom; developing right view leads to the arising of wisdom.  One finds happiness in living a life that is noble and useful.

When we cultivate these factors, we gain the wealth of experiencing longer lasting happiness.  We must also remember that happiness is like the shadow of an object…and not the object itself.