Happiness in Buddhist Philosophy and Philosophy of Paradigm: An Analytic, Appreciative and Applicative Study
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Abstract
The objectives of this research article are: 1) to investigate concepts of happiness in the philosophy of paradigm; 2) to conduct an analytical, appreciative, and applicative study of happiness in Buddhism; and 3) to explore the correlation between concepts of happiness in Buddhism and happiness in moderate post-modern philosophical paradigm. The study is grounded on philosophical research that employs content analysis and philosophical hermeneutics based on the moderate postmodern philosophical paradigm.
From the study, the following results indicate that: 1) The following are the concepts of happiness in moderate postmodern philosophical paradigm: (1) primitive paradigm that prioritizes bodily happiness, (2) ancient paradigm that believes in bodily happiness as well as mental happiness which is intellectual happiness, (3) a medieval paradigm that favors supramundane happiness to mundane happiness, (4) a modern paradigm that rejects supramundane happiness but embraces mundane happiness (all bodily happiness), and (5) post-modern paradigm that accepts both supramundane happiness and mundane happiness, since mundane happiness is a good thing that should be pursued, and supramundane happiness in religions is a contributing component to global peace; 2) Buddhism emphasizes happiness, which is a state free of all defilements, as the highest goal in Buddhism, also termed as Nibbāna. In Buddhism, there are 2 levels of happiness: mundane happiness and supramundane happiness; and 3) The moderate postmodern philosophical paradigm emphasizes the promotion and development of life quality for a better and happier quality of life, not focused on attachment but rather on the development of life to be happy according to intellectual instinct, which is correlated with Buddhist concepts of happiness. The study's findings can be used in the program of Buddhist morality training for the general public, serving as explanations and guidelines for developing an individual's concept of happiness.
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