What Happiness Is and How to Find It

Mingyur Rinpoche defines happiness as an experience of being calm, peaceful, joyful and clear. He notes that people differ widely in what they think will bring it, using the example of chili, which delights some people and upsets others. Happiness sought in outside circumstances, he says, goes up and down like the stock market, and he cites research that the lift from winning the lottery or marrying fades after a few years.

He says the best happiness is found within and names two means of developing it: wisdom, which is knowing the nature of oneself and of phenomena, and method, meaning skilful means, love and compassion, with meditation as a help. A short talk to camera in English.