Okay, let’s unpack the statement, “We have to find a way to be happy with what we’ve got,” especially in the context of Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings in Seeing with the Eye of Dharma. While it might sound like a simple call to be content, it’s a bit more nuanced than that. It is about acceptance of what we have, right now, and the conscious choice to find happiness in that reality.
Understanding the Nuance:
The statement isn’t about:
- Blind Acceptance: It’s not about passively accepting injustice, inequality, or situations that cause harm to ourselves or others. It’s not about settling for less than we deserve in every aspect of life. It’s also not about losing all ambition, motivation or drive to improve our lives.
- Suppressing Desires: It’s not about denying our desires or pretending that we don’t want anything more or different. Denying our truth is a sign of disharmony within ourselves, and can actually lead to a greater attachment to those things that we are trying to suppress.
- Ignoring Problems: It’s not about ignoring real problems in our lives or pretending that everything is perfect when it’s not. The acknowledgement of reality is a central tenet of Buddhist practice, and that means acknowledging our pain, so that we can move through it.
Instead, the statement is about:
- Cultivating Gratitude: It’s about actively cultivating gratitude for what we do have, even amidst challenges and imperfections. Acknowledging that you are already grateful for what you have is very different than trying to convince yourself that you should be grateful, and suppressing your true feelings.
- Finding Contentment in the Present: It’s about learning to be content with what we have right now, rather than constantly chasing after something more or different.
- Letting Go of Unrealistic Expectations: It’s about letting go of unrealistic expectations about what our lives should be like, and embracing the reality of what is.
- Working with What Is: Accepting our current reality isn’t about giving up on improving our lives. It’s about approaching our challenges from a place of peace and clarity, rather than from a place of frustration and dissatisfaction. If we understand our reality right now, we are better equipped to change it.
- Reducing Suffering: Much of our suffering stems from our resistance to what is. By learning to accept what we have, we reduce our resistance and create space for greater peace and joy.
- Finding Freedom from Comparison: Often, dissatisfaction comes from comparing ourselves to others. This is a call to find satisfaction within ourselves, based on our individual values and path, rather than comparing it to a standard.
- Having a Mindset of Growth: It’s not about complacency. It’s about being content with what we have while also striving to grow, learn, and improve, as long as our happiness is not tied to those things that do not exist yet.
Practical Applications:
- Relationships: Instead of focusing on what your partner doesn’t do, appreciate their strengths and the good things they bring to your life. You can still want things to change, but without putting your happiness on that change occurring.
- Possessions: Appreciate what you own and how it serves you, rather than constantly wanting the newest or fanciest model.
- Circumstances: Find ways to make the best of difficult circumstances, rather than dwelling on what’s wrong.
- Yourself: Accept yourself, as you are now, with all of your strengths and weaknesses, while also striving to become the best version of yourself.
Connecting to Buddhist Principles:
- Impermanence (Anicca): This understanding helps us to appreciate what we have in the present moment, knowing that it will not last forever.
- Non-Attachment (Aparigraha): This invites us to let go of our clinging to possessions, relationships, and outcomes, so that we can find freedom and contentment.
- Mindfulness (Sati): Being fully present with our experience, without judgment, helps us to appreciate the good things in our lives and to find peace amidst challenges.
- Equanimity (Upekkha): This is the ability to maintain a balanced and peaceful state of mind, regardless of external circumstances.
In Simple Terms:
Imagine you’re hiking, and you are on a path that is difficult and un enjoyable. You can pause, and find some form of joy – perhaps in the beauty of the trees, the sounds of the birds, and the fresh air in your lungs. This is a choice to acknowledge the bad, but also to be grateful for what you have and where you are, right now. And in the process, you continue walking towards your intended outcome, all while finding moments of joy along the way.
Key Takeaway:
“We have to find a way to be happy with what we’ve got” is a call to cultivate gratitude, contentment, and acceptance in the present moment, while also striving to grow, learn, and improve our lives. It’s a way to reduce suffering, increase joy, and find greater freedom. It is about being mindful of what exists and grateful for what we have while also not losing sight of our true path and doing what we can to achieve our goals.