Happiness and How it Happens: Finding Contentment Through Mindfulness

by Happy Buddha (Contributor)

Happiness and How it Happens reveals how happiness—the state of being we all aspire to—is a natural state for us, and so is attainable for all. The Happy Buddha explores what happiness actually is and how we all can achieve it through the transformational practice of mindfulness meditation. Sharing personal and philosophical reflections, practical teachings, and enlightening insights into trust, compassion, radical self-acceptance, and the value of contentment, The Happy Buddha draws upon Buddhism, psychotherapy, and focusing (a method of listening to our intuitive wisdom) to reveal the true riches of wellbeing.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help

144 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2011

About the author

Not to be confused with The Happy Buddha.

Happy Buddha has had 26 years working with natural remedies. He has managed two health food stores and owned two businesses. He has written 12 books and booklets. He gives lectures and has had his own radio show on a religious radio station teaching natural remedies to the radio audience. His approach is straightforward. People tell him what works and he tells other people.

He has an M.B.A., is a certified herbalist, certified nutritional consultant, has a computer degree, a management degree, is a toastmaster, herbal wine maker (sometimes invents healing wines and beers), and world traveler.

From a metaphysical/spiritual point of view, he is a Certified Spiritual Healer, Reiki Master, and Egyptian Reiki Master. He does muscle testing and uses intuition to help achieve the best answers. His hobbies include golf (has owned two golf shops) and table tennis (high school, college champion, has played in the U.S. Open against the U.S. Champion, (but lost, darn it), and loves to garden and fish. He thanks God, Jesus, his family, friends and customers for everything.

Reviews

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like how this writer expresses things. It opened up some familiar ideas and made others more clear to me. I like thinking of happiness not as a thing in itself to be obtained, but a natural state of being that can only be revealed by letting go of unhappy thoughts and habits.

[Pierce P · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has some really good tips on meditation, mindfulness, and living in the present moment, but asserts a narrative about awareness that can feel demeaning at times. At many points in the book, the author discusses how the ‘I’ or ‘me’ in a person does not exist, and that people are simply awareness in bodies. While some people may agree with this, I found that this idea made me the opposite of what the book attempts to accomplish. This idea of I/me not existing made me feel unhappy as this narrative seems to diminish the individual experiences and thought patterns of myself and others.
Here’s something I wrote immediately after reading the passages where the authors discusses this: I feel like myself, & want to become more aware and happy as myself, but that doesn’t happen through denouncing who I am entirely.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found it very enjoyable and insightful. Will definitely read again anytime I need to refocus my priorities.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really got me thinking about all the things I struggle with and it highlighted the power of the stillness of meditation. Meditation isn’t about striving, but about being with what’s there, awakening your awareness and being present. A great read that advocates presence rather than living in the past or future.

Loved the stuff about letting go of ‘I’ or the ego - it really is this and the labels we put on ourselves and others that lead to judgements, poor communication, misunderstandings, even war. More compassion and less judgement, especially of things we don’t understand. We don’t need to understand them. Acceptance is so, so powerful.

[George Araman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great exercises and some great insights!

[Helix94! · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un bel libro utile per interroarsi su sé stessi e conoscersi meglio. Adatto per imparare a meditare e fare qualche passo verso la scoperta della felicità.

[Sujana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very pleasant read. For students, especially those who are studying abroad and are confused, this book will help you feel grounded. It is a little bit ironic to say that this book is going to help you because a lot of the things discussed here is about letting go of everything and supporting the stance of living a life where you do not need to be attached to materialistic things. So this book is a lot about disconnecting from habits that are deemed unimportant. It talks about the Self (ego), the prison, letting go, meditation, thinking, feelings and emotions, being kind to oneself, practicing compassion, and managing your thoughts and actions. The book is written very clearly and does not use very complex words, although the content might be slightly more complex, repetitive and sometimes annoying because everything in this book is entirely ABSTRACT. Still, I recommend this book and view it in a positive light.💡💜

[Angela ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book to be a really nice way of understanding yourself. It felt a little bit like a self help book and it was definitely a worthwhile read in my opinion

[Fancy ketchup · Rating 5 out of 5]

La felicidad es nuestro estado natural.
A lo largo de nuestra vida perdemos el contacto con nuestra esencia por creer que la felicidad es hacer , con cosas , son otras personas, es tener al final esto nos hace infelices.

Estoy agradecida de haberme leído este libro.
Lo tuve mucho tiempo en mis pendientes y lo dejé dos veces.

Este libro es la guía perfecta para quienes quieran encender de nuevo esa luz que sienten que esta apagada,
Para quienes recién empiezan a practicar la meditación o les llame la atención y quieran practicarla. Con este libro entenderás muchas cosas y te sorprenderás de todos los beneficios que trae la práctica de la consciencia plena.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meditation without the things you hate about meditation. Mindfulness cares about compassion and kindness, about letting go and not forcing you to change yourself. It doesn't punish you for having "bad feelings" nor obliges you to have good ones. And above all, it's for all and none religions. It's for everyone. I will try to do it from now on with help from the teachings of this book, a mobile app and the local mindful meditation group. And if I can't, I won't punish myself.

[Beatriz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recommender for those who wish to take up meditation .

Although repetitive at times, it delivers valuable insight into the practice of meditation to live a joyful life, through simple steps.

[Mary-Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Self-help book to accompany Mindfulness Meditation. I find this book assists me with living in the now. Be still...

[Corinne Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another of those books I would never have picked up if not urged to by a friend. This is actually a wonderfully written book on mindfulness and meditation. Lots of Western Buddhist wisdom in here.

[Bri Lu · Rating 3 out of 5]

"𝘓𝘢 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘵à 𝘯𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘢 𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘰 𝘥𝘪 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘪𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵à, 𝘣𝘦𝘯𝘴ì 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘭𝘢."

[Clayton Chase · Rating 4 out of 5]

Si te sientes desconectado con la vida es porque estás desconectado contigo mismo

[Ricky Antolini · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has really helped me. It explains meditation and happiness in a very gentle way. Truly wonderful and highly recommended to anyone, especially those who need support during rough times.