Happiness

 

"Everyone is looking for happiness. But what is meant by happiness?" This was one of the questions a wise boy, Sveta-ketu, put to his father many centuries ago.

"One of the signs of happiness, son, is that a person who has it becomes active. A person who does not find happiness does not feel like being active. His mind is cramped, his will is weak. What is vast and infinite brings happiness. There is no true joy in what is small or finite. I can tell you that the Infinite alone is happiness; but you must desire to understand this Infinite, my son."

"I want to understand it, Pita Shree," said Sveta-ketu.

"Good," said his father. "Then you must listen carefully to what I say and think deeply about it:

"When a person sees that nothing and no one is separate from him, that he is one with all the people, animals, and objects in the universe, when a person sees and hears and knows nothing else -- that is the Infinite.

"But, if one sees or feels some other thing, obstructing him, separating him, then that is the finite. He has not yet found the Infinite.

"The Infinite never passes away; it lasts forever; but what is finite will pass away."

The spiritual guides are like the clouds, which bear the evaporated water from the sea, and empty it elsewhere on the standee crops. These types of people will spread essence of love. Associating with their spiritual guides should be considered a privilege.

These are the spiritual thoughts.

God has created human beings to experience both happiness and grief, enjoy pleasures, and also face obstacles. Invariably, they meet with more number of problems than prosperous situations. The adversities are mainly due to the fact that people have swerved from the path of duty and have failed to carry out their religious obligations with faith and sincerity. Spiritual exercises ought not to be neglected and scriptural texts tell us how to combat evil and derive the moral strength by upholding the rules of righteousness.

In the past wise people who witnessed similar discontent earlier were able to offer the solution to make the world a place to live. Thinkers of today are also in the same position. The need is that the individual should adjust him to the surroundings. This can be achieved not anatomically or structurally but mentally.

If a man changes, the environment will change. But this should come from within, inside the hearts and not through legislation or other methods. The mental / attitude should undergo a transformation. So long as men’s attitude remains selfish, the world will sink lower and lower and the poor will remain poor. Men should rise to a higher level, giving up selfishness and desires. What God means has been presented in our Scriptures?

Sukha or happiness means different things to different people. This is especially so in the context of varying lifestyles prevalent today and the issues that a lot of us are living with and identifying ourselves with. Is happiness really the excitement of IPL Cricket Match of the last ball or watching the run between the Wickets?

Sukha in Indian philosophical system is a heavily loaded term. To understand the quality of true Sukha or happiness also means that we need to define Dukha or suffering. Bhagwan Buddha was very clear in his definition of suffering and about what constitutes true happiness. He propounded as the cornerstone of his teachings the four noble truths. These truths according to him were intrinsic as well as peculiar to samsara, and pervaded all somsariec activity. These four noble truths or arya-satya were the truth of suffering, its cause, the cessation or end of suffering by realising true happiness and the method or path leading to cessation of suffering and of attaining to a state of true happiness. Sukha as experienced by the wise sages and yogis. Is something that is peaceful, serene, harmonious, and happy?

An elucidation of this point is the example of a mirror, which will reflect an object in its Front as it is, if there is an image not charming, the defect is not of the mirror but that of the person. Any number changes of the mirror will be of no avail. Likewise people show changes.

Though man has been broadly classified as extraordinary, the average and the dull, there is a superior class who fall in the category of the distinguished and the wise. They generally lead a life of simplicity and austerity and the only goal is to serve humanity and render them assistance to get rid of their problems and if necessary guide them properly. They may out speak but will never be offensive.

Going to the ocean, a fisherman will be happy with a big catch, with which he can obtain money. Some other may go in for pearls and someone may dive deep to get more precious items. Some may try to strike oil and become rich. All of them seek only wealth.

Happiness is the state of One’s mind- how a man should ‘turn’ himself to the environment of the present world is of vital importance to day. The happenings around us are not satisfactory and no individual is happy. The problem arises because each one is self-centred and possesses ego.

