The Truth of Happiness Course: Lasting Peace and Happiness Through the Four Noble Truths

Revised Edition Published October 19, 2015 with additional content on Impermanence, Not-self, Dependent Origination, and Kamma and RebirthA human being, through his own efforts, freed himself from confusion and suffering, becoming the Buddha. He then taught how all human beings could do the same and live extraordinary lives of lasting peace and happiness.His teachings are developed through understanding The Four Noble Truths. The Truth of Happiness is an accessible and easily understood ten-week Dhamma study forming the foundation for understanding these profound and timeless truths.Free of cultural influences The Truth of Happiness is a comprehensive presentation of the Buddha's path of developing lasting peace and happiness.The Truth of Happiness will develop mindfulness of the Eightfold Path as a framework for personal inquiry into the most profound truths of human history.The course book is presented as a ten-week personal Dhamma study with the option to interact with the author each week via email and phone.The author, John Haspel, is the Dhamma teacher and founder of the Cross River Meditation Center in Frenchtown New Jersey. (CrossRiverMeditation.com)

John is an author, meditation teacher, retreat leader, and workshop leader. John's interest in Eastern philosophy began in his teens and developed further in his mid twenties. Having taken the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous in 1981 as they were originally intended, John recovered from alcoholism and addiction and his interest in meditation deepened. 

Upon a foundation of self-reflection and service to others, John learned various meditation techniques. He came to study in many of the modern schools of Buddhism. John eventually focused his study on the direct teachings of the Buddha as preserved in the Pali Canon, free of cultural and individual influences that led to the later developments common to modern Buddhism.

Through study and application of the direct teachings of the Buddha John has found a deeply profound but accessible and understandable path for anyone interested putting aside all confusion and suffering common to humankind.

John is the founder and Dhamma teacher at Cross River Meditation Center in Frenchtown New Jersey. John is the author of the book The Truth of Happiness which is a ten-week personal study of the Buddha's original teachings. John is also the author of the root of a tree, an empty hut - A Practical guide to Meditation and Mindfulness, available March 2015. Additional information about John, his weekly classes, retreats, Dhamma articles, Dhamma talks, and individual instruction can be found at CrossRiverMeditation.com.

John leads 12 step workshops based on his book The Spiritual Solution - Simple and Effective Recovery Through the Taking and Teaching of the 12 Steps. Additional information about John, his recovery, and the Spiritual Solution 12 Steps workshops can be found at johnh12steps.com