Blaise Pascal claimed that all men seek happiness—that the desire for happiness is the mainspring of all our actions:
This is without exception. Whatever different means they employ, they all tend to this end. The cause of some going to war, and of others avoiding it, is the same desire in both, attended with different views. They will never takes the least step but to this object. This is the motive of every action of every man, even of those who hang themselves.
However, if we seek happiness where it cannot be found, we will only be frustrated and miserable. The true purpose of Zen is to discover the source of happiness within us.
You're right. That is the best reason to practice. And it takes practice to find happiness, for it is often not where we think it will be. Practice requires us to look inside of ourselves for our happiness, not to the outside.
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