Can you define ‘happiness’ from a Buddhist perspective please.

In Buddhism, the concept of happiness is often understood in the context of the broader understanding of well-being and the alleviation of suffering. Here’s a definition of happiness from a Buddhist perspective:

Happiness, in Buddhism, refers to a state of well-being, contentment, and genuine satisfaction that arises from the cultivation of wholesome qualities and the cessation of suffering. It is not merely a fleeting feeling of pleasure or the pursuit of sensory gratification but a deeper and more profound sense of fulfillment.

Key points about happiness in Buddhism include:

1. Absence of Suffering: Happiness in Buddhism is closely linked to the absence of suffering (dukkha). It is not merely the pursuit of pleasurable experiences or the attainment of material possessions but a state that arises when suffering is transcended.
2. Inner Qualities: True happiness is considered an inner state that arises from the cultivation of virtuous qualities, such as mindfulness, compassion, wisdom, and ethical conduct. It involves developing positive mental states and overcoming negative mental states, leading to a sense of well-being.
3. Non-Attachment: Buddhist happiness is not dependent on external conditions or the fulfillment of desires. It involves cultivating a sense of non-attachment and reducing clinging and craving, recognizing the impermanence and insubstantiality of worldly phenomena.
4. Equanimity and Balance: Happiness in Buddhism is characterized by a sense of equanimity and balance. It is not subject to extreme emotional highs or lows but a stable and serene state of contentment and well-being.
5. Ultimate Happiness: Buddhism teaches that ultimate happiness, known as Nibbana (Nirvana), is the highest goal. It is a state of complete liberation from the cycle of birth, death, and suffering. Attaining Nibbana is seen as the ultimate realization of true and lasting happiness.

In summary, happiness in Buddhism goes beyond superficial pleasure and external conditions. It is an inner state of well-being that arises from the cultivation of wholesome qualities, the absence of suffering, and the transcendence of attachment and craving. It is a profound sense of contentment and fulfillment that can be realized through the practice of the Buddhist path.