Every Day Is a Good Day

Many people question their purpose in life.  Perhaps they work tirelessly each day to secure essentials: food, clothing, shelter. Balancing family and career obligations, they follow paths laid by others, leading to an existence that can seem monotonous and uninspired. 

From cradle to grave, each individual contributes to the world’s narrative, acting out their unique part in the drama of life, until the curtain falls and the stage clears. At death, they leave empty-handed, taking nothing except karmic energy—wholesome or unwholesome—cultivated during their lifetime and then channeled into the next cycle of rebirth. Born without a penny, one also departs without a penny, raising the question: What is the purpose of our earthly visit?

Exploring the meaning of life involves delving into religion, philosophy, cosmology, and ethics. Life’s purpose can vary among individuals, but a common thread emerges: humanity’s pursuit of happiness. 

The Elusive Nature of Happiness

Happiness, an abstract concept, differs across cultures. In societies that value material comfort, many believe happiness stems from wealth, reputation, or power. Yet, achieving these does not guarantee lasting fulfillment. The poor, aspiring to financial security, may perceive the rich as perpetually happy. However, why then do so many billionaires feel unfulfilled?

Warren Buffett, a legendary investor and one of the globe’s wealthiest individuals, maintains a modest lifestyle relative to his fortune. He resides in a simple home in Omaha, Nebraska, which he purchased in the 1950s, and is known for his frugal habits and unassuming demeanor. Buffett often says his personal contentment is not derived from his wealth, but instead, it emanates from his love for his work and the relationships he cherishes with friends and family. His perspective challenges the common assumption that happiness is directly tied to wealth, highlighting that even immense financial success does not guarantee personal fulfillment.

Transitioning from a contemporary billionaire to a historical literary figure, the story of Leo Tolstoy offers a similar insight. The Russian author of War and Peace, Tolstoy enjoyed widespread fame and considerable wealth. Yet, as he disclosed in My Confession, he felt profoundly empty and miserable despite his success. In his final years, Tolstoy’s disillusionment grew so intense that he fled his home. His deteriorating health and increasing despondency ultimately led to his lonely death at a small rural railway station. Clearly, possessing wealth, reputation, or power does not inherently lead to happiness, and chasing them can have karmic repercussions. 

The situation is much the same for sensory stimulation. Some people believe that beauty for the eyes, pleasant sounds for the ears, and delightful tastes for the tongue will bring them happiness, but the pursuit of such pleasures can in fact be dangerously counterproductive, leading to distress rather than joy. These pursuits, focused on self-gratification, can further foster greed, anger, and delusion. Even if sensory pleasures provide satisfaction, the happiness is fleeting and superficial, often resulting in more trouble than it’s worth. The cycle of desire and frustration can leave one wondering why they ever pursued such temporal joys in the first place. 

From a worldly perspective, the desire to satisfy the senses is natural, and there is no harm if done in moderation. However, understanding that happiness does not arise from merely indulging the senses is crucial. Considering sensual pleasure as the ultimate life goal is misguided.

Cultivating the Mind: A Path to Lasting Happiness

People have diverse needs and hopes at various times and under different circumstances. Once these needs and hopes are met, they generally feel happy. For example, a little money can satisfy the urgent needs of someone who is penniless. For someone who is sick, a quick recovery is a blessing. And for a loving mother, seeing a rebellious son finally transform into a responsible and hardworking individual brings tremendous joy. However, this type of happiness is temporary. Once experienced, it soon dissipates. 

With a never-ending flow of needs and hopes, can someone be truly and forever satisfied? How, according to Buddhism, might one remain happy every day? The answer lies in maintaining a calm and pure mind. The question then arises: How can you keep your mind calm and pure? 

