Benefits

What Is True Happiness?

Lord Buddha blessed us with his knowledge of true happiness 2,500 years ago. He defined true happiness into two categories.

1. Happiness that depends on material possessions:

(Samisa-sukha) are things such as material possessions (like money or jevelry, or people such as husband, wife, and children). that lead one to believe that one has true happiness. This type of happiness is impermanent, and will eventually bring suffering into your life. For example, the desire of young people who seek happiness in companionship; once they find their match they are happy, but then later on comes the suffering. Suffering in the form of concern, worry, jealousy, pride, pain, disappointment, etc… Sometimes the situation can end in divorce. This pain may one day overwhelm any of that initial joy experienced in the beginning.

2. Happiness achieved through Dhamma.

(Niramisa-sukha). This is the only form of true happiness, one that is free from suffering, and the point from which the individual will eventually discover Nibbana.

Direct Benefits

1.  For people who no longer suffer from desire or lust, and have become an Arahant, they will receive the benefits as follows:

1.1. All of your old suffering from the past will disappear

1.2. The new suffering that might happen, has no chance to give its retribution because you have banished craving from your life

1.3. You will become a model of good conduct and moral fiber for all those in your community

2. On the Dhamma side of things:

2.1. You will be pure both physically and spiritually

2.2. You will be a kind and generous person

2.3. You will have wisdom

Indirect Benefits

1. Benefits for those around you:

1.1. Giving the opportunity for your friends and relatives to be closer to the temple and to give them a chance to listen to the Dhamma when they visit you.

1.2. After you leave your monkshood, if you start your own family, your wife and children will live in happiness and harmony due to your patience and kindness.

1.3. You will be a good member of society and your surrounding community.

2. On the Dhamma side of things, you will be a steward for Buddhism-one who bears the responsibility for passing the religion on to future generations.