What is Happiness？什么是幸福？
What is the purpose of life？It is to become happy.Whatever country or society people live in，they all have the same deep desire：to become happy.Yet，there are few ideals as difficult to grasp as that of happiness.In our daily life we constantly experience happiness and unhappiness，but we are still quite ignorant as to what happiness really is.
A young friend of mine once spent a long time trying to work out what happiness was，particularly happiness for women.When she first thought about happiness she saw it as a matter of becoming financially secure or getting married.（The view in Japanese society then was that happiness for a woman was only to be found in marriage.）But looking at friends who were married，she realized that marriage didn't necessarily guarantee happiness.She saw couples who had been passionately in love suffering from discord soon after their wedding.She saw women who had married men with money or status but fought constantly with their husbands.
Gradually，she realized that the secret of happiness lay in building a strong inner self that no trial or hardship could ruin.She saw that happiness for anyone-man or woman-does not come simply from having a formal education，from wealth or from marriage.It begins with having the strength to confront and conquer one's own weaknesses.Only then does it become possible to lead a truly happy life and enjoy a successful marriage.She finally told me，“Now I can say with confidence that happiness doesn't exist in the past or in the future.It only exists within our state of life right now，here in the present，as we face the challenges of daily life.”
I agree entirely.You yourself know best whether you are feeling joy or struggling with suffering.These things are not known to other people.Even a man who has great wealth，social recognition and many awards may still be shadowed by indescribable suffering deep in his heart.On the other hand，an elderly woman who is not fortunate financially，leading a simple life alone，may feel the sun of joy and happiness rising in her heart each day.
Happiness is not a life without problems，but rather the strength to overcome the problems that come our way.There is no such thing as a problem-free life；difficulties are unavoidable.But how we experience and react to our problems depends on us.Buddhism teaches that we are each responsible for our own happiness or unhappiness.Our vitality-the amount of energy or“life-force”we have-is in fact the single most important factor in determining whether or not we are happy.True happiness is to be found within，in the state of our hearts.It does not exist on the far side of some distant mountains.It is within you，yourself.However much you try，you can never run away from yourself.And if you are weak，suffering will follow you wherever you go.You will never find happiness if you don't challenge your weaknesses and change yourself from within.
Happiness is to be found in the dynamism and energy of your own life as you struggle to overcome one obstacle after another.This is why I believe that a person who is active and free from fear is truly happy.
The challenges we face in life can be compared to a tall mountain，rising before a mountain climber.For someone who has not trained properly，whose muscles and reflexes are weak and slow，every inch of the climb will be filled with terror and pain.The exact same climb，however，will be a thrilling journey for someone who is prepared，whose legs and arms have been strengthened by constant training.With each step forward and up，beautiful new views will come into sight.
My teacher used to talk about two kinds of happiness-“relative”and“absolute”happiness.Relative happiness is happiness that depends on things outside ourselves：friends and family，surroundings，the size of our home or family income.
This is what we feel when a desire is fulfilled，or something we have longed for is obtained.While the happiness such things bring us is certainly real，the fact is that none of this lasts forever.Things change.People change.This kind of happiness shatters easily when external conditions alter.Relative happiness is also based on comparison with others.We may feel this kind of happiness at having a newer or bigger home than the neighbors.But that feeling turns to misery the moment they start making new additions to theirs！
Absolute happiness，on the other hand，is something we must find within.It means establishing a state of life in which we are never defeated by trials and where just being alive is a source of great joy.This persists no matter what we might be lacking，or what might happen around us.A deep sense of joy is something which can only exist in the innermost reaches of our life，and which cannot be destroyed by any external forces.It is eternal and inexhaustible.
This kind of satisfaction is to be found in consistent and repeated effort，so that we can say，“Today，again，I did my very best.Today，again，I have no regrets.Today，again，I won.”The accumulated result of such efforts is a life of great victory.
What we should compare is not ourselves against others.We should compare who we are today against who we were yesterday，who we are today against who we will be tomorrow.While this may seem simple and obvious，true happiness is found in a life of constant advancement.And the same worries that could have made us miserable can actually be a source of growth when we approach them with courage and wisdom.
