Sukha — Happiness

This is part 10 of a course going through the similes and metaphors of the Buddha. Course home 1: Introduction to Imagery in the EBTs2: Taṇhā — Craving3: Rāga — Passion4: Vyāpāda — Hatred and Aversion5: Thīnamiddha — Sloth and Torpor6: Uddhaccakukkuca — Restlessness and Worry7: Vicikicchā — Doubt8: Vedanā — Feelings9: Vedanānupassanā — Investigating Feelings10: Sukha — Happiness11: Upekkhā — Equanimity12: Yathābhūtañāṇadassana — Knowledge and Vision of the Way Things Are13: Vimutti — Liberation14: Upādāna – Grasping15: Sakkāyadiṭṭhi - Self View16: Sammādiṭṭhi - Right View17: Saṅkhāra — Activity18: Vitakka — Thought19: Yoniso Manasikāra — Wise Attention20: Vipassanā — Insight21: Samatha & Vipassanā — Tranquility & Insight22: Samādhi — Immersion23: Viveka — Seclusion24: Vossagga — Letting Go25: Suññatā — Emptiness26: Conclusion

Illustration by Ayya Vimalayani aka "Ven Yodha"

Happiness can result from our efforts, but is double-sided: there is a danger that the ordinary person remains ignorant of, yet higher (spiritual) happiness should still be pursued. When the noble disciple sees the danger and its escape, then they really can rest easy and unconcerned.

Textbook

Read Chapter 9 of:

From Craving to Liberation: Excursions into the Thought-world of the Pāli Discourses Volume 1 – Bhikkhu Anālayo (.pdf)

Suttas

SN 36.31: Spiritual (.pdf)

MN 12: Māhasīhanāda Sutta (The Greater Discourse on the Lion’s Roar) (.pdf)

SN 56.48: A Yoke With a Hole (2)

MN 8: Sallekha (Effacement) (.pdf)

Similes

Hecker similes: 1, 22, 27 and 51.

Reflections

How is the complex (dual) nature of happiness reflected rhetorically in these suttas?

Continue to Part 11, Upekkhā — Equanimity

...or go back to part 9