Why not dial happiness up to 11 first?

Hi guys,

So I've been doing a practice lately where as a I am resting in open awareness I try to create gratitude for whatever arises, or often just deep gratitude for actually recognizing awareness or being alive in that moment. It is definitely a fabricated state, but the gratitude that I am conjuring up *seems* real.

I will then also lock that feeling of happiness and gratitude in by touching my thumb and forefinger together (neurons that fire together, wire together) so that I can access that state more easily later (its crazy, it really works and gives me a sh*t eating grin every time I do it now).

Anyway, after doing this for about four weeks, I've noticed my subjective happiness has probably moved from a 8 to an 8.5 on a scale of 10.

So my question is, do I really need to focus on dialing suffering down through less fabricated techniques or is it useful to focus on dialing happiness up for a while?

I figure if I can consistently gain a stronger habit of recognizing awareness and I have a very positive association with that state, then perhaps the feedback loop will encourage me to recognize awareness more and more often. Once that is strong then I can spend more of my time working on the suffering side of the equation.

Thanks guys!
-Justin

Neat idea. However, I think you already know the answer to this question (using your buddhist fundamentals)

-d

Drowned: To be honest, I really don't know.

I'm pretty dang happy the majority of moments and if a practice is increasing the duration and intensity of my happiness and I've had quick results, then why not take it to the point of diminishing returns before I switch gears and really address the disease?

Again, I believe that just by having a dopamine hit with recognizing awareness I'm more likely to continue to do it and perhaps I'll eventually hit a tipping point where it is a strong habit. Right now I recognize awareness anywhere from 5-20 times per day, so I have a long way to go on just not getting lost.

You really can't go wrong with this, Justin. The practice you are doing sounds great and is consistent with Buddhist techniques for cultivating wholesome mind states in all sorts of ways. Take this as far as it goes; you will know if and when it no longer feels right for you and you can add more investigation, self-enquiry, and surrender to the mix.

yeah sweet practice. i don't know about anyone else but it sometimes seems to me that western buddhism is heavy on the suffering side, with a real ponderous sort of sad thing going (maybe a hangover from judeo-christian archetypes?) whereas all the asian teachers I've met-- plus the western practitioners who i reckon to be well practiced-- take a solid foundation of happiness and calm to be central to a well lived life. i like this! nice one Justin
-Jake