What causes happiness?

Answer 1

Scientifically speaking, happiness occurs when your brain, in response to certain stimuli, produces a surge of endorphins, (hormones) which are responsible for how we feel at any given moment. Depending on how much and what type of them are produced, the range of all emotions can be enormous, from bliss to despair.
HOWEVER......I very much doubt if that is what you were asking; it only explains what happens physically when you are happy.

Happiness seems to be caused by something which resonates or speaks to us deep down; music, nature, another person can all contribute to it, or cause us to have the feeling of being happy, but it is specific to each of us according to our nature and experience. As we know, there is no one thing which alone can cause it. Our life experiences, personality, our individual nature and even genes play a part in our perceptions of happiness. The more we feel it, the more causes we seem able to find for it, too.
It, and its close relative, contentment, appears to be found most often in people who are at peace with themselves and their surroundings, wherever they are.


An awful lot of it boils down to being ok with what you have, and not wanting things that are out of your reach. That makes it so much easier for happiness, with all its many causes, to find you.

Answer 2

Buddha Told-
Desire causes suffering.
So if we don't have too much desire we can get happiness.