If Happiness is defined as a state of pleasure and contentment. It is now evident that external factors like wealth, status or beauty can’t ensure happiness. And interestingly, according to research about 50 % of happiness is genetic and about 10% is dependent on circumstances. That leaves 40 % unexplained. “There is no medical or psychiatric definition of happiness. Happiness is usually defined as a state of satisfaction. It involves satisfaction with one’s state of physical’ mental and emotional health and has a lot to do with their social, spiritual and financial side of life too.

But do we truly experience Happiness/pleasure? While there are many good moments in the lives of most of us, the overall picture is less than rosy. The increasing rates of drug abuse, extreme violence, terrorism, depression and other ills of our affluent society testify that something very basic is missing in our lives. None of these problems is the cause; instead, they are symptoms of a much deeper problem—our inability to fulfil our desire to feel pleasure.

To understand why we are dissatisfied, we need to remember that the Creator is a force of love and wishes to give us pleasure. Since the greatest possible pleasure is being in "His shoes"—omniscient and omnipotent—this is what He wants to give us, His power and His mind, Himself.

In other words, His goal in creating us is to make us similar to Him. And by consequence, the only state in which we will ever be happy is when we are like Him, when we discover and share His qualities. When we obtain these qualities, we will be infinitely, completely happy.

All the above is very nice, but if we take a look around and honestly ask ourselves if this is the world of a Creator who loves His creatures and wants to benefit them, we will probably think that something went very wrong, either with the Creator, or with us।

The first option that something went wrong with the Creator has been our stance since the dawn of history. This is why we keep trying to change the world He created and "improve" it. We constantly invent new foods, technologies, means of transportation, social rules, and the list is endless. We have been pursuing the "better," "stronger," and "faster" for millennia; but has this pursuit resulted in happiness, or even contentment? Probably not. Otherwise we wouldn't keep replacing and changing what we have. Indeed, why are we never satisfied?

Now as on today many people would begin to think that, perhaps, the stance that something was wrong with the world had not been the right answer. They would begin to feel that the problem wasn't with the world and its Creator, but with us! This new concept is gaining momentum, and more people than ever are aware that the problem is not with the world, but with humanity.

This is a critical shift: it means that we acknowledge that the problem is with human nature, and not with anything else. In consequence, just as we turn to the program vendor when software we install doesn't work, when human nature fails us, we must ask the "nature vendor" to provide us with a different nature, one that works properly.

Happiness/Pleasure of the world are always attractive in the beginning, but their consequences are terrible and hard to endure, like the temporary pleasure derived by scratching an itch but the sensation turning painful and intolerable a little later. The mind of the man even as the horse with blinkers takes its route straight, should be restrained and made to develop an aversion to worldly objects and not stray into evil paths.

Emperors have left this world but their pious deeds in the form of tanks, roads, shelter, homes, and temples. Even man who upholds religious traditions cannot easily get rid of the powerful forces of desire and attachment.

It is a well known fact that happiness is vital for good health. Corroborating this theory, a study conducted proves that adults who are happy, but are suffering from a heart disease, have a 20% more chance of living longer. Thoughts and emotions are controlled by hormones in the brain. Just as electricity moves from pole to pole, in the brain, impulses have to jump from cell to cell. The intervening space between nerve cells is controlled by neurons chemicals or neuron hormones. Any alteration in this will produce change in behaviour, thought and emotions. Genetically, people have a certain concentration of neuron-hormones and depending on that; people will be happy or sad. The experience is further modified by external circumstances.

The study revealed that though a constant state of happiness isn’t necessary, avoiding emotional lows is vital for a long life. This is because happy people are less likely to suffer from psychomatic problems like diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.

Different states of mind are associated with the release of different chemicals and hormones in various parts of the body. Happiness and pleasure are associated with the release of dopamine in the brain. Sadness is associated with the release of steroid hormones, which are circulated through the bloodstream to different parts of the body. This is why states of mind can affect the health and physiology of the entire body. However, happiness is also associated with other positive chemical and hormonal changes and same holds good for sadness.

The ever-expanding field of positive psychology emphasises human strengths rather than weaknesses as a way of life. People who are positive and happy have a higher immunological cell count and can combat diseases better. The new IT culture and changing life styles are creating great stress, which in turn affect happiness.

