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Optimistically Accepting Suffering Boosts Happiness: Associations Between Buddhism Patience, Selflessness, and Subjective Authentic-Durable Happiness

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Abstract

Buddhism theory research indicates that Buddhism patience can boost happiness. However, few empirical studies have investigated the associations between patience, selflessness and subjective authentic-durable happiness. Therefore, the present study mainly explored the relationships between patience and subjective authentic-durable happiness, and the possible mediating role of selflessness. Results indicated that patience was positively related to subjective authentic-durable happiness, and that selflessness could explain this relationship. It appears that selflessness, which reflects the self within a broader social, natural, and cosmic context is linked with greater subjective authentic-durable happiness and patience. Findings suggested that Buddhism patience practice means not only accepting the experience of negative emotions, but also optimistically reevaluating suffering in life. Overall, the results highlight that Buddhism patience is a positive psychological characteristic related to subjective authentic-durable happiness.

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Notes

  1. This study examined the Buddhist principles and concepts that influence Chinese individuals’ psychological qualities and behavior. Buddhism culture is one of the main Chinese traditional cultures, and patience perfections practice is a psychological quality of all Chinese people. Thus, a sample with no religious background was selected. They had no religious affiliation, and were not Buddhist, but still practiced Buddhist principles.

  2. The original scale ranged from 1 to 7. To avoid having a middle option, we used 1–6 Likert-type scoring.

  3. The fit indices of the theoretical model and alternative model had a good fit. In other words, there is a likelihood of complex relationships of patience, selflessness, and happiness. However, the predicted model is based on the theorized model and previous studies. Thus, we mainly discussed the predicted model in this study. Limitations are discussed in the limitations section.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Developmental Psychology, Beijing Normal University, No. 19, XinJieKouWai St., HaiDian District, Beijing, 100875, People’s Republic of China

    Jianjun Deng, Tsingan Li & Jingya Wang

  2. Department of Education, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China

    Ruiping Zhang

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  1. Jianjun Deng
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Deng, J., Li, T., Wang, J. et al. Optimistically Accepting Suffering Boosts Happiness: Associations Between Buddhism Patience, Selflessness, and Subjective Authentic-Durable Happiness. J Happiness Stud 21, 223–240 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-019-00083-0

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