| You may be surprised to know that the history of | | | | Concentration. |
| happiness research actually goes back a long way. In | | | | Now it only takes a moment of reflection to realize |
| fact, the truth of the matter is, the research of | | | | that, indeed these traits are quite essential for, well, |
| happiness goes all the way back to 500 BCE, when | | | | anyone's path in life. But the Buddhist took these 8 |
| the Buddha walked in Northern India. In India, the | | | | walks to happiness very seriously. And the Buddha |
| worship of pantheon Gods was widespread. Many | | | | recommended that one truly adopt what he called |
| early Indians lived and died merely for the worship of | | | | 'mindfulness' in an effort to get his followers to be |
| these Gods. Some still do today. But its not all bad. | | | | comfortable with experiencing fully and completely, |
| For much of their early philosophy was based upon | | | | every moment of their lives. This was often |
| spreading good feelings and living a very tranquil, | | | | achieved with the aid of some kind of meditation, |
| serene lifestyle -- free of the drama often associated | | | | and indeed, modern research has found a correlation |
| with life in the western world -- since the invention of | | | | between mediation and things like: stress levels, and |
| capitalism. | | | | rates of depression. But this whole approach is |
| And this brings us to the history of happiness as it | | | | perhaps best summed up if we merely listen to the |
| pertains from this early Buddhist perspective. Buddhist | | | | Buddha himself. Indeed in his own words, the Buddha |
| then believed that one could attain happiness via an | | | | advises: 'If one speaks and acts with a pure mind, |
| 'eight-fold' path. Lets list them: Understanding, Motive, | | | | surely happiness will follow like one's own shadow. |
| Speech, Conduct, Livelihood, Effort, Alertness, and | | | | |