星雲大師幸福觀之研究：以《十種幸福之道－佛說妙慧童女經》為文本=A Study of the Conception of Happiness of Venerable Master Hsing Yun based on "Ten Paths to Happiness--A Commentary on the Sumati Sūtra"
Ten Paths to Happiness: A Commentary on the Sumati Sutra is a vernacular explanation on the Sumati Sutra by the Venerable Master Hsing Yun. With a lucid and simple literary style, Venerable Master did a new explanation on the Buddhist sutra, so that readers can understand the Buddha Dharma easily. The book gives happiness two types of explanation. It starts from “happiness attained in this life” and progresses towards “transcendental happiness”. The second chapter of this thesis is a discussion on the meaning of “happiness”. Through researching the source of happiness from Buddhist teachings and Western Philosophy, it is discovered that “morality” and “benefit others” are the two important aspects in achieving happiness. The relationship between happiness attained in this life and transcendental happiness is bidirectional, and so the third chapter is research on transcendental happiness. Three points are concluded from happiness attained in this life: personal harmony achieved through joy, interpersonal harmony achieved through respect, and family harmony achieved through deference. The fourth chapter will focus on transcendental happiness. When present happiness is satisfied, one can chase after transcendental happiness without any worries. In this stage, happiness is no longer an outwardly pursue, but development of intrinsic nature, returning the power of happiness into one’s hands. Furthermore, the fifth chapter will look into the concept and meaning of Humanistic Buddhism as found in the book. Through the structure of “what the Buddha thought, what is essential to human beings, what purifies, and what is virtuous and beautiful”, the chapter examines the success of Venerable Master in realizing the practice Humanistic Buddhism, discovering two points: everything that Venerable Master did was for “Buddhism” and for “all beings”. Ten Paths to Happiness: A Commentary on the Sumati Sutra not only is a book that shows people the way towards happiness, it also embodies how Humanistic Buddhism brings happiness and peace to humankind.
