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Beyond Happiness
Many books have been published in recent years on happiness. Ezra Bayda, a remarkably down-to-earth Zen teacher, believes that the happiness "boom" has been largely a bust for listeners. Why? Because it's precisely the pursuit of happiness that keeps us trapped in cycles of dissatisfaction and suffering. In Beyond Happiness , Bayda draws on Zen teachings to question our conventional notions about what happiness is and where we can find it. Most of us seek happiness in things that are external to us. We imagine that getting more money, a better relationship, or going on a nice vacation will finally make us happy. But Bayda shows us that the deepest and most lasting form of happiness does not rely on external circumstance at all. Bayda offers Zen insights and practices that point listeners toward the true sources of lasting mindfulness, compassion, gratitude, and generosity.
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First published January 1, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
March 28, 2019
For some reason this book just didn't grab me like I hoped it would. It gave a lot of ideas on how to calm yourself in times of stress (breath slow, take one thing at a time, etc., etc.). I didn't really learn anything new, and the audible narration wasn't as engaging as I would have liked. It was okay.
February 7, 2011
Ezra Bayda is the most down to earth Buddhist teacher for most of us. He always has Zen in his titles, yet he preaches and teaches no legacy or inner puzzles, just straight talk. His books have helped me and those I love many times...my whole family reads them...Being Zen, At Home in Muddy Water, Zen Heart. This new one is not startling but affirming of his earlier works. It's quiet and right on. He uses examples from life experience well, lays out a plan that one can actually put into practice, not in a monestary but right at home in your life. Here, it's about how we misconstrue happiness and actually block it from our lives. We overthink it and separate it from our body's real felt responses. We can fix that, not by not thinking but by asking the right questions....what's blocking me and how can I move towards it.(Am I happy right now? What blocks happiness? Can I surrender to what is?). Bayda gives us a mindful practice that we can use. May we all be filled with lovingkindness.
August 5, 2015
I loved this and tore right through it. I've been on the 'happiness' bandwagon over the last couple years and Bayda really digs into what blocks our happiness and how to remove those blocks. It's a quick read too. I also like that he feels we're not entitled to happiness. Our expectations for a happy life result in this feeling of entitlement, thus disappointment.
Read this!!
Read this!!
February 27, 2023
الاستحقاق والأوهام
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ما هو مصدر هذا الاستحقاق؟ إنه يأتي من الأنا ، العقل الصغير الذي يحاول التحكم في عالمه ، يحاول أن يعيش الحياة بشروطه الخاصة. نعلم جميعًا أفضل أغنية للموسيقى التصويرية الصامتة للأنا - "إذا قمت بذلك ، فسوف أشعر بتحسن." إن رؤية نسختنا الخاصة من هذا جزء من عملية الاستيقاظ. مرة أخرى ، جوهر هذا الاستحقاق هو افتراض أننا نستطيع أن نعيش الحياة بالطريقة التي نريدها. لكن هذا لن يؤدي إلا إلى خيبة الأمل. لماذا؟ لأنه بغض النظر عما نفعله ، لا توجد طريقة يمكننا من خلالها ضمان حياة خالية من المشاكل.
جنبًا إلى جنب مع إحساسنا بالاستحقاق ، غالبًا ما نعيش مع العديد من الأوهام حول أنفسنا وحول الكيفية التي يفترض أن تكون عليها الحياة. على سبيل المثال ، قد نحب أن نقرأ ونتحدث عن الممارسة الروحية ، وقد نعتبر أنفسنا مؤمنين ، فقط نريد أن نعيش حياة جيدة ونساعد الآخرين. لكن قدرتنا على خداع أنفسنا تكون أحيانًا رائعة جدًا. في الرغبة برؤية أنفسنا على أننا نهتم برفاهية الآخرين ، قد نتجاهل تمامًا تمركزنا حول الذات. ومع ذلك ، سنصل عاجلاً أم آجلاً إلى المكان الذي يتطلب جهودًا حقيقية - بخلاف القراءة والتحدث - وقد نرى مدى عدم استعدادنا لدفع ثمن الممارسة.
