The Rational
“If there is a cure, what good is discontent?
Santideva, 8th Century Buddhist Monk
If there is no cure, what good is discontent?”
The Purposeful
Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.
Mahatma Gandhi
The Zen
“Before enlightenment; chop wood, carry water.
Zen Kōan
After enlightenment; chop wood, carry water.”
The Comedic
“Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go.”
Oscar Wilde
Sometimes, I also write my own ideas. You can find them, along with more curated reads, on my email list.
If you’ve stuck around, let me recommended the book on happiness that let an indelible mark on my mind. (it helps that I was an impressionable 17-18 year old when I read it)
It is Happiness by Mathieu Ricard
Mathieu is a French Biologist turned Buddhist Monk, described by some scientists as “the Happiest Man in the World”. He seems truly delightful, as you can see in his ted talk here.
In Happiness, Mathieu explores our most fundamental longing, taking care to define his subject and honestly testing it against scientific and philosophical hurdles to its possibility. When he finally leaves us at the end of the book, it is with the hope that all of us can and should develop the skill of being happy.
