What is happiness

Happiness is nothing more than good health and a bad memory. - Albert Schweitzer

Far too many people these days think that happiness and success is wealth. And then far too many people will realize the truth many years later, and usually after they fell ill, broken relationships and/or gone broke due to business failure or bad investment choice. By then, it may be too late for some.

To be clinical, there are different types of happiness. Absolute or relative happiness. Relative happiness is short-term, like buying your long-waited latest model of iphone. This gives you an instant gratification that perhaps you didn't experience for quite a while.

Happy videos

Happy is the name of my dog. He is cute isn't it? ; )
Happy life 1 from kennethpeace on Vimeo.Happy Dinner Time! from kennethpeace on Vimeo.

 

Happy 2-month old

Peaks and Valleys by Dr Spencer Johnson

Another great book by Dr Spencer John, the guy who wrote 'Who moved my cheese'.

This time, he tells a story about life's ups and downs using the peaks and valleys analogy.

I especially like his way of teaching someone life's skill without telling someone.. instead thru storytelling craft.. ;-)

In a nutshell, it (my own interpretation) teaches us that during life's peaks, (i) Be Humble, (ii) Save resources for rainy days, (iii) Help others, (iv) Be nice.

And during valley days, (i) Stay vigilant, (ii) Reflect more, (iii) Prepare for upturn, (iv) Still Help Others, (v) still Be Nice! ;-)

Andrew Matthews life philosophies - join facebook group!

If u are a fan of Andrew Matthews life philosophies, do join this facebook group!

Absolute and relative happiness

Everyone has a unique mission that only he/she can to fulfill. Everytime I feel down or lost in my work, thinking of finding a new job, I would remind myself sensei's guidance:

"For those of you who have not yet decided your future course, please concentrate your energies on the things you need to accomplish right now. You will discover your path as you keep searching, chanting earnestly to find your direction, and seeking advice and guidance from those around you."

Also, there's a difference between relative happiness and absolute happiness. Relative happiness is the kind of joy we felt when we achieve something, like our goals, or when our desires are satisfied. For example, when I got a pay raise, bought a new dress, strike lottery, etc. These are relative happiness because they are short-term and we can easily fall into unhappiness the next moment.

As for absolute happines, it is the life state that is not affected by our environment or changing circumstances. It is about establishing a life state from within that has to confidence to overcome any problem or sufferings, having faith that by chanting, we will be able to manifest the wisdom and life force of our buddhahood to overcome them. Which means absolute happines = life state of buddhahood.

President Ikeda said:
"A strong person is happy. At the same time, strength is relative; it depends on the relationship between one's life force and the environment. If your life force is weak and frail, then even minor problems will cause you to fret and become overwhelmed, ending you in deadlock. This will only make you miserable…"

So we should always work towards achieving absolute happiness.

above, emailed to me by a good friend, SP.

These 4 thoughts a day keeps the mind happy always

i learned that if i practise these 4 thoughts on a daily basis, i achieved greater peace of mind and kept me centred throughout the day. So, i'm writing it here to remind myself of this important discovery..

1. Gratitude. Be thankful. Have a great sense of appreciation towards nature and your being at the present moment. Be grateful that we still have breathe and alive. Realise that we are considered much better than many others. Think about incidents which gives you a sense of gratitude. Recall them and also find opportunities to repay your gratitude. One kindness leads to another.

2. Loving. Be loving to your love ones. Focus on building relationships. Know that it takes years to build good relationship but only matters of seconds to lose one. So be sensitive to the needs of others. Think about your spouse or family members and how you can make a difference in their lives.

3. Caring. Like loving, we need to take action to show our care and concern for our love ones, friends and Nature. Have deep thoughts of those you truly care about, and ask yourself what you can do to demonstrate just that.

4. Humble. Let go of your ego. Let go of your pride. Like what people say - Pride is the downfall of mankind. That is true. Humbleness is the true resting place of peace. Think of those times you are truly humble. You will surely feel a sense of calmness & peace.

Think these 4 thoughts on a daily basis and i'm sure we all will have a happier, more peaceful day! ;-)

In contrast, what drives people these days?! - greed, ego & pride!

happy, sad and tired..

today, i feel happy coz my wife is happily baking her carrot cake.. coz someone offered to test it and see if they wanna place her cakes at their store in a condo!! ;-)

it's not the selling of cakes tat makes me happy. it's the happiness i see in my beloved wife that makes me feel happy. i'm just happy for her.

just as i feel happy, i feel tired. tired of the seeing people come and people go in my life. though i know change is a constant, i cant help feeling sad and tired of change some time.. and today is one of those times. tired is when u work hard and time just passes u by.. and u wondered if u have let life slip pass u and that u could have done something more meaningful.. perhaps as i grew older i tend to treasure life and relationships more.

while i feel sad and tired AND happy all at the same time, i feel a sense of reality.. perhaps that's life. tats what life is. ;-)

Oh.. seconds ago, i received an email from a friend Lilian.. she's pregnant! Congrats!! another happy news today ya!! ;-)

are u in control?

almost a daily affair, we complaint about this, we complaint about that.. sometimes, in fact most of the time, i feel tired of complaining.. but the problems are still there.. and i feel helpless.. making me unhappy.. So, is there hope? is there a way out?

Unconsciously, i seem to have the answer. Only i need to practise what already i know..

To overcome these situations, you simply need to ask a few questions and you have answer them honestly. First, ask yourself if you have control of the situation and the outcome. If the answer is yes, then it's easy. Focus on solving the problem! But in most cases, we dont have control. That's why we are feeling so frustrated!! Next, ask yourself if u have influence over the person who has control. If yes, then do it!! Otherwise, if u totally have no control or influence, then u just have to accept whatever that comes to u - good or bad. That's life. Face it with courage! If u really hate it, move on! Change place. Change job. Change friends. Change partner. Change yourself!! Take action!

in most cases, if u take the first actions, things start to happen..

Lastly, take heart that in life most things are not within our control. That's why it's important to recognise our own limitations as well as of others.

an empty life

"An empty life is a happy life"
- Kenneth Woo

Many may not realize that an empty life
is actually a happy life.
In order to appreciate this,
one must understand what emptiness is.
Emptiness is not nothingless.
Coz nothingless means non-existent.
Emptiness is not non-existent.
Either is it totally in existent.
It is both depending very much
of your perception.
Just think of a glass half full with water.
Some see it as half full while others see a half empty glass.
And one must understand that everything u see
are dependent of other entities.
You are not one but connected to this world.
Thus, there's no real self.
Just an illusion in your mind.
Everything is a reflection of your mind.
What your mind thinks may not be real
though it seems real to you at that moment.
Furthermore, nothing is static.
Everything is in motion - changes.
Since there's no real you or a self,
and everything changes,
it is therefore, empty to begin with.
Trying to fill this emptiness only brings pain
coz emptiness as it is -
is only an universal law of nature.
Happy life only begins with this understanding.