One needs to remember that happiness does not mean an absence of difficulties, and not a continuous state either as it has been noticed that people go through mood changes. Anti depressants can reduce unhappiness but cannot artificially keep you happy all the time. Use of substances like alcohal and drugs usually work on the prevailing mood of the person and amplifies it. To be really happy, a person needs to accept that good things and bad things are a part of life. They must not be too reactive whenever something bad happens.

These drugs are usually addictive and can have damaging short-and long-term consequences on a person’s physical and mental health, and on his social and occupational performance.

Three factors governing the lives of most men are.

1. The tendency to amass wealth.

2. To remain deeply attached to their spouses and

3. To display extraordinary affection towards their children.

Among the creation of God, the human being is conferred with several privileges. The plants and animals grow, eat multiply but they do not have the faculty of discrimination. They cannot convey their feeling by the word of mouth and cannot distinguish the closely distinguish the closely connected members of their own breed or between good and bad. They cannot send appeals to their parents by calling them nor can they offer worship or read scriptures or listen to holy lectures.

Should man also behave like them when they can use their speaking capacity to praise God’s glory, witness the dazzling forms of God in Temples, undertakes service to humanity, and spend time on useful pursuits? Men are not borne merely to chase illusory pleasures, earn money, and live in comforts and pass of peacefully, only to take further births. They have a purpose and their concern should be to get it fulfilled. They should take steps to go nearer to God, using the divine gifts.

Now it is common experience that nothing in this world can be accomplished or attained without hard work and dedication. Desires, for worldly possessions are not prohibited. Every human being takes steps, rightly too, to register his or her progress, in life. A man owning a cycle may hope to obtain a two wheeler and later, an automobile. One residing in a rented house may aspire to acquire a Flat of its own. A woman may like her synthetic diamonds to be replaced by genuine gems. Even learned persons get themselves deeply attached to worldly pleasure and regret that they are not able to conquer the foes within. At the same time what scripture and God’s messengers tell us is about the need to pay equal, if not greater attention to “Spiritual Development” Man should aim at getting rid of his re-births. This naturally requires gradual as well as graded procedure.

Unfortunately, some believe in merely accumulating worldly objects not realizing that they will be left behind at the end of a limited existence. That civilisation alone is real which enables its votaries to realize God. The want of our souls can never be satisfied by anything short of knowing the absolute Reality and Truth.

Scriptural Text repeatedly caution, us that wealth amassed by unfair means will lead us to eternal trouble making us face unending problems. It is often asked whether there is proof for the presence of God and whether, He can be seen. The answer is firm YES but with certain conditions. The essential requirement is a pure mind uncorrupted by base thoughts. Unfortunately, modern men are affiliated by thought pollution and their mind is swayed by various temptations.

The greed to get- rich- quick may even make them resort to illegal methods though they may possess enormous wealth; this has to be curbed.

It is a paradox that among God’s creations particularly human beings some are placed in a comfortable position and enjoy life, while others always face adversity and do not even understand the very meaning of happiness. A general explanation for this is assigned to wealth- that those who possess money can get their problems solved and remain unaffected even by severe jolts. On the other hand the poor go through ordeals because they have no means to put up resistance. This reasoning feels flat when we see so many rich men spreading restless days due to worries while some among the deprived always remain contented.

A story told of a man who with his wife and son and carrying a bundle containing money was crossing a river. A sudden flood made him discarded the bag first. Giving up his wife, when the floodwater threatened his own life followed this; he left the child too. He cling the son till the end because he was of the view that while it may be possible to choose another woman as his partner, a child is a gift of God and cannot be obtained without his blessing.

Why is there so much misery in life in spite of all the material comforts available to us?

Why does man suffer endlessly?

The enlightened sages have a simple answer to this different question: “look at the river: unconcerned With whatsoever is happening all around, it flows on in deep tranquillity, in deep calmness, undistracted, by what is happening on the banks. Undistracted, it moves on. It remains tuned to its own nature; it never goes out of its nature. It remains true to itself. Nothing distracts it; nothing calls it away, away from itself. Whatsoever happens in the world around, to the river goes on being a river- true to itself, it goes on moving. Even if a war is going on, even if bombs are being dropped, whatsoever is happening, good or bad, the river remains true to itself. It goes on moving.”

