sukha

Sukha is a Sanskrit term that denotes happiness, ease, comfort, or well-being. It is used across Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain traditions to describe both pleasant sensory experience and a deeper sense of fulfillment. The opposite concept is duḥkha (dukkha), meaning suffering, dissatisfaction, or hardship.

Etymology and meaning in classical texts are rooted in su- (“good, well”) plus kha, and the compound traditionally conveys a favorable or enjoyable state. In many texts, sukha can refer to worldly happiness or material comfort, as well as to a more refined inward ease that arises from proper conduct, moderation, and alignment with dharma.

In Hindu philosophy, sukha appears in multiple contexts. In Vedanta, it is often examined in contrast to ananda (bliss) and to the ultimate, unchanging happiness of the self, with worldly sukha regarded as transient and dependent on sensory contact. In Yoga, the term plays a concrete role in practice: the Yoga Sutras define a steady, comfortable posture as sthira-sukham-āsanam, emphasizing physical ease as a prerequisite for meditation.

Buddhist and Jain sources also use sukha to denote pleasant feeling or happiness, typically understood within the broader framework of impermanence and conditioned existence. In these traditions, evaluative happiness is frequently analyzed in relation to suffering and the path that leads beyond clinging to fleeting pleasures.

In contemporary usage, sukha remains a common term in philosophical and spiritual discussions, as well as in everyday language to describe comfort, ease, or contentment. It is also found as a personal name in Indian cultures.