True Happiness

[avedic]

I don't know how I stumbled upon your videos, but I'm glad I did. I can relate to your perspective..I'm also a 28 year old former agnostic who is starting to make the, now obvious, connections between centuries-old spiritual intuitions and leading-edge science. Consciousness is the single most fascinating thing there is..period. I'm in the midst of creating a website at anima dot cannon dot cc and would love to work with you in some capacity. I'll email you details. Thanks for the great videos!

[Alexisme1001]

What if anything in moderation (including moderation) is healthy? Perhaps it's just as possible to be immoderate about meditating, looking inward, & denying the value of material progress (either of the individual or society) as anything else. Perhaps neither Western materialism nor Eastern spiritualism are in and of themselves either negative or sufficient to bring happiness, but that committing to one extreme or the other is problematic.

[07charlie08]

i see a picture of nirvana on the wall, if possible, itd be great if we can talk about Buddhism sometime. =] namo amitabha

[BeamSurfer]

Yeah, this is totally how entropy works

[dedahdahdah]

Love your stuff Gerald...you have a lovely vibe and come from a loving space...keep up your work ...the world needs you. Namaste.

[massage33316]

Namaste Gerald! It is worth noting that the Buddha stated that the reason we suffer is because of our attachments - a point you made so well, that happiness is not found in that which is outward. A fitting observation here is that Taoism teaches that we must embrace yin (sorrow, suffering, obscurity, feminine) to grow, to become empowered. Tao (alpha) leads to Te (omega).  To desire yang without acknowledging yin is to start at the wrong end of the Greek alphabet, so to speak.

[GeraldP1983]

@massage33316 Yes! :D

[Pinkiericegurl]

very cool. this is my wife's YouTube but I've been commenting. I don't use YouTube outside of her account. I love your insight.

[seekersjournal]

The power comes from within you so therefore you decide what you experience

[aracnia]

I. Am. HAPPY!

[smokyfairy]

nice

[p0rkytso]

only so few truly understand or are able to see the truth behind 'attachments' especially with people/relationships.

[vipassanut]

I can only speak from my experience, but I find that the reason we suffer is because of attachment. This attachment is the belief that a physical sensation can be held on to and labelled as pleasurable. When it fades away craving and sadness are left in its place....But without the need for the happiness to begin with then sadness will also be eliminated...

[planetoperator]

great vid/words..

[GeraldP1983]

@planetoperator Thanks! :D

[aumenisis]

Great video bro:)

[bhaktiheart]

thank you

[Jonurseful]

Simplicity brings happiness into a larger dimension... You don't have to smile, it's always a gift arising out of the ashes of a previous conditioned happiness to receive into, and reach out with until we find ourselves in all events, people, places, happy to be one. Doesn't need to be complicated, or even mentioned, one can even smile within and not be seen, unless shared outwardly as a gift to give others.

[TheKabbalah]

you are right It runs out true.

happiness is endless along side the energy.

And you would not feel a little sad if you even watched some one die in front of your face.

if you saw in spectrum.

You can see the energy absorb into your skin and feel there bliss of becoming an all.

and you can not reach this with well lets say bad vibes lol.

and you share there past.

I call this passing it on or as most say reincarnation.

[aloozer]

how about any pointers for dealing with fear and lack of confidence in myself and depression? thanks.

[GeraldP1983]

Sending you a message on this! :]

[M0US3P0T4TO]

How does Buddhism deal with unhappiness that stems from some prior abuse that has been suffered? How does one who wishes to practice Buddhism and be mindful and happy go about discrediting that past traumatic experience so that they can move on?

[GeraldP1983]

Sorry for delayed reply on your last message, going to get back to you soon! :D

[RastafariPoet]

John Lennon - Working Class Hero Lyrics

[bluesgurugod]

While I agree that happiness is a state of mind and that we need to feel happy within ourselves there are so many everyday occurrences that can effect it (health, relationships, love, occupation, society, war, famine, capitalism etc...). We can't live in a bubble where these things wont affect us - try as you might. Thus I believe that you need focus more on personal contentment within the limited sphere of your abilities and possibilities. Oh I could delve much deeper but youtube limits space..

[Dust88O]

i have been trying for years to be happy with myself, only to realize i dont know how to do it. i try meditation, yoga, exorcising to relieve all my anxiety and stress. but i cant seem to figure out how to be honestly comfortable with the type of person i am.

[GeraldP1983]

I'm so sorry to hear this! Is there any way I could help you?

[voitkuns]

don't ask... just help

[GeraldP1983]

While sitting/laying down close your eyes and consciously slow down your breath, you can try counting down slowly if that helps. Generate a feeling of happiness, if you can't do this, smile, even if you don't feel it at that moment. Smile and try to generate a happy feeling, like if you saw a really good friend. Now that you have that feeling focus on it, focus on your smile, think "I am happy", do this 3 - 4 times a day for at least 2 - 3 minutes. This will help.

