Eight words for happiness, more than the bucket holds.
For hundreds of years the word “happy” meant “lucky”. In finnish the word onni (happiness) is still also used for its original meaning (luck).
Based on an online search, the Sanskrit word sukha from and the Tibetian bde da are similar to the current use of word happiness in english language.
We all seek that elusive happiness, and while few can answer with confidence “what is happiness?”, the more appropriate question seems to be the opposite of that.
What is happiness not?
Through a process of elimiation instead of addition, the words with their absence reveal a different view. Plenty of imagination goes to the way we use language. The problem of words is that you are stuck between complete non-sense and perfect logic. Usually without yourself understanding exactly where. Words are like binoculars. You see partial view clearly at the expense of missing out on the broader view.
Generally speaking, when a word like “aspire” or “achieve” is introduced in to spiritual context, a problematic situation emerges. I believe that in particular Tibetan traditions this is called “spiritual materialism”. When “my happiness” becomes an objective, the result is “samsara” (economist call it “tragedy of the commons”).
If the self wants happiness for self, or suffering for others, that seems to have less significance. Both seem to lead to suffering for self and others. Wanting happiness for others on the other hand, seems to lead to less suffering for self, but not always to less suffering to the other if the other is too fixated on their own happiness.
This leads to the topic of non-suffering. There is no happiness to find to reduce our suffering, that is clearly an oxymoron. There are anyhow many ways to reduce our suffering.