كان هناك رجل يعتقد أنه يريد تحسين الإنسانية. عندما كان يقرأ الصحف أو يستمع إلى الأخبار ، كان يشعر بالاكتئاب بسبب المعاناة في العالم ، لكنه لم يكن يعرف من أين يبدأ. ومع ذلك ، كان يعتقد اعتقادًا راسخًا أن هذا هو هدف حياته. في أحد الأيام عندما كان خارجًا للتسوق ، دخل متجرًا وفوجئ عندما وجد بوذا يقف خلف المنضدة. كان متأكدًا من أنه كان بوذا ، ولكن للتأكد فقط سأله ، "معذرة ، هل أنت بوذا؟" أجاب بوذا ، "نعم ، هذا هو متجري. نبيع أي شيء تريده. ماذا تريد؟" أجاب الرجل: لا أعلم. ثم قال بوذا ، "لا تتردد في النظر حولك ، وقم بعمل قائمة بكل ما تراه وتريده ، ثم عد وأخبرني."
سار الرجل ذهابًا وإيابًا في الممرات ، وهو ينظر إلى ما هو متاح في هذا المتجر غير العادي: الهواء النقي ، ونهاية الحرب ، والتعاون السلمي بين البلدان ، والقضاء على التحيز العنصري والجنساني ، والطيبة ، والتسامح ، وما إلى ذلك. قام بعمل قائمة طويلة بكل ما يريده ثم عاد ليعطي بوذا قائمته. نظر إليها بوذا وابتسم ، ثم ذهب إلى أسفل المنضدة والتقط مجموعة من الحزم الصغيرة. سأل الرجل: ما هؤلاء؟ أجاب بوذا ، "هذه عبوات بذور" قال الرجل ، "ولكن ماذا عن كل الأشياء التي أريدها حقًا؟" ابتسم بوذا مرة أخرى وقال ، "هذه هي الأشياء التي طلبتها ، في شكل بذرة. يمكنك زراعتها. أنت تزرعها وترعى نموها ، ويحصد شخص آخر الفوائد ". قال الرجل: "أوه ، في هذه الحالة لا أريد شيئا" وغادر المحل دون شراء أي شيء.
جزء من الطريق نحو السعادة الحقيقية هو التعرف على المكان الذي نعيش فيه وتمييزه عن الأوهام ، خاصة فيما يتعلق بأنفسنا. أن نكون صادقين مع أنفسنا يعني الاعتراف بالمكان الذي نحتفظ فيه بالصور الزائفة لمن نحن. تمامًا مثل إحساسنا بالاستحقاق ، الذي يتطلب أن تكون الحياة مختلفة عما هي عليه ، فإن صورنا الذاتية الزائفة تنكر أيضًا الواقع. لكن مواجهة ما هو ، كما هو ، هي خطوة مباشرة نحو الواقع الأعمق الذي نطمح إليه. أتيحت للرجل في هذه القصة الفرصة للنظر بشكل صحيح في مرآة الواقع ، وأن يرى بوضوح عدم رغبته في دفع ثمن حياة خدمة الآخرين ، لذا فإنه لن يظل عالقًا في الاضطرار إلى الحفاظ على نموذج كاذب. تنفتح إمكانية حياة أكثر واقعية ، حياة تزداد فيها السعادة ، عندما ننظر بصدق إلى معتقداتنا الراسخة بعمق ، وخاصة استحقاقاتنا وأوهامنا.
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Ezra Bayda
Beyond Happiness
Translated By #Maher_Razouk
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ما هو مصدر هذا الاستحقاق؟ إنه يأتي من الأنا ، العقل الصغير الذي يحاول التحكم في عالمه ، يحاول أن يعيش الحياة بشروطه الخاصة. نعلم جميعًا أفضل أغنية للموسيقى التصويرية الصامتة للأنا - "إذا قمت بذلك ، فسوف أشعر بتحسن." إن رؤية نسختنا الخاصة من هذا جزء من عملية الاستيقاظ. مرة أخرى ، جوهر هذا الاستحقاق هو افتراض أننا نستطيع أن نعيش الحياة بالطريقة التي نريدها. لكن هذا لن يؤدي إلا إلى خيبة الأمل. لماذا؟ لأنه بغض النظر عما نفعله ، لا توجد طريقة يمكننا من خلالها ضمان حياة خالية من المشاكل.