One friend whose dramatic life proved this was Natalia Satz，who founded the first children's theater in Moscow.In the 1930s，she and her husband were marked by Soviet Union’s secret police.Even though they were guilty of no crime，her husband was arrested and executed and she was sent to a prison camp in the frozen depths of Siberia.After she recovered from the initial shock，she started looking at her situation，not with despair，but for opportunity.She realized that many of her fellow prisoners had special skills and talents.She began organizing a“university，”encouraging the prisoners to share their knowledge.“You.You are a scientist.Teach us about science.You are an artist.Talk to us about art.”
In this way，the boredom and terror of the prison camp were transformed into the joy of learning and teaching.Eventually，Mrs.Satz even made use of her own unique talents to organize a theater group.She survived the five-year prison sentence，and dedicated the rest of her long life to creating children's theater.When we met for the first time in Moscow in 1981，she was already in her 80s.She was as radiant and buoyant as a young girl.Her smile was the smile of someone who has triumphed over the hardships of life.Hers is the kind of spirit I had in mind when I wrote the following poem on“Happiness”：
A person with a vast heart is happy.
Such a person lives each day with a broad and embracing spirit.
A person with a strong will is happy.
Such a person can confidently enjoy life，never defeated by suffering.
A person with a profound spirit is happy.
Such a person can savor life's depths
while creating meaning and value that will last for eternity.
A person with a pure mind is happy.
Such a person is always surrounded by refreshing breezes of joy.
生活的目标是什么？是幸福。不管人们居住在哪个国家或哪种社会形态下，他们都有相同的深切渴望：幸福。然而，还真没有几个理想目标像幸福这样令人难以琢磨。日常生活中，我们不断经历着幸福和不幸，但是，我们对幸福的真实含义仍然知之甚少。
我的一个年轻的朋友花了很长一段时间想要弄清楚什么是幸福，特别是女人的幸福。开始，她认为幸福就是经济上的富足或是结婚。（那时的日本社会普遍认为女人幸福的惟一源泉就是婚姻。）但是，在看到几个结婚的朋友后，她感觉到婚姻并不能保障幸福。她看见几对曾经热恋的夫妻婚后不久就出现分歧，也看见了一些女人与有钱或有势的男人结合后，却和丈夫频频打架。
逐渐地，她领悟到幸福的秘诀在于塑造一个坚强的自我，一个没有什么磨难和考验可以摧毁的自我。她看到任何一个人的幸福――不管是男人或女人――都不是简单地因为接受过正规教育，拥有财富或是婚姻。它起源于正视自己、战胜自身弱点的勇气和力量，只有这样才有可能生活地真正幸福、婚姻美满。她最后告诉我，“现在我可以自信地说，幸福不在过去或未来之中，它在我们眼前的生活里，就在当下，在我们面对日常生活挑战的过程里。”
