Does Buddhism lead to joy or depression?

It seems to focus on suffering. Yet Tibetan Lamas seem happy. So what does it lead to, if practiced well and fairly?

Buddhism is neither joy nor depression. Those are human-centric terms. I think Buddhism is a method of discovering truth more than anything else. Clearing perception, one sees the truth and is enlightened. I think the 'step 1: you're gonna die' is to dispel illusions of how the world works. Nothing more.

I understand that the practices of Buddhism seek to help us to accept reality. Depression can be caused (not always, but at times) by our clinging to realities as we think they should be, even when our experiences aren't matching up. If we accept that suffering will happen to us in life, then we should have no reason to feel depressed, even while suffering. It's just part of life, it's okay. I hope this is helpful. If not, pay no attention to me. I'm just trying to figure things out like any one else.

Buddhism leads to happiness through the practice of meditation and compassion. By focusing on suffering Buddhist learn the nature of suffering and how to transcend it. Without knowing how suffering arises and it causes how can we eradicate it in our lives.

Excerpt from http://www.saigon.com/~anson/ebud/budtch/budteach16.htm

Buddhism rests on the pivot of suffering. Although Buddhism emphasizes the existence of suffering yet it does not follow that Buddhism is a pessimistic religion. On the contrary it is neither totally pessimistic nor totally optimistic but realistic.

One would be justified in calling the Buddha a pessimist if He had merely emphasized the truth of suffering without suggesting a means to end suffering and gain eternal happiness.

The Buddha perceived the universality of sorrow and prescribed a remedy for this universal sickness of humanity. The highest conceivable happiness, according to the Buddha, is Nibb?na, which is the total extinction of suffering.

The Author of the article on "Pessimism" in the Encyclopaedia Britannica writes:

"Pessimism denotes an attitude of hopelessness towards life, a vague general opinion that pain and evil predominate in human affairs. The original doctrine of the Buddha is in fact as optimistic as any optimism of the West. To call it 'pessimism' is merely to apply to it a characteristically Western Principle according to which happiness is impossible without personality. The true Buddhist looks forward with enthusiasm to absorption into eternal Bliss."

This all leads back once again to mans primitive state...the human mind in general does not allow us to fully understand "being" to reach that plateau we must rid ourselves of primitive thoughts ..part being..the only way we learn as simple humans is through pain and suffering until we progress past the constant circle we follow..only through meditation can one reach the goal ..which is to free oneself from the human body and mind and to become one with the universe ..to be everything..from the largest mass.. to the most infinitesimal particle ..to feel all the true love and happiness constantly flowing through the universe ..words can never describe the powerful feeling that comes..and you can never imagine until that very moment...to truly understand the universe and life itself .