جنبًا إلى جنب مع إحساسنا بالاستحقاق ، غالبًا ما نعيش مع العديد من الأوهام حول أنفسنا وحول الكيفية التي يفترض أن تكون عليها الحياة. على سبيل المثال ، قد نحب أن نقرأ ونتحدث عن الممارسة الروحية ، وقد نعتبر أنفسنا مؤمنين ، فقط نريد أن نعيش حياة جيدة ونساعد الآخرين. لكن قدرتنا على خداع أنفسنا تكون أحيانًا رائعة جدًا. في الرغبة برؤية أنفسنا على أننا نهتم برفاهية الآخرين ، قد نتجاهل تمامًا تمركزنا حول الذات. ومع ذلك ، سنصل عاجلاً أم آجلاً إلى المكان الذي يتطلب جهودًا حقيقية - بخلاف القراءة والتحدث - وقد نرى مدى عدم استعدادنا لدفع ثمن الممارسة.
كان هناك رجل يعتقد أنه يريد تحسين الإنسانية. عندما كان يقرأ الصحف أو يستمع إلى الأخبار ، كان يشعر بالاكتئاب بسبب المعاناة في العالم ، لكنه لم يكن يعرف من أين يبدأ. ومع ذلك ، كان يعتقد اعتقادًا راسخًا أن هذا هو هدف حياته. في أحد الأيام عندما كان خارجًا للتسوق ، دخل متجرًا وفوجئ عندما وجد بوذا يقف خلف المنضدة. كان متأكدًا من أنه كان بوذا ، ولكن للتأكد فقط سأله ، "معذرة ، هل أنت بوذا؟" أجاب بوذا ، "نعم ، هذا هو متجري. نبيع أي شيء تريده. ماذا تريد؟" أجاب الرجل: لا أعلم. ثم قال بوذا ، "لا تتردد في النظر حولك ، وقم بعمل قائمة بكل ما تراه وتريده ، ثم عد وأخبرني."
سار الرجل ذهابًا وإيابًا في الممرات ، وهو ينظر إلى ما هو متاح في هذا المتجر غير العادي: الهواء النقي ، ونهاية الحرب ، والتعاون السلمي بين البلدان ، والقضاء على التحيز العنصري والجنساني ، والطيبة ، والتسامح ، وما إلى ذلك. قام بعمل قائمة طويلة بكل ما يريده ثم عاد ليعطي بوذا قائمته. نظر إليها بوذا وابتسم ، ثم ذهب إلى أسفل المنضدة والتقط مجموعة من الحزم الصغيرة. سأل الرجل: ما هؤلاء؟ أجاب بوذا ، "هذه عبوات بذور" قال الرجل ، "ولكن ماذا عن كل الأشياء التي أريدها حقًا؟" ابتسم بوذا مرة أخرى وقال ، "هذه هي الأشياء التي طلبتها ، في شكل بذرة. يمكنك زراعتها. أنت تزرعها وترعى نموها ، ويحصد شخص آخر الفوائد ". قال الرجل: "أوه ، في هذه الحالة لا أريد شيئا" وغادر المحل دون شراء أي شيء.
جزء من الطريق نحو السعادة الحقيقية هو التعرف على المكان الذي نعيش فيه وتمييزه عن الأوهام ، خاصة فيما يتعلق بأنفسنا. أن نكون صادقين مع أنفسنا يعني الاعتراف بالمكان الذي نحتفظ فيه بالصور الزائفة لمن نحن. تمامًا مثل إحساسنا بالاستحقاق ، الذي يتطلب أن تكون الحياة مختلفة عما هي عليه ، فإن صورنا الذاتية الزائفة تنكر أيضًا الواقع. لكن مواجهة ما هو ، كما هو ، هي خطوة مباشرة نحو الواقع الأعمق الذي نطمح إليه. أتيحت للرجل في هذه القصة الفرصة للنظر بشكل صحيح في مرآة الواقع ، وأن يرى بوضوح عدم رغبته في دفع ثمن حياة خدمة الآخرين ، لذا فإنه لن يظل عالقًا في الاضطرار إلى الحفاظ على نموذج كاذب. تنفتح إمكانية حياة أكثر واقعية ، حياة تزداد فيها السعادة ، عندما ننظر بصدق إلى معتقداتنا الراسخة بعمق ، وخاصة استحقاقاتنا وأوهامنا.
