I'd say real happiness is inner harmony - contentment.

Chris

I guess it depends what it means to you.

To me happiness is an emotion. Sometimes I experience happiness, sometimes I experience sadness. My soul does not yearn for either.

When I hear so much talk about trying to find happiness, I can't help but feel that it is coming from a natural soulful impulse to become whole and complete. At which point an unmistakable centredness/harmony/peace arises.

Ego is just an concept like any other concepts. I think you're attaching something you feel to a concept. If you forget about the concept of ego for a moment then happiness is just something naturally arises. Yes I agree with Chris, real happiness is inner harmony - contentment.

Hey Cody, man you are truly a refreshing voice here around I can relate with so much of what have brought up in the forum lately. I felt to share my experience regarding "true happiness" with you.

I experience “true happiness” as a state that is deeper, and greater than the emotional and the intellectual level.

To me, there is happiness which is an emotion (and emotions are feelings that are limited to us as individuals), and then there is a higher state of fulfillment which one could call "heartfelt fulfillment", joy or contentment.

Obviously, I personally feel this "heartfelt fulfillment" arise though my heart-chakra. It brings with it a knowing that EVERY EXPERINCE (good, bad, positive negative, neutral...all’n all) IS A true BLESSING. It often comes along with tears, gratitude and humbleness.

So, if I´m not distracted, I can feel a "heartfelt fulfillment" at the very moment that I´m feeling sad, happy, energized, tired, empty, dead or alive. Actually nowadays, I can feel how it is always there for me in the background, but the depth of it can vary from moment to moment depending on how much I choose to be open for it, or how much I REMEMBER who I really am (the creator of my own experiences).

When I go deep into this state I can literally feel the BEAUTY of ALL and everything no matter any personal negative or positive aspects attached to it. But then again, its funny how the deepest states of this feeling is “hidden” WITHIN feelings of pain, denseness, negativity or heartbreaking emotions.

Thanks guys. I have felt that heartfelt experience Meno, and I totally resonate with what you are saying.

That heart felt experience for me is the deeper experience that arises out of contentment.