Perhaps one of the eternal questions for each of us to ask ourselves is “How do I maximize my personal happiness”.

What makes you happy?

As I have stated before (in slightly different wording) one constraint to your search for maximum pleasure (assuming that makes you happy) is the caveat that what you need cannot impinge on or detract from the pleasure of others.

Also to clarify, if, for example,  you require pain to achieve a state of feeling happy satisfaction (i.e., pleasure) that’s okay.  For some, pain can enhance pleasure, as long as it does not detract from others pleasure, then by all means proceed.

Thinking about happiness!

I have recently had a couple of discussions about Buddhism.  There are a number of different views within the various schools of Buddhism.  My discussions focused on the Mahayana school (most common in Japan) or “Pure Land Buddhism”  which views the afterlife (at least in part) as a ‘heaven-like’ place that is free from fear, want, or sadness.  This ultimately leads to nirvana.

This got me wondering, why could I not make my own earthly life heaven like.   The emotions of fear, want, and sadness are mine to control so I should be able to manage and control them to meet my personal need.

I can control my fear, want and sadness such that I only experience levels and types of these emotions commensurate with my personal happiness goals.

Self Awareness/ Self Control

Through effective exercise of self control, coupled with a strong level of self awareness as to what makes me happy (i.e., what my heaven looks like) maybe I don’t need to wait for the afterlife.