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Ezra Bayda
Beyond Happiness
Translated By #Maher_Razouk
November 30, 2020
A really good Zen book, and a serviceable self-help depression book from a dude who spent his time in the trenches. He's actually funny, too, which you usually don't encounter with people who go all in on spirituality. Although depressos are usually pretty funny. Comes with the trauma! Excellent book if you're interested in Zen or not being a sadsack.
June 15, 2017
I found this book very powerful through it's simplicity and directness. I particularly enjoyed the parts where Ezra is exploring "the myth of happiness" and the difference between "personal happiness" and the joy arising from our most natural state of being. If you are looking for a heavy book full of complex theory, abstract spiritual philosophizing and/or the history of Zen this book is likely to disappoint you. If you are looking for an easy to digest and direct approach to become more present and happy in your life RIGHT NOW then I think this book may hit the spot.
Just in case your curiosity isn't sufficiently sparked yet I'll leave you with this (incomplete) quote from the book:
"Personal happiness is based on a myth: the myth tells us that we'll be happy if we...."
Just in case your curiosity isn't sufficiently sparked yet I'll leave you with this (incomplete) quote from the book:
"Personal happiness is based on a myth: the myth tells us that we'll be happy if we...."
November 28, 2020
Extremely touching 🤍🤍🤍
March 29, 2023
sooo so amazing and helpful to change your perspective on happiness vs. contentment, not making yourself miserable by staying stuck in your mind, and becoming more aware of how your thoughts influence your mood
March 9, 2018
Interesting.
June 25, 2017
3.5 stars Beyond Happiness: The Zen Way to True Contentment discusses how one can be truly happy in the present moment through the lens of Zen Buddhism. Most of my experience with this idea of being happy in the present moment has either been through Shambala Buddhism ( Pema Chodron, etc.) or non-Buddhist ( Jon Kabat-Zinn, etc.) so I was interested to hear the Zen Buddhist take on the path to true contentment.
If you have read other books on how to be in the present moment and how that can lead to happiness, some of this material will be familiar to you. Bayda discusses how the pursuit of some thing, a promotion, a house, a partner, etc. as a means to happiness will leave us unsatisfied. This is a concept also discussed in several psychology books on happiness as well as non-Buddhist meditation books The Science of Mindfulness Meditation, so it is no longer unique to Buddhism or broader Eastern philosophy, but it does go against the "norm" of American culture, which encourages one to pursue things as a means to happiness. If you've read such things before, there will likely be nothing new for you; however, it was phrased and discussed in a slightly different terms, which provided another way for me to understand and incorporate this concept into the way I perceive the world.
The book is broken down into three parts: What Blocks Happiness, The Roots of Happiness, and Cultivating Happiness. Three of the four subsections: The Thinking Mind, Caught in Emotions, and Conditioned Behaviors, were topics I have read previously, but it was useful to hear them discussed here again. The first subtopic on Entitlement was interesting and new to me. Bayda addresses the idea that humans are not entitled to happiness, or much else, but it's this sense of entitlement that leads to unhappiness. The concept makes sense, but I had not much thought about it. As an American, I have very much felt I was entitled to happiness, which has often led to misery, but if instead, I had felt that happiness, and many other things in life, was a gift, then I may not have experienced said suffering. It is a concept I much pondered.
In part two, Bayda discusses the roots of happiness and again covers topics other books have covered as well; however, he also covers a topic I had not come across before, namely, the Three Questions practice, in which one asks oneself: Am I happy now? What blocks happiness? and Can I surrender to what is? The answers to these questions are not as easy to determine as they first appear and unfortunately, the examples Bayda gives are rather generic and without enough detail to be memorable or useful. The book would have been stronger, and received a higher rating, had better examples been provided as well as including a richer discussion on what to do when one cannot effectively answer said questions. It is likely that the second question, what blocks happiness will quite often be challenging to answer and it would have been useful to have a better sense of how to work through this lack of insight and understanding of oneself. I was left with understanding the importance of asking the third question, can I surrender to what is, but not entirely understanding the point of the first question or how to determine and answer to the second question. This is unfortunate as it was the most novel thing about this book.