Movement is its intrinsic nature. And tranquillity is a shadow when we are true to our self.” Why is it so different to be authentic and true to one when the whole existence is comfortable to be so? Man wants to dominate others and become Alexander the Great. Nature does not suffer from such crazy ideas. An enlightened man follows the nature and lives in choice less awareness. He drops all crazy ideas of conquering the world and dominating others. He becomes master of his own self.

Happiness and harmony are possible to the original and natural. Just watch the flowers on the trees. The trees are true to themselves. No flower is trying in any way to imitate any other flower. There is no imitation, no competition and no jealousy. The red flower is just red, and tremendously happy in being red. It has never thought about being somebody else. Where has man been missing?

“Man misses his true nature because of desire, imitation, jealously, competition. Man is the only beings on earth that is not true to himself, whose river is not in tune with itself; who is always moving somewhere else, who is always looking at somebody else; who always trying to be somebody else, the calamity. You can be only yourself. There is no other possibility, it simply does not exist. The sooner you understand it, the better. You cannot be a Buddha, you cannot be a Ram, and there is no need. You can be only yourself.”

Going to the ocean, a fisherman will be happy with a big catch, with which he can obtain money. Some other may go in for pearls and someone may dive deep to get more precious items. Some may try to strike oil and become rich. All of them seek only wealth.

Material progress alone will not give real happiness or even peace. The happiness, a person enjoys in a tasty dish or witnessing a charming person can be attributed to the soul within the body. If this soul goes away from a person others will hesitate even to utter his name. They will categorize it as dead and will be anxious to get rid of it at the earlier hour.

The man, who has loved his wife so much and was deeply attached to her, will not want to sit near her, once the live element soul departed her. This does not prove that taste or look, touch, sound nor will smell give pleasure but only the soul inside the human frame. To realize this soul is the purpose, of this birth.

We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another. Then we are frustrated that the kids aren't old enough and we'll be more content when they are. After that we're frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage. We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, are able to go on a nice vacation, when we retire.

The truth is, there's no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when? Our life will always be filled with challenges. It's best to admit this to our self and decide to be happy anyway.

"For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life। But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, and a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life".

This perspective has helped me to see that there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way.

So, treasure every moment that we have। And treasure it more because we shared it with someone special, special enough to spend our time and remember that time waits for no one

So stop waiting until we finish school, until we go back to school, until we lose some money, until you gain some money, until we have kids, until our kids leave the house, until we start work, until we retire, until we get a girlfriend, until we get married, until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until we get a new car or home, until home is paid off, until spring, until summer, until fall, until winter, until we are off welfare, until the first or fifteenth, until we've had a drink, until we die, until we are born again to decide that there is no better time than right now to be happy.

He who is happy himself has the capability of making other human beings happy. Happiness comes from within. It is a state of mind and, of course, it is the mind. That guides the body. And pray. What is it that guides both mind and body! Well, it is the Atama. It is the soul that gives an individual his or her permanent identity.

The body gives only a temporary identity for one life. The soul is there as your own identity in life after life. It is the soul that enriches itself through action; Soul may impoverish itself though a different set of karma.

Karma is the most important and essential aspect of advancement or backwardness of a soul. What is it that guides a soul on the path of progress to enable it to achieve its aim? The Veda or the divine knowledge- celestial jyana- to guide all souls in there journeys though this mundane world.

Problems in life arise mainly due to lack of discipline. Our words should be measured. Our food habits clean and our senses kept under control. Some people question the statement of saints and the wise that life, which is the precious gift of God, ought to be utilized only to realize God. Their argument, based on the Hinduism is that life should be enjoyed to the brim and one should not close his eyes to worldly activities. These people do not realize that the pleasure they dream of are but purely fleeting in nature leading to misery. Their mind will be filled with filthy and base thoughts. But one who is ever vigilant, keeping the mind pure and impervious to evil thoughts can experience real happiness.

Happiness is a journey, not a destination. Work like we don't need money, Love like we've never been hurt, and dance like no one's watching.