What is the highest happiness?

To me, attaining personal liberation and happiness is not my true bliss. I wish to see all people relieved of worries and suffering - that is my ultimate happiness.

- Meditation Master Jin Bodhi

对我来说，得到自我解脱和快乐并不是我的真正的快乐。我希望看到大家都脱离烦恼和痛苦 - 这才是我真正的快乐。

- 金菩提禅师

Commentary by Jerome:

Happiness has many definitions. Mundane people say the acquisition of material wealth (money, fame, status, job, power, etc) is happiness. Some say being contented is being happiness. Some say helping other people (donations, etc) is happiness.

Looking at these forms of happiness, they are only temporary and at best only help them in this life. True happiness is to help people rid themselves of suffering. All suffering arise from the mind. If we helps others learn the Dharma and rid themselves of this mental suffering, we help them not only in this life but also the lives ahead. This is the highest form of happiness.

More information available at:

1) Master Jin Bodhi Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/jinbodhiworld/

2) Official Bodhi Meditation Website

http://puti.org

http://putihome.org

Author:

Jerome is a Buddhist practitioner that has learnt from Theravada, Mahayana and Tibetan traditions and is still learning! He first learnt meditation and Dharma from Theravadan monks and practitioners in the lineage of the Arahant Venerable Amatha Gavesi Maha Thero from Sri Lankaramaya Buddhist temple in Singapore. Then, he completed a Diploma in Buddhism from the Buddhist and Pali College in 2016. He also learnt from Zen Master Wu Jue Miao Tian (85th Zen Patriach) from the LingJi lineage in Taiwan in 2014 - 2015.  Subsequently, he learnt from Garchen Rinpoche from the Drigar Thubten Dargye Ling tradition (Tibetan) and attended annual Om Mani Padme Hum and Om Ami Dewa Hrih retreats from 2015 till date. Currently, he is a disciple of Master Jin Bodhi (Mahayana) from Bodhi Meditation in Singapore and is an active volunteer there. Master Jin Bodhi is his main Dharma teacher. Jerome feels that Buddhism is not a religion but is a practical way to reduce our life's problems. The essence of Buddhism is not in the books or sutras but in the way we apply it into our lives. Having understood some aspects of Buddha's teaching, he wants to give back to the society and hopes to share his insights with everyone who has the affinity with him.