Happiness spreads the Dharma

Discuss and learn about the traditional Mahayana scriptures, without assuming that any one school ‘owns’ the only correct interpretation.
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KwanSeum
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Happiness spreads the Dharma

Post by KwanSeum »

In the Mahagopalaka Sutta (The Major Discourse on the Cowherd) Buddha explains the conditions under which the Teaching would grow and prosper by giving an example of a cowherd and then applying these skills to a bhikkhu who will help the Teaching grow and prosper. Below (image) are the eleven factors as applied to the cowherd and a monk.
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The seventh of the eleven says that the bhikkhu should 'experience joy' and I assume that after seeing that the Dharma makes monks happy others will want to follow it to become joyful themselves - hence its importance!

Are there other times that Buddha stressed that it is important to be happy and joyful or is this the only one?

Thanks, KwanSeum
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KwanSeum
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Re: Happiness spreads the Dharma

Post by KwanSeum »

Dhammapada wrote:Wherever holy men dwell, that is indeed a place of joy - be it in the village, or in a forest, or in a valley or on the hills. They make delightful the forests where other people could not dwell. Because they have not the burden of desires, they have that joy which others find not.
Dhammapada wrote:Live in joy,
In love,
Even among those who hate.
Live in joy,
In health,
Even among the afflicted.
Live in joy,
In peace,
Even among the troubled.
Live in joy,
Without possessions.
Like the shining ones.
The winner sows hatred
Because the loser suffers.
Let go of winning and losing
And find joy.
Dhammapada wrote:If a man speaks or acts with a pure mind, joy follows him as his own shadow.
Dhammapada wrote:A mind well guarded is a source of great joy.
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Fu Ri Shin
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Re: Happiness spreads the Dharma

Post by Fu Ri Shin »

KwanSeum wrote:Are there other times that Buddha stressed that it is important to be happy and joyful or is this the only one?
Considering joy (piti) is one of the Seven Factors of Enlightenment, I'd say he was constantly stressing it.
Know that in a remote place in a cloud-covered valley
There is still a sacred pine that passes through the chill of ages.

— Taiso Josai Daishi
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Adamantine
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Re: Happiness spreads the Dharma

Post by Adamantine »

nice topic! how do we express joy on an internet forum? smilies? :jumping: :D :mrgreen: :P :meditate: :smile: :P
Contentment is the ultimate wealth;
Detachment is the final happiness. ~Sri Saraha
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Grigoris
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Re: Happiness spreads the Dharma

Post by Grigoris »

The Dharma spreads happiness! :twothumbsup:
:namaste:
"My religion is not deceiving myself."
Jetsun Milarepa 1052-1135 CE

"Butchers, prostitutes, those guilty of the five most heinous crimes, outcasts, the underprivileged: all are utterly the substance of existence and nothing other than total bliss."
The Supreme Source - The Kunjed Gyalpo
The Fundamental Tantra of Dzogchen Semde
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Caz
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Re: Happiness spreads the Dharma

Post by Caz »

Oh yes being Joyful is important its why you see all these great Lama's and practitoners with a cheeky smile...And then you occassionally come across the Langri tangpa types as well, But for the majority of people it is not advisable to become known as grim face when being a Dharm practitoner as people see ordinary appearances very strongly so they will be given the impression that Dharma does the reverse of what it says on the label ( If your an accomplished practitoner however this is different matter ) :applause:
Abandoning Dharma is, in the final analysis, disparaging the Hinayana because of the Mahayana; favoring the Hinayana on account of the Mahayana; playing off sutra against tantra; playing off the four classes of the tantras against each other; favoring one of the Tibetan schools—the Sakya, Gelug, Kagyu, or Nyingma—and disparaging the rest; and so on. In other words, we abandon Dharma any time we favor our own tenets and disparage the rest.

Liberation in the Palm of your hand~Kyabje Pabongkha Rinpoche.
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Blue Garuda
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Re: Happiness spreads the Dharma

Post by Blue Garuda »

The Dharma spreads Happiness, so it is reciprocal and cumulative. ;)
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Caz
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Re: Happiness spreads the Dharma

Post by Caz »

Yeshe wrote:The Dharma spreads Happiness, so it is reciprocal and cumulative. ;)
Well I certainly hope it does Yeshe, Especially when the fundementals are taken to heart that which we build our mandala on :tongue:
Abandoning Dharma is, in the final analysis, disparaging the Hinayana because of the Mahayana; favoring the Hinayana on account of the Mahayana; playing off sutra against tantra; playing off the four classes of the tantras against each other; favoring one of the Tibetan schools—the Sakya, Gelug, Kagyu, or Nyingma—and disparaging the rest; and so on. In other words, we abandon Dharma any time we favor our own tenets and disparage the rest.

Liberation in the Palm of your hand~Kyabje Pabongkha Rinpoche.
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