In part three, Bayda discusses how to cultivate happiness and again, much of this has been covered in other books. The discussion of forgiveness was novel and it was the first time I came across a meditation on forgiveness. The practice of forgiveness seems to be a vital piece of finding contentment, yet it is overlooked in many other discussions of finding happiness. Bayda's discussion of forgiveness is effective, though I wish the forgiveness meditation had been written more like a meditation rather than a set of instructions. This was a strong chapter and one I recommend everyone read, especially if they have not come across forgiveness as a component to contentment.
Bayda discusses how using meditation, or other things, as a path to happiness will not lead to happiness. I did not enjoy his emphasis on this nor was it clear why setting a goal of seeking a path of happiness, contentment, and joy through meditation would in fact prevent meditation. I maybe reading more into this discussion than intended though as I do understand that only doing something for an end goal often leads to missing out on the enjoyment of the path to said goal. But I also see nothing wrong with taking up meditation to further a life of contentment. There was a disconnect there for me.
The other issue I took with this book is how dry and boring the writing was. Coupled with the quiet and monotone voice of the reader of the audiobook, it was hard to stay engaged with this book. It was actually hard to hear this book as it was much quieter than other books at the same volume level. It is not a book I recommend as an audiobook version for that reason.
Overall, this is a book which covers similar ground to other books on this topic; however, there are a few additions, the three questions and forgiveness, which make this book worth the read. The topics Bayda does cover that are in other books, he covers in a slightly different way, which can help a reader understand the topics in greater depth. This is a great book, and one I would recommend, for one just starting to explore this topic as it covers most everything in an easy to understand, and efficient manner. I do not recommend this book to people who are looking for an in-depth discussion of the path to happiness nor to those who have already read a lot of books on this subject, except the chapter on forgiveness and the three questions, which I do recommend to everyone interested in this topic. There are other, better, and more in-depth primers to this topic, but this is also a good entry if you are looking for a more quick overview.
The audiobook version is currently free through the Audible app on Audible Channel, You & Improved Audiobooks, if you are a Prime member or have an Audible membership. Due note, that it will not be permanently available for free, so check it out soon!
If you have read other books on how to be in the present moment and how that can lead to happiness, some of this material will be familiar to you. Bayda discusses how the pursuit of some thing, a promotion, a house, a partner, etc. as a means to happiness will leave us unsatisfied. This is a concept also discussed in several psychology books on happiness as well as non-Buddhist meditation books The Science of Mindfulness Meditation, so it is no longer unique to Buddhism or broader Eastern philosophy, but it does go against the "norm" of American culture, which encourages one to pursue things as a means to happiness. If you've read such things before, there will likely be nothing new for you; however, it was phrased and discussed in a slightly different terms, which provided another way for me to understand and incorporate this concept into the way I perceive the world.
The book is broken down into three parts: What Blocks Happiness, The Roots of Happiness, and Cultivating Happiness. Three of the four subsections: The Thinking Mind, Caught in Emotions, and Conditioned Behaviors, were topics I have read previously, but it was useful to hear them discussed here again. The first subtopic on Entitlement was interesting and new to me. Bayda addresses the idea that humans are not entitled to happiness, or much else, but it's this sense of entitlement that leads to unhappiness. The concept makes sense, but I had not much thought about it. As an American, I have very much felt I was entitled to happiness, which has often led to misery, but if instead, I had felt that happiness, and many other things in life, was a gift, then I may not have experienced said suffering. It is a concept I much pondered.
In part two, Bayda discusses the roots of happiness and again covers topics other books have covered as well; however, he also covers a topic I had not come across before, namely, the Three Questions practice, in which one asks oneself: Am I happy now? What blocks happiness? and Can I surrender to what is? The answers to these questions are not as easy to determine as they first appear and unfortunately, the examples Bayda gives are rather generic and without enough detail to be memorable or useful. The book would have been stronger, and received a higher rating, had better examples been provided as well as including a richer discussion on what to do when one cannot effectively answer said questions. It is likely that the second question, what blocks happiness will quite often be challenging to answer and it would have been useful to have a better sense of how to work through this lack of insight and understanding of oneself. I was left with understanding the importance of asking the third question, can I surrender to what is, but not entirely understanding the point of the first question or how to determine and answer to the second question. This is unfortunate as it was the most novel thing about this book.
