Happiness, Joy and Pleasure

Happiness is a state of accepting what is, with gratitude and wonder. Joy is a bubbling over with excitement because of something or someone we have encountered. Pleasure is a feeling of sensory delight of taste, touch, smell, sound or sight.

Happiness is waking up to the realization that we are alive, aware and in love with life. Joy is a thrill of satisfaction, pride or affection. Pleasure is a sensation of warmth, comfort or stimulation.   

Happiness is just being, just breathing, just sitting, just walking. Joy is a burst of surprise or elation. Pleasure is an animal sense of being grounded in nature and in physicality.

Happiness is the birthright of sentience. Joy is an unexpected gift. Pleasure is a warm stomach or a tingling in the chest.

Happiness is the experience of making others happy. Joy is a sunrise in the mind. Pleasure is a deep sigh.

Happiness is a way of living, joy an irrepressible smile, pleasure a sip of tea.

May all beings everywhere realize happiness, joy and pleasure. May we help relieve the suffering and pain of all beings. May the happiness, joy and pleasure of a compassionate civilization rise up in our heart, our mind and our body. May a compassionate civilization be manifest in time and space through our words, our deeds and in our life style. May it be really so, even now.