The creating and developing Buddhist happiness indicators according to the Buddha’s principle of teaching.
Keywords:
Buddhism, Happiness, Happiness Indicator, Social DevelopmentAbstract
The research on “the creating and developing Buddhist happiness indicators according to the Buddha’s principle of teaching” has 3 objectives, which are 1) to analyze the components and the indicators of happiness according to the principle of Buddhism; 2) to create and test the form for the measurement of people’s happiness according to the principle of Buddhism; 3) to present the pattern and the methods to enhance happiness according to Buddhist happiness indicators. This study is a mix research which combines the studies of documents, quality and quantity. The results of the study were as follows : According to the Buddhist point of view, human life would have to experience both happiness and suffering. Buddhism focused on the practice to reduce suffering, to understand the causes of suffering and to search for the real happiness. In Buddhist viewpoint, the happiness which depended on materials or the joy of erotic pleasure was not permanent and easy to change. Happiness was connected to the principle of life development which comprised physical pleasure, moral pleasure, emotional pleasure and intellectual pleasure. Therefore, the components and the indicators of happiness according to the principle of Buddhism were related to the 4 aspects of life development principle as mentioned before. A person must determine his role and duty accurately and righteously, and he must be responsible for his duty and his own action. Also, he must have morality and honesty as the foundation of life. When a person avoids evil things and does good things, he is sure to be blessed with happiness and is able to block the ways that lead to suffering; Therefore, the enhancement of happiness is related to the understanding of the way of emergence and embellishment of natural conditions and 4) Happiness is related to the development of mind and wisdom of individuals and societies which is in accordance with the principle of Buddhism based on the right mental attitude.
References
Ashok Chopra. Edited.Golden Cloud Silver Living Lessons From The Masters on Happiness& Longevity. Haryana India : Hey House India, 2012.
David G. Myers,The Secrets of Happiness. Psychology Today General Interest Magazine and Newspaper Articles7-8, 1992.
Haq, Mahbubul. Reflections on Human Development. New York: Oxford University Press.1995.
Hiemstra, R. Self-Advocacy and Self-Directed Learning: Potential Confluence for Enhanced Personal Empowerment.Rochester : New York. 1998.
HH Dalai Lama and Howard C. Cutler.The Art of Happiness A Handbook for Living.London NW1 UK. Printed and Bound, Euston,1998.
Ida BagusPutuSuamba. Cosmology and Cultural Ecology as Reflected in Borobudur Buddhist Temple.Journal of International Buddhist Studies Vol.3 Buddhist Research Institute MCU. 2013.
Johnstone, J.N. Indicators of Education Systems.London : Unesco.1981
Karma Ura and Karma Galay. Edited.Gross National Happiness and Development.Thimphu Bhutan, The Centre for Bhutan Studies, 2004.
Lusk Mark W. and Hoff,Marie D. National Sustainable Development. Strategy : NSDS 1994.
MatthiieuRicard. Happiness.Landon : Little Brown and Company, 2007.
MahbubulHaq. Reflections on Human Development. New York and Oxford : Oxford University Press, 1995.
Richard Peet with Elaine Hartwick.Theories of Development.TheGuilford Press: New York. 1999.
Sander G. Tideman.Gross National Happiness : Towards a New Paradigm in Economics.Thimphu Bhutan, The Centre for Bhutan Studies, 2004.
Sen, Amartya. The standard of living. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1978.
Suellen Donnelly. How Bhutan can Measure and Develop GNH.Thimphu :Bhutan,The Centre for Bhutan Studies, 2004.
Tracy Worcester.Operationalising in Gross National Happiness.Thimphu: Bhutan, The Centre for Bhutan Studies, 2004.
The Centre for Bhutan Studies.Rethinking Development. Proceeding of Second International Conference on Gross National Happiness,Thimphu Bhutan, Printed at PhamaPrinting & Publisher. 2007.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Human Development Report.NewYork : United Nations Development Program, 1998.