Buddhism (and Tibetan Buddhism) speaks of reality, and points the way to be in touch with reality.
What we all want is happiness, and the absence of suffering. Of course, there are many forms of happiness and sufferings for different individuals. Even if there are a variety of happiness, most of us are looking at the wrong direction.
Many Buddhas have taught this reality.
“All compounded things will fall apart.
What rises must fall.
All meetings end in separation.
What is born must die.”
For most of us, these four truths sound bad news. Why? Because these four truths are reality, but we look for happiness that is out of touch with reality.
It is like this. If we steal, we get caught and we get punished. That is reality. Due to strong habit, we look for happiness in the thrill of stealing and not being caught. This is a recipe for trouble.
In this analogy, Buddhism teaches us to avoid stealing and its punishment. That is the first – the wisdom of reality. (READ: Basic Samsara)
Second, the problem is that we are simply so used to stealing. We may accept that stealing will lead to punishment, but we are just so used to stealing! This strong habit is due to our collected negative Karma and lack of merit.
Therefore, to clean the traces of this strong, negative habit, we earn merit and purify negative Karma. When we have earned enough merit and purified enough negative Karma, slowly, we will lose interest in stealing.
In other words, we will accept the Buddhist view on reality. Our happiness gradually becomes in touch with reality. That is the permanent kind of happiness.