Happiness means being good, and the benefits of being good are immense. Allow other people to be kind to you and it will make you happy. Happiness comes when we give without expecting anything in return, and it’s one of the first ways to develop in our lives. Happiness is found by letting go and learning how to meditate. Enlightenment is the ultimate happiness. Sleep well at night by remembering the good things you’ve done, rather than the bad. Keep the precepts of not hurting others and yourself. When we reach out for happiness, we usually end up getting disappointment, frustration, despair, and grief. Enlightenment is the highest form of happiness, and it’s achievable even if you’re not wealthy. You don’t have to wait until you retire to be happy. Just don’t do anything and you’ll get into deep meditation and eventually realize some of the teachings of Buddha. This is why meditation is not only the easiest thing to do, but the most fun thing to do.

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This dhamma talk was originally recorded using a low quality MP3 to save on file size on 26th July 2002. It has now been remastered and published by the Everyday Dhamma Network, and will be of interest to his many fans.

These talks by Ajahn Brahm have been recorded and made available for free distribution by the Buddhist Society of Western Australia. You can support the Buddhist Society of Western Australia by pledging your support via their Patreon page.