When adversity strikes and you feel angry or distressed, your mind is signaling that it is overwhelmed by greed, anger, or delusion. You may have lost your composure. You may have become disturbed, agitated, or depressed. In these moments, you might resort to lying, cursing, angry tirades, or even physical violence. Without self-reflection and the ability to exercise self-control, you risk further straying into confusion and obsessive compulsion. However, those who manage to maintain a calm and pure mind through mental stabilization and introspection, such as samatha and vipassana, remain impervious to extreme feelings of love or hate regardless of the circumstances. Consequently, they tend to lead lives filled with serenity, contentment, and peace.

Finding a Serene Abode Within

Generally, human beings strive for a happy life, and as we discussed above, cultivating the mind is essential to achieving happiness. Buddhism describes the world we currently inhabit as “saha,” a Sanskrit word meaning tolerable. This implies that while happiness exists in this world, it’s fleeting and transient, whereas pain and dissatisfaction are omnipresent and difficult to avoid. This is not a gloomy portrayal; it simply reflects the reality of human existence. Given these circumstances, the pursuit of mental and spiritual balance becomes essential. 

Balancing joy and suffering involves establishing self-awareness through meditation, cultivating compassion and loving-kindness, understanding the nature of impermanence, and engaging in meritorious actions and speech. Additionally, it’s critical to practice detachment from possessions and relationships—not to become indifferent, but to find an equilibrium where happiness does not depend on external factors. Mastering these practices enables us to navigate the vagaries of life with resilience and wisdom.

True happiness begins with thinking holistically about the truths of our existence and the universe. The buddhadharma illuminates a path that not only can help us navigate the external world but also leads us toward an internal sanctuary, a serene abode within the mind.

In light of the Buddha’s teachings, we might ask, what is it like to truly cultivate a peaceful abode for the mind that doesn’t attach to transient worldly concerns? The following verse, attributed to Zen master Wumen Huikai (1183–1260) explains this beautifully: 

In spring, the bloom of myriad flowers, 
Autumn’s moon lights the quiet hours. 
Summer breezes soothe our sleep. 
Winter cloaks in snow so deep, 
With not a single worry to confine, 
The universe itself is wholly divine.

“Not a single worry” is akin to “no attachment.” If we are free of worries, we enjoy the beauty of any season, and happiness is an everyday gift. 

The Zen adage “Every day is a good day” emerges as a profound reminder, encouraging us to recognize each day’s inherent value and beauty. True contentment lies not in material pursuits, but in appreciating each moment of our existence. We can recognize the opportunity within each day to engage in meaningful work for ourselves, our families, and our communities.

Enduring happiness stems from our internal journey toward self-awareness and mind cultivation. I encourage you to reflect on how these teachings can be applied in your own life as you traverse the complexities of modern existence and uncover a serene abode within.

Venerable Guan Cheng is abbot of the International Buddhist Temple in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, which he founded in 1981. The temple, featuring seven authentic and traditional Buddhist buildings, is spread across thirteen acres of beautifully landscaped grounds, surrounded by bonsai and rock gardens.

The Venerable holds a B.A. in Economics and an M.B.A from the University of Toronto and was formerly a Chartered Professional Accountant. In 1999, he was ordained as a Buddhist monk under Venerable Xulang at Miaofa Monastery in the United States, and in the same year, he received “the Threefold Ordination Precepts.” Since then, the Venerable has travelled to many countries, holding lectures in different languages to promote the dharma.

In 2010, he established the Vinaya Samadhi & Prajna Lecture Hall in Kowloon, Hong Kong, which functions as a center for his philanthropic initiatives across southeast Asia. These include hosting dharma talks, participating in wildlife release programs, supporting education for underprivileged children, addressing poverty, engaging in book fairs, and producing a range of Buddhist publications, audio, and video recordings.

Over the years, the Venerable has been actively promoting dharma by authoring and publishing articles, hosting dharma talks on radio and online platforms, and organizing chanting ceremonies and retreats. He also has authored and published eight books in Chinese, including Happiness Originates from the Mind and Purify the Mind and Attain Happiness.