Self Improvement Ideas | Self Improvement Tips | Self Improvement Advice - Buddha's Teachings for Success & Happiness

How to achieve a life of success and happiness

In today’s world many of us are confused. We lead a routine life without any real enjoyment or satisfaction. Sometimes we even wonder are we happy or sad. It is a situation where you lose interest in life. If you have to find real happiness, enjoyment and satisfaction, you must live in the moment. Neither think too much about the past nor worry about the future. Learn to live in the present. We believe that what we are doing is to achieve the goal of a happy life. On the way we forget about our goal and wander aimlessly. Siddhartha Gautama Buddha’s teachings can help us to achieve our goals to achieve a life of success and happiness.

I found his teachings more relevant to our day to day life. The sixth century B.C.E. was an age of renaissance in India. Business people carried on extensive trading with Persia and the Greek world by land and by sea. With business booming and wealth increasing, affluent communities expanded in Magadha and Kosala—the two states in which the Buddha traveled widely. Consequently, business management and wise decision-making—along with family life and managing social relationships—emerged as important aspects of daily life. The Buddha, with his power, popularity, and rational approach to such topics, distinguished himself in that society as the most qualified adviser to the lay community. Buddha advised his lay followers to lead happy and productive lives. Far from disdaining the worldly life, the Buddha suggested that his followers engage with it fully and wholeheartedly, and taught that it is a genuine source of happiness. But the Buddha understood that the renounced lifestyle is not for everyone. And he never intended those teachings to apply to everyone.

Buddhism is one of the major religions in the world. It began around 2,500 years ago in India when Siddhartha Gautama discovered how to bring happiness into the world. He was born around 566 BC, in the small kingdom of Kapilavastu. His father was King Suddhodana and his mother was Queen Maya. Soon after Prince Siddhartha was born, the wise men predicted that he would become a Buddha. When the king heard this, he was deeply disturbed, for he wanted his son to become a mighty ruler. He told Queen Maya, "I will make life in the palace so pleasant that our son will never want to leave." At the age of sixteen, Prince Siddhartha married a beautiful princess, Yasodhara. The king built them three palaces, one for each season, and lavished them with luxuries. They passed their days in enjoyment and never thought about life outside the palace. Soon Siddhartha became disillusioned with the palace life and wanted to see the outside world. He made four trips outside the palace and saw four things that changed his life. On the first three trips, he saw sickness, old age and death. He asked himself, "How can I enjoy a life of pleasure when there is so much suffering in the world?"

On his fourth trip, he saw a wandering monk who had given up everything he owned to seek an end to suffering. "I shall be like him." Siddhartha thought. Siddhartha decided to give up everything in life. We cannot do like him. We cannot give up everything in life and take the extreme step of becoming a monk. But we can suitably modify it so that we continue to perform our responsibilities to our families, children and others and at the same time enjoy a life of success and happiness.

The following preachings of Siddhartha is a sure way to achieve and live a life of pleasure.

Be of a helping nature to others.
Find out how to win the hearts of the people. Decide for yourself what is wrong and right and follow what your conscience tells you is correct. This is a sure way to win your self respect.
Never become angry or impatient or speak harshly to anyone, not even to those who oppose you. All these qualities will reduce your stress. Improve your self esteem and self confidence.

The Eight Fold Path to lead a happy life.

Right View. The right way to think about life is to see the world through the eyes of the Buddha--with wisdom and compassion.
Right Thought. We are what we think. Clear and kind thoughts build good, strong characters.
Right Speech. By speaking kind and helpful words, we are respected and trusted by everyone.
Right Conduct. No matter what we say, others know us from the way we behave. Before we criticize others, we should first see what we do ourselves.
Right Livelihood. This means choosing a job that does not hurt others. The Buddha said, "Do not earn your living by harming others. Do not seek happiness by making others unhappy."
Right Effort. A worthwhile life means doing our best at all times and having good will toward others. This also means not wasting effort on things that harm ourselves and others.
Right Mindfulness. This means being aware of our thoughts, words, and deeds.
Right Concentration. Focus on one thought or object at a time. By doing this, we can be quiet and attain true peace of mind

Arthur C. Clarke says in his book “The Buddha’s Teachings on Prosperity”:

“What Buddha says can be summarised. First, one is entitled to as much wealth as one wants, as long as it is earned ethically, without harming others. We are told to “gradually increase wealth without squeezing others, just as bees collect honey without harming the flowers.” Secondly, we need to use our wealth to benefit both ourselves and others. In other words, wealth is not to be pursued for its own sake, but for the good it can do for the world. He advised his followers to use their money to satisfy family members, employees, friends, and associates.”

"The kind of seed sown
will produce that kind of fruit.
Those who do good will reap good results.
Those who do evil will reap evil results.
If you carefully plant a good seed,
You will joyfully gather good fruit."
.......... Dhammapada