When we are released from some thing, which has caused us grief, we feel as if a great burden has been lifted from our lives. It can feel very good to know that we have overcome some hardship. We may even breathe a sigh of relief, or we may celebrate. In any case there comes a degree of happiness when our load is lightened. Practicing the Lotus Sutra provides a way for us to overcome suffering. Fundamentally we do this by changing in ourselves the causes for suffering. It isn’t by some magical process that provides avoidance of difficulties or by waving a wand and making them vanish. By changing our lives, by removing the “dust and dirt of illusions” we are able to firmly establish a foundation upon which gradually we find true happiness.