# Happiness
Nhat Hanh often distinguishes between joy and happiness.

In some contexts, joy is said to have an element of excitement, whereas happiness is longer lasting and can be based on contentment and peace.

> Suppose you are walking in a desert and you are dying of thirst. Suddenly you see an oasis and you know that once you get there, there will be a stream of water and you can drink so you will survive. Although you have not actually seen or drunk the water you feel something: that is excitement, that is hope, that is joy, but not happiness yet. In Buddhist psychology we distinguish clearly between excitement, joy, and happiness. True happiness must be founded on peace. Therefore, if you don’t have peace in yourself you have not experienced true happiness. (Nhat Hanh, 2005, [True Happiness](https://www.mindfulnessbell.org/archive/2015/06/dharma-talk-true-happiness-2))

Happiness and joy ought not be confused with *mudita*, undertsood as unselfish or sympathetic happiness (Nhat Hanh, 2004, [Love and Happiness](https://tnhaudio.org/2015/03/25/love-and-happiness/)).

{%hackmd kPdKcI8DR7Wi9LZ6nFBjGw %}
###### tags: `Buddhism`