"Happiness is a lasting state of mind unlike pleasure which is fleetingly transient." 2:15 mantra, 6:45 contemplation.

Happiness is a lasting state of mind unlike pleasure which is fleetingly transient.  Happiness and pleasure are similar in feeling, but really different.  Pleasure can mask suffering and allow happiness to be exposed, but it is not happiness.  It is feelings that make us feel good resulting from stimuli, often external, but can be internal when recalling memories or thinking about things.  Happiness is a state of mind of being at peace with the universe, being one with the universe, a knowing, not so much that things are as they should be, because there is no should, but knowing that things are not as they shouldn't be or not as they are not supposed to be.  It's a lot like the serenity prayer being able to change what we can, accept what we can't change and wisdom to know the difference.  Peace is like a  flowing river not opposing rocks in the middle but going around.  Changing your path if a new obstacle is thrown in that is not opposable, but still moving forward.  It seems like I should be able to write down what happiness is, but I find it difficult.  It is the feeling, the knowing that you are right with the universe. That you accept the universe as it is.  But, that shouldn't be in opposition to create and changing things.  Maybe it's a spiritual universe I mean and not the physical universe. I'm not really sure.  I have a feeling sense about being at peace with something.  But, that shouldn't mean not being creative and not taking action to change things for the better or whatever.

The constancy of true happiness is like a flowing river.  The

Pleasure can open the mind to happiness, but as a substitute can only lead to suffering.