In part three, Bayda discusses how to cultivate happiness and again, much of this has been covered in other books. The discussion of forgiveness was novel and it was the first time I came across a meditation on forgiveness. The practice of forgiveness seems to be a vital piece of finding contentment, yet it is overlooked in many other discussions of finding happiness. Bayda's discussion of forgiveness is effective, though I wish the forgiveness meditation had been written more like a meditation rather than a set of instructions. This was a strong chapter and one I recommend everyone read, especially if they have not come across forgiveness as a component to contentment.
Bayda discusses how using meditation, or other things, as a path to happiness will not lead to happiness. I did not enjoy his emphasis on this nor was it clear why setting a goal of seeking a path of happiness, contentment, and joy through meditation would in fact prevent meditation. I maybe reading more into this discussion than intended though as I do understand that only doing something for an end goal often leads to missing out on the enjoyment of the path to said goal. But I also see nothing wrong with taking up meditation to further a life of contentment. There was a disconnect there for me.
The other issue I took with this book is how dry and boring the writing was. Coupled with the quiet and monotone voice of the reader of the audiobook, it was hard to stay engaged with this book. It was actually hard to hear this book as it was much quieter than other books at the same volume level. It is not a book I recommend as an audiobook version for that reason.
Overall, this is a book which covers similar ground to other books on this topic; however, there are a few additions, the three questions and forgiveness, which make this book worth the read. The topics Bayda does cover that are in other books, he covers in a slightly different way, which can help a reader understand the topics in greater depth. This is a great book, and one I would recommend, for one just starting to explore this topic as it covers most everything in an easy to understand, and efficient manner. I do not recommend this book to people who are looking for an in-depth discussion of the path to happiness nor to those who have already read a lot of books on this subject, except the chapter on forgiveness and the three questions, which I do recommend to everyone interested in this topic. There are other, better, and more in-depth primers to this topic, but this is also a good entry if you are looking for a more quick overview.
The audiobook version is currently free through the Audible app on Audible Channel, You & Improved Audiobooks, if you are a Prime member or have an Audible membership. Due note, that it will not be permanently available for free, so check it out soon!
March 13, 2013
Had some good points, useful things to think about. Helpful in contextualizing mindfulness/bringing it into daily practice, but not an amazing book. Not quite sure what I am looking for in such books, feels more like the type of thing I'll know when I see it or perhaps I am putting too many expectations in books for something that takes much time to cultivate/bring into practice in ones own life. Not sure, but lots to think about.
November 18, 2011
"Is it timely?" "Is it neccessary?" "Is it kind?" Ever since I read Ezra Bayda's book in reflection of the Buddha's words, I have been haunted with the beauty of such a clearing house. If the purpose of life IS, as he says, to awaken to who we really are then reflections and exercises in Beyond Happiness are a godsend. I'll make this a part of my permanent library.
January 24, 2015
Three and a half stars. I got some good stuff out of it, but a lot of it was kind of repetitious too. I don't know, I just didn't totally connect with the writer or his style. It was okay. You might like it better than I did.
November 20, 2020
Sometimes, with a book that purports to offer a solution to an urgent and painful difficulty, there is a temptation to wish that the book could be summarized in a simple handout or a flyer or a workshop (or a book review...). But it wouldn't make sense to do that with Beyond Happiness. This is not the kind of self-help book where there's a recipe or a formula that can be transmitted relatively easily and then the rest of the book is padding.
I was given this book by a friend who was concerned about my ongoing difficulties with depression. I resented the gift, because my depressed assumption was that people loving me and showing concern for me will only make things worse, and that reading books is futile. (I'm Christian-leaning, so am very disillusioned with any narrative that runs like "here, read this book, it will fix you"). I initially wanted to read the book quickly and get it over with. But Bayda's sincerity and depth got past my prickly-reader attitude. Soon I found myself wrestling with the book. I finished it, but I wasn't "done" with it. I'm still finding the contents of the book newly relevant to my life in the midst of the current isolation and disruption to everyday life.