我完全同意。只有你自己最了解自己是高兴或痛苦，其他人都是局外人。即使一个拥有巨额财富、显赫社会地位和无数荣誉的人，内心深处仍然可能会有难以名状的痛苦和阴影。相反，一位普普通通的老妇，一个人过着简单的日子，却可能感受到喜悦和幸福的太阳每天在心里冉冉升起。
幸福并不是无忧无虑的生活，而是克服我们前行中阻碍的力量。这世上没有一帆风顺的生命，困难不可避免，但是，怎样去经受和面对问题取决于我们自己。佛教里说，我们每个人都为自己的幸福或不幸负责，我们的生命力，即维持生命的精力和能量，是决定我们幸福与否的惟一最重要的因素。真正的幸福是由内而外的，存在于我们的内心之中。它不在什么虚无玄远的山峰上，让人望而不及，它在你这个生命个体内部，你的自身。不管你怎么努力尝试，你永远不可能逃离你自己。如果你软弱怯懦，苦难就会如影随形。如果你不反躬自省，修己以敬，那你永远也找不到幸福。
幸福存在于你生命的活力和动态变化之中，那是你战胜险阻，勇往直前的过程。这就是我相信一个积极、无所畏惧的人才是真正快乐的原因。
生活中的挑战犹如一座高山，在我们这些登山者面前巍然而立。对于没有经过良好训练的人来说，他们肌肉松弛、反应迟缓，每一寸攀登都充满了恐惧和疼痛。然而，同样的攀登，对于那些准备充分，四肢经过锻炼变得强壮有力的人来说，会是一次激动人心的旅程，每向前向上一步，新的美景就会映入眼帘。
我的老师曾经谈论过两种形式的幸福――“相对幸福”和“绝对幸福”。相对幸福取决于我们的外部因素：朋友、家庭、环境，房子的大小或是家庭收入的多寡。
这就是当一个需求被填满，抑或是得到了梦寐以求的一件东西的时候我们的心情。这种快乐确实是实实在在的，但是却不长久。环境在变，人也在变，当外部条件变了时，这种快乐很容易就破灭了。相对幸福建立在和别人的比较之上。在我们的房子比邻居的房子更新或更大时，我们可能会感受到这种快乐。但是，一旦当他们购置新具或是扩建修缮时，这种快乐便荡然无存了。
相反的，绝对幸福只能从我们内心去寻找。那意味着建立一种生命的状态，在这种状态下，我们永远不会被困难打倒，活着本身就是巨大的幸福，它不会因为我们的匮乏和不足或外部的事物而消失。这种深切的喜悦只存在于我们生命的最深处，不会被外部的力量所摧毁，它永恒存在，不会枯竭。
得到这种满足感，需要坚持不懈的努力和奋斗，这样我们才能对自己说，“今天，又一次，我尽了自己最大的努力。今天，又一次，我没有留下遗憾。今天，又一次，我赢了。”这种努力所积累的结果是一个大胜利的人生。
我们应该作出比较的不是自己和他人，而应是我们今天的自己和昨天的自己，今天的自己和我们明天的自己。这听起来似乎很浅显，但真正的快乐就是在于不断进步和超越。当我们用勇气和智慧去面对，令人痛苦忧愁的事情会成为我们成长的动力来源。
我的朋友，娜塔丽？莎茨戏剧般的人生就证明了这一点。她是莫斯科第一家儿童剧院的创始人。二十世纪三十年代，苏联的秘密警察盯上了她和她丈夫，虽然他们根本没犯什么罪，她丈夫还是被逮捕处决了，她则被送到冰天冻地的西伯利亚腹地的战俘集中营里。最初的震惊和痛苦过后，她扔掉绝望，开始审视自己的处境，寻找生的机遇。看到许多狱友都有某种技能和才华，她开始组织一所“大学”，鼓励狱友们分享各自的知识。“嗨，你，你是个科学家，教教我们科学吧。你是个艺术家，跟我们聊聊艺术。”
这下，笼罩着集中营的单调和恐惧变成了教与学的快乐。最终，莎茨女士甚至以她独特的天赋和才干组织了个剧团。她从五年的监狱徒刑中存活了下来，后半生致力于儿童剧院的建设。1981年，我们第一次在莫斯科见面的时候，她已经八十多岁了，却仍然像个年轻女孩般光彩奕奕、活泼快乐，那微笑是属于历经人世沧桑，战胜人生苦难的人的微笑。想着她的那种精神状态，我写了下面的这首关于《幸福》的诗：
一个心胸博大的人是幸福的
他以豁达、积极的姿态度过生命的每一天
一个意志坚定的人是幸福的
他自信的享受生活，从不会被困难打倒
一个思想深邃的人是幸福的
他品味生命的深刻和精髓，同时创造价值，身后流传
一个头脑纯粹的人是幸福的
他总是神采奕奕，春风拂面，快乐自己，也照亮了他人
译者感言
有人说，幸福就是要过得更好。在这个纷繁复杂的社会里，我们就像是物质汪洋里的一叶小舟，为了过得更好，在打捞温饱的皮囊、富足生活的航行中，我们的心情也随之沉沉浮浮：遭遇厄运挫折时即痛心疾首，抱怨没有捞到大鱼；幸运顺利时即兴高采烈，然而又怕失去既得的大鱼，费尽心机去保护它。我们变得疲惫不堪、患得患失，航行的兴致和乐趣丧失殆尽，最初的理想也早已抛之脑后。我们每个人都在不断地寻找幸福，然后又在寻找中迷失和忘记。想起看了几遍的《大话西游》，那月光宝盒真是个有趣的东西：为了找晶晶，必须找到宝盒，而找到宝盒时发现已经忘记找它的原因了。那幸福呢？是晶晶，还是宝盒？“幸福在哪里啊？幸福在哪里……”，小时候的一首儿歌，幸福到底在哪儿呢……世俗的得失不会带给我们真正的快乐，却会反受其累。幸福源于我们的内心，回到心灵最初的状态吧，心底的那一抹暖色会让你看到的世界一如儿时般新奇、明媚；幸福源于生命最初的梦想，去不断地自我超越，自我实现吧，生命会以饱满、充盈的姿态向你致敬！
