# Happiness

Source: https://buddhisma2z.com/happiness/  
Author: Bhante S. Dhammika, *Guide To Buddhism A To Z*  
Licence: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

![Happiness](https://buddhisma2z.com/images/H/happiness.webp)

Happiness (*sukha*) is a feeling of ease, well-being and satisfaction and can range from mild to intense and be either momentary or enduring. The Buddha distinguished between worldly happiness which is dependent on sensory stimulation, and spiritual happiness which is derived from being virtuous and gradually freeing the [**mind**](https://buddhisma2z.com/mind/). Some examples of worldly happiness which the Buddha considered legitimate and worthwhile are the happiness of ownership (*atthisukha*), the happiness of [**wealth**](https://buddhisma2z.com/wealth/) (*bhogasukha*) and the happiness of freedom from debt  (*anaṇasukha*, A.II,67-8). The sense of achievement, from excelling in one’s chosen profession and making a good living out of it can make one very happy (D.I,51). On a higher level, some of the things conducive to spiritual happiness include practising the [**Precepts**](https://buddhisma2z.com/precepts-the-five-eight-and-ten/) (D.I,69-70), being just (A.I,294), calming the senses (D.I,70), thinking about and rejoicing in one’s own good deeds (Dhp.16), taming the mind (Dhp.35), being able to [**love**](https://buddhisma2z.com/love/) despite being surrounded by those who hate (Dhp.197) and being at [**peace**](https://buddhisma2z.com/peace/) (Dhp.202). The highest and most refined happiness comes from attaining [**enlightenment**](https://buddhisma2z.com/enlightenment/) (Dhp.203).

Concerning the two levels of happiness, the Buddha advised: ‘If by giving up worldly happiness one can attain the higher happiness the wise person should do so, seeing it as a more enriching happiness’(Dhp.290). Happiness has an important role in [**meditation**](https://buddhisma2z.com/meditation/) in that it assists in the development of a stable, effortless [**concentration**](https://buddhisma2z.com/concentration-right/). The Buddha said: ‘The mind that is happy becomes concentrated’(*sukhino cittaṃ samādhiyati*, D.I,73). See [**Progress in Meditation**](https://buddhisma2z.com/progress-in-meditation/).

**Further reading:** The Art of Happiness, The Dalai Lama,1998.

Subjects: Psychology