It's not an easy book to summarize. At the heart of it is the exhortation to pose three questions to ourselves: Am I truly happy right now? What blocks happiness? Can I surrender to what is? Bayda engages in a lot of exploration and excavation to help us understand the value of the questions and the context for answering them. (This book has a lot of productive overlap with Brene Brown's Rising Strong.) I recommend sitting with it and being prepared to digest it slowly. One thing Bayda is good at is making a very countercultural push for us to slow down and take the time to sit with the discomforts of being alive. So it's good to read the book in that spirit.
I was given this book by a friend who was concerned about my ongoing difficulties with depression. I resented the gift, because my depressed assumption was that people loving me and showing concern for me will only make things worse, and that reading books is futile. (I'm Christian-leaning, so am very disillusioned with any narrative that runs like "here, read this book, it will fix you"). I initially wanted to read the book quickly and get it over with. But Bayda's sincerity and depth got past my prickly-reader attitude. Soon I found myself wrestling with the book. I finished it, but I wasn't "done" with it. I'm still finding the contents of the book newly relevant to my life in the midst of the current isolation and disruption to everyday life.
It's not an easy book to summarize. At the heart of it is the exhortation to pose three questions to ourselves: Am I truly happy right now? What blocks happiness? Can I surrender to what is? Bayda engages in a lot of exploration and excavation to help us understand the value of the questions and the context for answering them. (This book has a lot of productive overlap with Brene Brown's Rising Strong.) I recommend sitting with it and being prepared to digest it slowly. One thing Bayda is good at is making a very countercultural push for us to slow down and take the time to sit with the discomforts of being alive. So it's good to read the book in that spirit.
July 19, 2021
Beyond Happines is a systematic treatment of a path to happiness beyond personal happiness. While the author, a Zen teacher, presents this as the "Zen Way," the word Zen is almost absent from the book, as is the word Buddhism. Yet, the teaching is true to Zen, applying the practical psychology inherent in Zen as a practice that does not seek escape in some higher state of consciousness or relationship with a deity, but leads one to realize the natural kindness of the heart in life, a lovingness inherent within the self but often blocked by our hankering to have life be as we want it to be.
I would have appreciated the author differentiating happiness from the more profound experience of what some call joy, others bliss. Happiness is based on happenings, and this the author contests cannot be the ground of lasting, consistent happiness, for it is an expression of the self-seeking to find what is pleasing and reject what is displeasing. The addiction to pleasure provides, he says, temporary happiness as a fleeting state, but it cannot provide a stable happiness. The author rightly equates non-personal happiness with a deep contentment and with equanimity.
I appreciate someone taking the teachings of her or his spiritual path and applying it to a broad readership, inside and outside that path. Bayda succeeds in doing this.
I would have appreciated the author differentiating happiness from the more profound experience of what some call joy, others bliss. Happiness is based on happenings, and this the author contests cannot be the ground of lasting, consistent happiness, for it is an expression of the self-seeking to find what is pleasing and reject what is displeasing. The addiction to pleasure provides, he says, temporary happiness as a fleeting state, but it cannot provide a stable happiness. The author rightly equates non-personal happiness with a deep contentment and with equanimity.
I appreciate someone taking the teachings of her or his spiritual path and applying it to a broad readership, inside and outside that path. Bayda succeeds in doing this.
April 27, 2018
I actively make the effort to read each book that speaks on meditation and happiness, with a blank canvas. If we read several books on happiness, especially from a "zen" perspective then we would find ourselves saying, "Yes, we get it. We've heard it all before. Tell us something new!" Every author has their own anecdotes and metaphors when talking about finding happiness and peace in your life. When reading I try to approach every book as its own entity without bringing in too much of what I already know from previous books. Practicing what I have learned, I try to be present in that moment of reading, not dwelling on what I've heard before or what I think this author is going to say next.
This book was well written and I think Bayda had some great points and examples. He breaks down find peace and happiness in very simple terms and easily leads you to be a better understanding of the Buddhist way. I would pick this book up again whenever I needed a little reminder or inspiration.
This book was well written and I think Bayda had some great points and examples. He breaks down find peace and happiness in very simple terms and easily leads you to be a better understanding of the Buddhist way. I would pick this book up again whenever I needed a little reminder or inspiration.
August 6, 2025
I read it in one seating, which is not probably what the author intended, and I found the book pretty great . Then again, I do not know much about Zen Practices or Buddhism, so my opinion needs to be taken with a grain of salt.
