I had an interesting conversation with a bus friend of mine, Paris…

He is a traditional Buddhist and we had a debate on happiness.

He said that as a Buddhist, you sought to leave behind desire for everything, including happiness – you desire or crave for nothing, including being happy.

I argued that happiness was a part of that journey – if you chose to be happy, the rest would follow.



I realised today he is right.

Today I am not feeling as happy as I usually do

and I am afraid that I will not get back to that happiness

I am craving, desiring happiness

and am sad at losing it.



If I was more buddhist I would not feel so sad at losing happiness, albeit briefly or not.

Joy is something that happens as a result of leaving behind desire.