Matthieu Ricard on the habits of happiness

Post originally written January 11, 2011.

A summer from Matthieu Ricardo’s TED Talk:

Everyone wants Happiness: No one wakes up in the morning and says “May I suffer.” Even the man who is about to hang himself is seeking happiness by ending his life.

Pleasure and Happiness: Pleasure is dependent on time, object, place — it changes with nature. For example, your first serving of chocolate is great, the second is nice and the third leads to disgust.

Well Being = Happiness: Deep sense serenity and fulfillment — a state that underlies all emotional states (joys, sorrows, etc.).Outer Conditions ≠ Well Being (or Happiness): Our control on the outside world is limited , temporary and illusory. We think if we can gather all he conditions to be happy, then we will be happy. To have everything to be happy dooms the destruction of happiness because if something is missing we will not be happy.

Mind Translates all Experiences: There are certain states of mind that flourish well-being (loving kindness, compassion, etc.) and others that don’t (anger, hatred, jealousy, arrogance, obsessive desire).

The Nature of Mind = Consciousness: Consciousness is like a mirror that allows all images to arise on it — everything good and bad can reflect on it but consciousness does not become good or bad.

Mind Training: Two mental factors cannot happen at the same time. You cannot in the same gesture want to hurt and help someone.