Dr Kapisha S Jasrotia
“Everyone seeks happiness, but where doth it lie?
It lies in forgetting oneself in giving it to others.” (Laxmi Prasad Devkota)
The purpose of human life is to seek happiness, and the ultimate happiness is rooted in the service of others. The simplest way to find happiness is by making others happy. However, complications arise from desires that constantly change and lead to sufferings. The desire to hope that events in the past could have unfolded differently, yielding more desirable future, is a significant source of human suffering. Likewise, a strong attachment to future desires can also cause pain. Our selfish desires often make us overlook our true purpose in life. True happiness comes from being satisfied in the present moment and in serving others.
Acceptance is another avenue to finding satisfaction in the present and seeking happiness and peace. Embracing God’s plan for your life can bring peace to your mind and ease desires. One should never stop seeking happiness and peace from within. One must work towards understanding the true and deeper meaning of life. Often, this understanding comes through experiencing sorrow and grief. Sorrow arises from realizing that life hasn’t unfolded as you wished or worked for and from unfulfilled desires. Grief represents the profound sorrow of losing loved ones throughout life, occurring not just at the death of cherished individuals but also as relationships fade over time.
Change is the only constant in life; it continues to reshape our existence. People change, time changes, and all of this leaves a significant impact. We are merely transient beings, striving for a purposeful life while connecting with various aspects of our world.
The mind can often be very tricky. At times, it seeks happiness and peace while simultaneously trying to understand the deeper meaning of life through experiences of sorrow and grief. When engaging in worldly affairs, one cannot escape feelings of peace, happiness, sorrow, grief or attachments.
So, what is the solution? One answer can be found in a quote by Rabindranath Tagore:
“I slept and dreamt that life was a joy;
I awoke and saw that life was a service;
I acted, and behold, service was joy.”
The purpose of life is to seek happiness for oneself and others. When you can empathize with someone else’s pain without being judgmental, you truly come alive. This ability also allows you to help relieve their suffering and bring them happiness.
Praying for others is also a form of service. Praying for the happiness of others is how you attain the utmost happiness.
As Nichiren Buddhism states, “If you light a lantern for another, it will also brighten your own way.”
Life is short yet long to live purposefully!!
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