The Meaning of Happiness - Part 1(For Ananda Wood)

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 Ananda Wood <awood wrote:

>Could you say something more about a further

>etymological connection

>between 'hap' and 'apt'? Eric Partridges "Origins"

>says that the

>English 'apt' comes from the >Latin 'aptus'(meaning

'fastened' or

>'well-fitted') and is related to the Sanskrit 'apta'

>(meaning

>'attained', 'complete', 'apt', 'fit' -- from the

>verbal root 'ap-'

>meanining to 'attain').

 

Good Morning Ananda,

Interesting that Partridge brings in the Skt. roots. I

work from home and have Skeat with me here. I was once

told that Skeat's original researches included many

more Skt. roots than appear in his published

dictionary. 'Too much speculation', was the accusation

but it was probably a decision tied in with Empire

politics.

My own final understanding was, of course, speculative

but it gave me a relevant meaning at the time as I

sought to distinguish between happiness as known in

the state of union and that happiness generally

confused with sense and mental pleasure.

 

I do not have my old notes now but if we take yours

from above:

 

Sanskrit 'apta' >(meaning

>'attained', 'complete', 'apt', 'fit' -- from the

>verbal root 'ap-'

>meanining to 'attain'

 

the connection can come through the word 'fit'. This

is also the meaning of Anglo Saxon gehaep (Skeat)

which is given in his definition of 'hap'(fortune,

chance, accident) from which come happily, happiness

etc as well as happen.

Now the modern understanding of 'fit' can get in the

way but if we make this totally practical, when we use

the 'apt'or 'fit' tools for a job, then all the

necessary energy is available and we are 'fit' in all

meanings. The work becomes easy and we are 'happy'.

Now for a bit more speculation.

Scientists the world over will confirm that great

insights come by chance (happ-i-ly) and they probably

derive great happiness in the discovery.

If we learn to stand back from attachment to the

inevitable fruits of an event, through discrimination

(a strong and fit intellect maybe), and allow the

events to unfold in righteous, due order, without

claim or comment, then they appear as if by good

fortune or luck. Then there will be happiness.

 

I think that English is such a mess that we cannot get

very far with it and I much prefer Sunder's Sanskrit

in an earlier mail on the degrees of happiness. When

using English to describe the happiness at the centre

of this thread then 'bliss' is probably a preferred

word for the ecstatic state in union. This, through

the Anglo Saxon again, is linked with blithe, which

contains the meaning of sweetness as well as

happiness.

Now I am back to the RV.I.164 which I posted last

evening and Skeat gives Skt. svad as the root of the

English sweet.

 

I think we need Yaska to come along and help us out.

 

It should be clear from the above that I am not an

etymologist.

 

Hope you can make something of the above but if the

'sweetness' excites you I would love to hear any

comments from you on that line of thought in sanskrit

:cf.madhu

 

Best wishes

 

ken knight

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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