You might "sacrifice" some short-term happiness in order to achieve some more valuable longer-term happiness.
For example, you might give your focus and energy to a friend or family member instead of indulging in a hobby, because you know you will find it more "fulfilling" and value that relationship more in retrospect.
You're really just trading one type of "happiness" for another type of "happiness".
I will disagree with this, although I can see how most would believe this to be true.
When one acts from a position of service, I can assure you often there is not only no happiness involved, but most often misery. Not everyone is a slave to happiness. Some (myself often in my life) capable of choosing what is correct over happiness.
Many sacred writing talk of this path, yet many who claim to be followers/participants of these paths are unwilling to shed their enslavement to personal happiness/gratification to bind this way of service to themselves. They are only willing to mouth their dedication as the pain that comes with such action is something most are willing to take on as a burden.
(1) how do you know "what is correct"?
(2) isn't "self-sacrifice" (abandoning "happiness") simply trading "nobility" or "honor" or "duty" or "goodness" or "righteousness" or "meaningfulness" for a more naive goal or "happiness"?
NOBILITY = OBSCURED HAPPINESS
HONOR = OBSCURED HAPPINESS
DUTY = OBSCURED HAPPINESS
GOODNESS = OBSCURED HAPPINESS
RIGHTEOUSNESS = OBSCURED HAPPINESS
MEANINGFULNESS = OBSCURED HAPPINESS
Often I feel it. I also do use a code that involves seeking the path that is most beneficial to those around me while (usually) leaving as small a footprint as possible. I believe through observation that the proper path is one that is conducive to there being a harmony, avoiding the divided houses where possible. Cancer is a good example of a house divided, and this same principle works in our other interactions with all of the life around us.
No, although I understand most would be driven by those motives. Before I say anymore on this, I must qualify that like everyone else, I have very petty, self centered programs that run inside of me. That at times I do succumb to these programs despite seeing at times what is what. But having said that, it doesn't invalidate what I describe or the experiences I've had with these ways.
The things you describe are all positions of intellect that are derived from a merchants spirit. It is possible, and many times my own choices are proof of this, that one can operate in a way that is detached and no longer subservient to a merchant spirit.
To go back to qualifying my statements, none of this is to imply that I do not enjoy happiness and when allowed (or I've been selfish) do appreciate its company. But there is so much magic when one drops the pursuit of it. If we chain ourselves to intellect, we also chain ourselves to the desires and passions of a merchant.
Phenomenal.
I was thinking about this recently after watching DEVS.
The idea is, NOT to "make a big splash".
ouroboros