Oh, My Happiness!

Freedom leads to happiness. We are free when we do not cling to anything - anger, anxiety, or possessions. The story of the monk Baddhiya illustrates this. Baddhiya belonged to the royal family of the Sakya clan. He had been a provincial governor and became a monk with Ananda and Upali. One night in sitting meditation, Baddhiya experienced so much happiness that he could not bear it and he said, “Oh my happiness, oh my happiness, oh my happiness!”

There was a monk sitting near Baddhiya who heard him and misunderstood. He thought that Baddhiya was longing for all the happiness he’d had in the past, when he was a powerful man, of a noble, wealthy family. So this monk told the Buddha about Baddhiya.　　

The Buddha knew his disciples, but all the same he called Baddhiya to him and in the presence of many other monks he asked, “Baddhiya, is it true that last night when you were doing sitting meditation you cried out 'Oh my happiness, oh my happiness, oh my happiness!'?" Baddhiya said, “Yes I did.” The Buddha asked Baddhiya to explain.

He said, “In the past when I was a governor, I had great wealth and many bodyguards around me but I was so afraid. I was afraid people would steal everything I had, or kill me. I was overwhelmed by fear day and night. Now all I have is three robes and a bowl and I sit at the foot of a tree and feel so much freedom. I cannot bear it. My happiness is so great! That is why I had to shout out “Oh my happiness, oh my happiness, oh my happiness!” If I disturbed other monks who were meditating I express my regret, I am very sorry.”

Our desire and reliance on material possessions only invites fear and anxiety. We are afraid of losing what we have and we are anxious about the future. This leads to stress and sorrow. If we cultivate a mind that is willing to let go of clinging to possessions,  we can experience happiness like Baddhiya. Without the fear of loss and desire for material possessions, without anxiety and anger we can experience freedom. Freedom leads to joy.