We've all heard the old adage: "No pain - no gain!" In the Buddha's time, they took that to the extreme and thought that to reach the highest gain, enlightenment, one would have to forgo all pleasure, and endure the most intense pain. Even the Bodhisatta fell into that trap and mortified his body with the most extreme ascetic practices.But when he had fasted himself close to death, he finally had the crucial insight: We only have to abondon sensual and unwholesome happiness. But wholesome happiness of generosity, virtue and samādhi is nothing to be feared.Spiritual happiness should be developed, and is the path to awakening.We can use happiness as a means to attain even more happiness.www.dhammagiri.org.auwww.facebook.com/dhammagiri-forest-hermitagewww.tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archivewww.vimeo.com/dhammatalks