Buddhist Perspective on the Development of Social Welfare
by Ashin Indacara | 2011 | 61,386 words
This page relates 鈥楩our Kinds of Happiness in the Householder Life鈥� of the study on the Buddhist perspective on the development of Social Welfare, employing primarily the concepts of Utthana-sampada (persistent effort) and Arakkha-sampada (watchfulness). Based on the teachings of the Buddha in the Dighajanu Sutta and other canonical texts, this essay emphasizes the importance of effort, knowledge, and good karma in achieving social welfare.
Go directly to: Footnotes.
10. Four Kinds of Happiness in the Householder Life
The following teaching was given the merchant 础苍腻迟丑补辫颈峁囜笉颈办补. It is known simply as the four kinds of happiness for a householder.
It can be found in the 膧苍补峁噛补 Sutta of A峁単uttara Nik膩ya[1] as follow:鈥�
鈥淗ere, householder, these four kinds of happiness are appropriate for one who leads the household life enjoins the pleasures of the happiness. They are the happiness of ownership, the happiness of enjoinment, the happiness of freedom from debt, and the happiness of blameless.
1. The Happiness of Ownership (Atthisukha)
鈥淲hat is the happiness of ownership (atthisukha)? A son of good family possesses wealth that has been obtained by his own diligent labour, acquired through the strength of his own arms and the sweat of his own brow, right acquired, rightly gained. He experiences pleasure, he experiences happiness.鈥� This is the happiness of ownership.
2. The Happiness of Enjoinment (Bhogasukha)
鈥淎nd what is the happiness of enjoinment (bhogasukha)? Herein, a son of good family consumes, puts to use, and derives benefit from the wealth that has been obtained by his own diligent labour, acquired through the strength of his own arms and the sweat of his own brow, rightly acquired, rightly gained. He experiences pleasure, he experiences happiness.鈥� This is the happiness of enjoinment.
3. The Happiness of Freedom from Debt (膧苍补峁噛补sukha)
鈥淎nd what is the happiness of freedom from debt (腻苍补峁噛补蝉耻办丑补)? Herein, a son of good family owes no debt, be it great or small, to anyone at all. He experiences pleasure and happiness, reflecting, 鈥業 owe no debts, be they great or small, to anyone at all.鈥欌�� This is called the happiness of freedom from debt.
4. The Happiness of Blamelessness (Anavajjasukha)
鈥淎nd what is the happiness of blameless (anavajjasukha)? Herein, a noble disciple is possessed of blameless bodily actions, blameless speech, and blameless thoughts. He experiences pleasure and happiness, thinking, 鈥業 am possessed of blameless bodily actions, speech and thoughts.鈥� This is called the happiness of blameless.
鈥淲hen he realizes the happiness of being free from debt, he is in a position to appreciate the happiness of owning possessions. As he uses his possession, he experiences the happiness of enjoinment. Clearly seeing this, the wise man, comparing the first three kinds of happiness with the last, sees that they are not worth a sixteenth part of the happiness that arises from blameless behaviour.鈥�[2]
According to this discourse, it is evident that lack of debt and blame is dealt with happiness. The balanced livelihood is referred to the lack of debt and developing wealth for those who want to get happiness of household life. The happiness of blameless is referred to right livelihood. Thus, balanced livelihood is concerned with social welfare and not connected with the state of equipped mind.
Footnotes and references:
[2]:
An. I, P. 380. Pali Text Society II, P. 68.