I D Soni
(i) HAPPINESS IS HERE AND NOW:-
Deep down in every heart is an unquenchable desire for happiness. The advanced soul desires happiness just as much the pleasure seeking wording, the difference between then is simply that the former through knowledge and experience, does not search for happiness, knowing that it can never be found by direct seeking, but finds it through service and love to others and in victory over self while the latter seeks happiness, like a will-o’-the wisp, in every form of pleasure, and finds is not.
Man is never satisfied with his life: He is for ever seeking something that is better, until he learns wisdom, he looks for it in pleasure in sense gratification of various kinds, in wealth, luxury and possession. The less evolved a man is, the more convinced he is that happiness can be gained in these ways, and the lower are his desires. For instance, those who form what is called the under world our cities, seek happiness in vice and debauchery those who are evolved seek pleasure in more refined things, hoping to find happiness in intellectual pursuits, friendships, and in pure human loves. These more evolved types get much more pleasure through the senses than do those who are more elemental, but they are capable also of greater and more acute suffering. They can derive great pleasure from a picture gallery, whereas a savage would see nothing interesting at all, they can also suffer from things which a savage would not be capable of feeling. Yet, inspite of this developed refinement and ability to derive pleasure from art, science, literature, etc, happiness is still as far off as ever. All attempts at finding happiness lead finally to emptiness there is no satisfaction, either in wealth and all that it can command, getting on life, or in fame and power they allure at first and promise happiness but they fail us, and finally are seen to be but vanity and vexation of spirit.
The desire for happiness is good, for it leads us through innumerable experiences so that the soul can realise, by practical experience, the emptiness of all self-seeking, and thus learn wisdom. After running the whole gamut of experience the soul learns at last that happiness is not something that can be found by seeking it, but is an inward mental state.
Although work, well done, brings a quiet sense of satisfaction, and success in one’s career may also be a source of gratification for a short time, yet even these can not satisfy the deep longing of the soul.
Happiness, however, is to be found in sacrifice and service not if we seek happiness in service, and serve others for the same of serving, we find the only happiness that will endure and satisfy.
One has only to observe the lives of those who are always selfishly seeking and grabbing, who are hard in their dealings, and always looking after number one, in order to see how impossible it is for self seekers to be happy. It does not matter whether they acquire riches or remain poor – they are equally unhappy. In contrast to this, we have only to go out of our way to do a kind and perfectly disinterested action and experience the glow of sheer happiness that it brings, in order to realise that we are dealing with a law of life that is as sure and un alterable as the law of gravitation.
There must be a purpose in life, and this must have for its object the betterment the lives of others, either fear or many. The law of service must be obeyed, otherwise there can be no happiness. This may fill some readers with dismay, for they may be employed in an occupation that apparently does no good to anybody. They may feel that if they were engaged in some noble enterprise for the uplift of humanity. Then they could truly serve, but in their present occupation this is not possible. To think this is very natural, yet the truth is we can all obey the law of service, and can begin now, in our present occupation, no matter what it may be. We have only to do our daily work, not as a task which must be got through, in order to bring us a living, or because it is expected of us that we should work, but as an offering of love to life land the world, in order to come into harmony with the great law service.
(ii) HAPPYNESS IS A STATE OF MIND :-
Everyone wants to live in happiness. But everyone is deprived of happiness. Why? This is because the criterion of people for achieving happiness itself is unrealistic. They are trying to find it in those things in which it is not present. Deeper analysis of this issue tells us that people are constantly trying to eliminate those things that, according to their belief, go against achieving happiness. However, this way of thinking is unnatural.
People are in a state of constant unrest arising from a feeling of inadequacy. The truth is that inadequacy in life is not a problem. Instead it is a challenge. Here is a positive purpose of this natural challenge. Nature wants to unfold one’s inner qualities and there is no other way except what may be termed shock treatment. Inadequacies are like shock treatment meant to unfold a person’s inner treasure.
The fact is that life is full of differences. Everyone tries to achieve his / her goals. This state of affairs leads to competition. It is this competitive situation that leads to human problems or social problems. One cannot abolish people’s freedom. So, one cannot even abolish the present situation that appears to be unwanted. Then, what is the solution? The amber is very simple; take the differences as a challenge. When one takes problems as a challenge, one would try to meet the challenge. This will activate one’s mind, motivate and unfold one’s inner capacity. The challenge will give a person a new target and inculcate in him positive thinking. All these things are the result of challenges of life. If one takes the situation as a problem, one will only become negative. But if one takes problems as challenge, then one will become totally positive.
Happiness and unhappiness are both states of mind. Unhappiness is the result of negative thinking and happiness is the result of positive thinking.
The following points explain the above mentioned concept more clearly when one takes things a challenge, it will help in one’s intellectual development. It is a fact that in this world the greatest think a person can achieve is intellectual development, which is the capacity of high thinking”.
Happiness is the result of high kind of thinking. High thinking make one a positive thinker. It is positive thinking that makes one happy in the true sense of the world. Happiness is not simply a joy full state, it is rather an explanation of things at a rational level. If one cannot explain thinks at a rational level, one becomes unhappy. While, if one can explain things at the rational level, it will give one happiness.
Another road to happiness is the conquest of the lower nature, the overcoming of weaknesses, the climbing to higher and better things. There is intense happiness in realising daily that habit are being overthrown, weak point in the character built up, and an ever – increasing state of liberty and freedom entered into. Thank God, we do not have to remain as we once were, but can progress upwards, indefinitely, for there is no limit to our upward climb.
But there is a state that is far higher than happiness and this is joy. Happiness comes through self-less service and overcoming, but joy comes only to one who realises his oneness with his divine source. The reality is ineffable joy. Behind this world of shadows is the real spiritual world of splendour and delight. When the soul after its immense journey through matter, time and space, at last finds it way back to its Divine source, it becomes aware of this intense joy, too great to be described in words. It not only realises that the reality is joy, and the universe filled with not groans or sighing, but with the sweet, quiet laughter of freed souls.
(The author is President Home for the Aged & Infirm, Ambphalla, Jammu.)
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