“May all beings have happiness and the causes of happiness.” What kind of happiness is referenced here?

• personal happiness that inflicts harm on others?
• political happiness to win an election using dishonesty to do so?
• the happiness of a dessert or smoking a joint or a glass of wine?

No, these are not the happiness inferred; rather it is deep contentment, ease within oneself rather than fidgetyness or unrelenting boredom or compulsions. The happiness referenced comes from within. It can be supported by love, respect, rest, friendship, or Nature among other externals, but none of these are the source of happiness.

“May all beings be free from suffering and the causes of suffering.” The causes of suffering are pretty easy to determine – for ourself as we go through a day, for others we know, and for the world.

We contemplate these statements so that each of us reduces the causes of our particular types of disquiet and discontent and foster causes of happiness from within.