Sukha 樂; happiness; eudaimonia; chandha; Buddhism; science; positive psychology; gross national happiness; human development
摘要
There are many engaged Buddhists incorporating science into Buddhism without reference to traditional value structures and there are many Buddhist scholars ignoring or rejecting the ongoing development of Buddhism by scientific research. This paper seeks to avoid these two extremes by constructing a platform upon which Buddhists and scientists can meaningfully advance one another’s understanding of happiness and well-being without neglecting important differences. Using an integrative literature review format, research from positive psychology, happiness economics, and contemplative science will be linked to Buddhist ethics, in an effort to delineate the territory and boundaries of Buddhism’s engagement to the science of happiness. Since there is no operational definition for a Buddhist concept of happiness in current scientific literature, this paper will also attempt to lay the foundation for its establishment in three ways: First, it will define happiness in correspondence to the Buddhist concept of sukha; second, it will integrate scientific research into a construct that retains the concept’s traditional integrity; and third, it will experimentally demonstrate the validity of sukha by providing evidence of its functional relevance to lived Buddhist practice. The paper will conclude with a critical analysis of the potential merits of Buddhism’s happiness hypothesis in future studies.
目次
Abstract i Dedication ii Acknowledgements iii Contents iv Chapter 1 Introduction 1 1.1 Ecological and Existential Crises 1 1.2 Theoretical and Practical Solutions 4 1.3 Happiness as a Universal Goal of Development 9 1.4 Methodology 12 1.5 Objectives 13 1.6 Review 16 1.7 Chapter Structure 26 Chapter 2 A Buddhist Psychology of Happiness 28 2.1 Happiness, Suffering, and Nirvana 28 2.2 Buddhism’s Happiness Hypothesis 35 2.3 The Threefold Path to Happiness 45 2.4 Conclusion 54 Chapter 3 A Buddhist Economics of Happiness 55 3.1 Economics’ Utility Maximization Model 55 3.2 Growth of Absolute versus Relative Wealth 58 3.3 A Buddhist Model of Shared Value 64 3.4 Suffering on the Hedonic Treadmill 68 3.5 Happiness and Altruism 78 3.6 Conclusion 87 Chapter 4 A Buddhist Sociology of Happiness 91 4.1 Gross National Happiness 91 4.2 Institutionalizing Happiness 95 4.3 Case Study: Happiness at Fo Guang University 101 4.3.1. Survey Development 101 4.3.2. Population Background 104 4.3.3. Background of Key Variables Affecting Buddhist Scholars and Monastics 107 4.3.4. Data Analysis 110 4.3.5. Discussion and Recommendations 122 v 4.3.6. Present Limitations and Future Directions of this Study 131 Chapter 5 Conclusion 134 5.1 Mapping the Territory and Boundaries of Current Research 134 5.2 Suggestions for Further Research 145 Appendix A: Figures 153 Appendix B: Survey 157 Appendix C: Charts 171 Bibliography 189 Primary Sources 189 Secondary Sources 190 Further Reading 218