[darrylduke]

I believe everyone wants to be happy in life. The trick however, is to learn to love ourselves enough to also be happy with who we are. This can be done by growing both spiritually and as a person. It took me several years to grow in those two areas and no amount of wealth or material things can replace what I have today, which is true happiness.

[krittmasta]

Good Vid! Encourage me to spread Buddhist teachings.

[Juanster23]

very insightful... great video!

[GeraldP1983]

Thanks so much! :]

[Aubroadway]

Happiness is an emotion we have when we feel content, whether we eat chocalate or spend time with a loved one. Its important to be happy about as many things as you can especially your own concessness and life experiences on our planet.

[BuddhaNoMind]

......It's David Blaine!

[EvoinOZ]

BTW,. I've been subscribed to you for quite a while but never got around to watching your vlogs. I am just catching up now. Some are excellent.

Keep up the good, clear thinking , mate.

cheers:)

[EvoinOZ]

In my view, happiness should not be the final goal. As you have expressed, it is ultimately illusory; transient; dependent upon attachments. Non dualist thinker Jed Mckenna declares "happiness is for children, there is a whole 'nother level". I'm inclined to agree.

Personally I prefer something like the goal of the ancient Greek thinkers, the Epicureans. (cont)T

[EvoinOZ]

They and Pyrrho had a word "Ataraxia" - briefly defined as a state of freedom from emotional disturbance and anxiety; wise tranquillity.

[talentguynyc]

very well said

[ptuli500]

Awesome!! Thank you for posting - In Dharma

[perrofrio]

Nice vid.

[GeraldP1983]

Yes!

[11moonelf]

very well said! thanks for sharing this with us. (o:

[thefrostflyer]

GeraldP1983 If I may add, if true happiness where inherent in chocolate not only would it be all we need to make us happy but we would all agree that chocolate was delicious. This is proof that there is no inherent happiness in any thing. If an object inherently possessed any ability to cause happiness or suffering than every one would experience the same happiness or suffering from that object. True and permanent happiness is the result of realizing the empty nature of all things.

[GeraldP1983]

Yes!

[luckylangerie]

Hell is other people

[GeraldP1983]

This is completely dependent on how you decide to relate to them! :)

[luckylangerie]

True : )

[SOCRATES012]

NEWS FLASH FOLKS!

nothing really matters

Have a nice day! ;)

[NoPainNoGain200]

How can we know happiness if we have never really suffered?

[MaBu888]

Have you really suffered?

[GeraldP1983]

Yes exactly! We need that contrast!

[vipassanut]

@NoPainNoGain200 True happiness does not rely on comparison and when the truth is experienced the happiness, peace and contentment one comes to realize is not emotions on body but simply a knowledge that you are home......

[raeann105]

If this is true, then what is stopping us from taking drugs that we know will make us happy even if it isn't from the internal, i.e. drugs for depression, marijuana, the "somas" of today's society?

[DharmaDaniel]

reann105, the thing is sometimes drugs can be good. Specifically for those that may absolutely need them.

However, drugs that simply give us blissful feelings lead us to being irresponsible and in the grip of vice rather than freed.

[MaBu888]

The fact is, with or without these drugs, there is both a self and other imposed conditioning that sees fit the perpetuation of suffering through mistaken identity with objects, people, relationships, and and mere concepts of self, as opposed to an integral existence in which negativity isn't denied, but integrated and transmuted.

[Trizdizzle]

wow for the past few weeks I have been trying this and I have to say that it works! Thank you so much for sharing all of your knowledge!

[yogi21thebear]

Some really good points for me to think about, thank you brother.

[seigneurvoland666]

how do you know happiness if youve never suffered?

[GeraldP1983]

Absolutely! We need that contrast!

[soulfetcher]

Great to see another thoughtful vid from you Gerald :)

Maybe contentment (true happiness) is the default condition, the ground state as it were. It's what remains as dukkha (discontentment) fades.

Maybe that's why the buddha attacked the problem of happiness by removing suffering (4 noble truths).

It seems that when I strive to grasp conventional happiness I find it is illusory, and turns to suffering because nothing lasts (anicca).

More me, more suffering - Less me, more happiness...

[GeraldP1983]

Yes, exactly!

[HaleyMary]

I've found that to be the case in society, in how achieving happiness is taught. It always seems to be taught in a way to obtain something, but true happiness should come from within. I don't think people can truly love another until they love themselves. I like your example of the chocolate, I think it's true that too much of something can sometimes be a bad thing. I guess it's like everything else in life, all things in moderation. :)

[Irenefloridia]

what make you truly happy, Gerald?

[GeraldP1983]

Virtue! :)

[isforbliss]

where are the smiles sir?please make a smiley video. i will appreciate it. id othink this is a great video because it speaks to peoples mindy-minds smiley smiles go for miles

[voitkuns]

happy happy joy joy happy happy joy