can we achieve absolute happiness?

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In today's rather "Tupperware" world, it would seem that a lot of people have different ideas of what constitute happiness, what makes them happy, and how happiness can be made as an instrument to a deeper and inward self-development. Through the years, I have met people who have a very vague idea of what happiness is to them. To some, happiness is a general feeling of well-being, of not having sad thoughts, of being free from anxiety and stress. Yet, I have met others who, despite having gone through extreme odds, still consider themselves to be happy. And there are still others who can be made happy readily by superficial things like a simple smile offered by a stranger on the sidewalk or a soft pat on the back given by a boss on the job. Yet, to some, they need millions and gazillions of money, expensive cars, expansive business empires, huge mansions, and stuff and still are not happy. How about you? What makes you happy? Do you believe in absolute happiness, like there are no "if's" and "but's"? Is there a foolproof way to achieve real happiness?