Chapter 15: Happiness

True happiness is achieved by living free from hatred even among those who hate us, establishing non-hatred as a foundation for happy living.

Similar to non-hatred, happiness comes from being free from ailments even while living among the sick.

Happiness is achieved by living free from greed even among those who are greedy, establishing non-greed as essential.

True happiness comes from calling nothing one's own and achieving a state comparable to divine beings sustained by happiness itself.

The author argues that victory breeds hatred and defeat causes unhappiness, proposing instead that giving up both victory and defeat while remaining content leads to true happiness.

The author presents four escalating comparisons to establish that passion, hatred, and the body are sources of suffering, while rest is the highest happiness.

The author identifies hunger and the body as the worst suffering, concluding that true understanding of this fact constitutes Nirvana, the highest happiness.

The author establishes a hierarchy of values, with health, contentedness, trust, and Nirvana as the four greatest gifts and riches available to humans.

One who experiences the sweetness of solitude and tranquility while studying spiritual law becomes free from fear and sin.

Association with the spiritually advanced (the elect) brings happiness, while avoiding fools is necessary for true happiness.

The author contrasts the suffering caused by associating with fools to the pleasure of associating with the wise, using analogies of enemies and kinfolk.

The author concludes by recommending that one should follow wise and virtuous people, just as the moon follows the path of the stars.