Academic Sutta Name Notes PSA Plae Vagga Nikaya PTS Keywords
DhA.

XIV:8 What is happiness?

Once, a group of bhikkhus were discussing the question,'What constitutes happiness?' These bhikkhus realised that happiness meant different things to different people. Thus, they said, 'To some people to have riches and glory like that of a king is happiness. To some people sensual pleasure is happiness, but to others to have delicious food is happiness.' While they were talking, the Buddha came in. After learning the subject of their talk, the Buddha said, 'Bhikkhus, all the pleasures you have mentioned cannot get you out of suffering. In this world, these constitute happiness: the arising of a Buddha, the opportunity to hear the Teaching of the sublime Truth, and harmony amongst bhikkhus.'

55/170 Dhammapada & Commentary Khuddhaka J.i.106ff. despair


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Last modified on: Sunday, 13 August 2000.