When you stop creating the suffering you're creating for yourself, you’re left with true happiness, which goes beyond abundant, beyond measureless. But to get there requires that you develop some measureless goodwill.

"So, the whole teaching of the Dhamma has a purpose, and its purpose is the happiness of all. Now, it’s not going to make them happy by saying pleasing things all the time. But it is going to make them happy by giving them instructions, or giving them things to think about that they will then act on, and find true happiness as a result.

So, the Dhamma has its attha, it has its purpose, and its purpose is happiness. That’s the Dhamma’s goodwill [mettā]. And it’s limitless: It’s not only for monks or only for lay people, only for Asian people or only for Americans, or for any particular group of people at all. It’s for everybody, because it’s not specifically tailored for any one group.

It points to a problem we all have, which is we’re creating suffering for ourselves. And it’s basically saying, “Look, this is how you can stop!”

When you stop creating that suffering, you’re not left with just an empty, neutral state. You’re left with true happiness, which goes beyond abundant, beyond measureless. But to get there requires that you develop some measureless goodwill."

~ Thanissaro Bhikkhu "Lavish Goodwill"

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