# How to be happy — no one is happy

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Joke
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-joke-how-to-be-happy-book
- Themes: humour, happiness, expectations
- Life situations: New Year pressure, self-help fatigue

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

A self-help cartoon: open the book How to Be Happy and it says 'no one is happy — next question'. The reader hugs it with a huge smile — that's the secret.

## The story, as told by Ajahn Brahm (verbatim captions)

the book was entitled how to be happy on the outside the happiness industry you go go to a Bookshop there's sections on how to be happy now how to be happy is mindfulness the latest thing just a craze how to be happy and they opened the book and the book said uh no one is Happy next question problem solved and then the fellow was hugging the book with a huge smile on his face ah no one is happy that's the secret of happiness

## Teaching point

Dropping the demand for permanent happiness is itself a relief.

## Reflection (in the spirit of Ajahn Brahm's talk)

A man opens a book called How to Be Happy. It says: no one is happy; next question. He hugs it, beaming. Ajahn Brahm confesses that wishing anyone a happy new year promises the impossible. Problems will come. Ajahn Chah's joy was in seeing that clearly. Stop demanding perfect happiness, and peace arrives.

## Source

- [The Wisdom Borne of Silence | Ajahn Brahm | 1 Jan 2016](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTiC0iDg-wk) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 51:15 to 51:59: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTiC0iDg-wk&t=3075s

Other tellings of this story:

- [Guided Meditation | Ajahn Brahm | 2 Jan 2016](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOBEXGQ0I_I) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 1:08:52 to 1:09:20: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOBEXGQ0I_I&t=4132s