I would definitely re-read it and annotate and truly stay with the words and wisdom the author was trying to impart. and I would definitely recommend it to people as it is very easy to read.
it reminded me a bit of the books " On the Shortness of Life" and " The Consolation of Philosophy."
I would definitely re-read it and annotate and truly stay with the words and wisdom the author was trying to impart. and I would definitely recommend it to people as it is very easy to read.
it reminded me a bit of the books " On the Shortness of Life" and " The Consolation of Philosophy."
August 16, 2021
This is a good practical guide to daily practices towards happiness from a Buddhist lens.
Key messages:
Don’t feel entitled. Stop thinking so much. Be present. Meditate. Be grateful. Be generous. Embrace negative thoughts and don’t repress them. Breathe. Give through work and relationships.
I agree with its prescriptions and the content was great but but it rang a bit hollow and didn’t leave a lasting impact.
Key messages:
Don’t feel entitled. Stop thinking so much. Be present. Meditate. Be grateful. Be generous. Embrace negative thoughts and don’t repress them. Breathe. Give through work and relationships.
I agree with its prescriptions and the content was great but but it rang a bit hollow and didn’t leave a lasting impact.
November 6, 2016
Simple, straightforward, and helpful. This is an easy read, too, though the writing style was a bit repetitive and dry. I'm going to need some time to digest some concepts, but I believe applying this little book will go a long way to addressing some huge obstacles to contentment and happiness in my own life.
August 12, 2017
This author has good things to say about dealing with stress and discontentment, and his approach is clear and thorough. I read it fairly slowly in order to derive the most benefit from it, and made some notes which I believe will continue to be helpful in the future. Not at all an arcane or spiritual argument but rather a highly relevant self-help guide for modern living.
February 2, 2019
Ezra Bayda's definition of happiness resonates with me:
"The deeper, more genuine experience of happiness is the natural state of our Being when we are not caught up in our self-centered thoughts and emotions."
And that's what this book is about, learning how to just be with our thoughts and emotions. It sounds so simple and is yet oh so hard to do. As Bayda explains it, inner contentment is not something we discover, so much as something we uncover beneath the layers of our struggles with feelings and perceptions.
Great and short read. I highly recommend it.
"The deeper, more genuine experience of happiness is the natural state of our Being when we are not caught up in our self-centered thoughts and emotions."
And that's what this book is about, learning how to just be with our thoughts and emotions. It sounds so simple and is yet oh so hard to do. As Bayda explains it, inner contentment is not something we discover, so much as something we uncover beneath the layers of our struggles with feelings and perceptions.
Great and short read. I highly recommend it.
May 22, 2021
Some very good points that I agree with, such as happiness is not meant to be chased but is a byproduct of living a life with awareness and intention. But I find the principles in this book more useful for situations where things are out of our control. In areas where we have a choice, the way to deal with situations in this book seems way too passive.
February 1, 2023
Forse un poco ripetitivo e poco innovativo rispetto agli altri dello stesso autore, rimane comunque una interessante lettura della felicità e della sua assenza, da applicare alla vita di tutti i giorni
October 20, 2023
A bullshit book.
It's funny how even Buddhist teachers are selling the happiness pill. Ezra's primary point, happiness being the natural state of humans, contradicts the basic tenet of Budhism which says that life is suffering.
It's funny how even Buddhist teachers are selling the happiness pill. Ezra's primary point, happiness being the natural state of humans, contradicts the basic tenet of Budhism which says that life is suffering.
January 5, 2025
I could connect with this book because I regularly practice meditation. It would have been different experience otherwise. The book unwinds zen meditation in the simplest possible way but it has to be accompanied by the practice in order to truly benefit from the author's work.
January 10, 2017
Its practical i liked the example and i listened to the book via audible , it was more to appreciate the happiness and contentment that i have in this life
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 10, 2017
It was okay, but was EXTREMELY repetitive.
August 4, 2017
Wonderful.
September 11, 2017
This is a well-written guide to facing your own happiness head-on and learning how best to achieve contentment. My perspective is definitely wider after this book. The recommendations are logical and rather easy to enact.
January 21, 2018
would give it 3.5 - some good points on gratitude and tips on meditation
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