Happiness by Swamy Chinmayananda

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Dear Members,

 

Everywhere in this universe, in one respect, man's

condition is the same. No matter how vastly different

he may be in the outer appearance of his life,

different countries, different races, different

cultures, different languages, different ways of

living, eating, dressing, etc., he may be completely

different in all of these aspects; but there is one

thing that is the same to all human individuals. And

it is this factor that binds them into a global unity.

If analyzed, it will be discovered that all humanity

is engaged ceaselessly, day after day, from the cradle

to the grave, only in trying to avoid painful

experiences and in trying to attain that which gives

them happiness.

 

Yet, beloved seeker, let us ask ourselves this one

very important question. Since the time of creation,till now,

is there one individual on this earth, who can stand up boldly

and declare, " In my life I have never experienced any sorrow or pain or

suffering whatsoever. My whole life has been a life

full of joy, full of happiness, full of bliss " . There is none

on this earth to say 'I did not experience any

type of pain or suffering or grief or sorrow " .

 

This is a world of pain and sorrow. With a few minutes

thoughtful reflection you will see that this is so.

Many painful experiences are brought by natural

forces beyond our control viz, floods, earthquakes, tidal

waves, cyclones, fires, famines. There are also

sufferings brought by other forms of life i.e, germs,

microbes, bacteria, viruses, insects, reptiles,

animals etc,. But by far, the greatest source of suffering

is caused by man himself. It is suffering that is

self-created, that arises within his own psychological

self due to desire and attachment for worldly

objects of love and hate, anger and passion, fear, worry,

tension, anxiety, jealousy, envy, greed, frustration,

disappointment, disillusionment, the sorrow of

separation, bereavement, and all other varieties of

restlessness of mind due to the multitude of desires.

Everyone thinks happiness is to be found in objects

and experiences. Everyone thinks, " If I could only

attain certain objects, if I could only possess them,

if I could experience them, I will get happiness. " In

spite of countless disappointments and

disillusionments, man never learns.

 

There is not an iota of happiness in earthly objects.

No object is perfect. They do not have in them the

power or ability to give lasting happiness or joy

because they are finite and they are imperfect.

Otherwise, they must be able to give a homogeneous

state of happiness to all beings at all times under

all conditions. But what do they actually see?

If they like milk and take a glass full of

sweetened milk flavored with spices, the first glass

may give the satisfaction. And if they are pressed upon

to take another glass, the second glass may give

satisfaction, but it is not the same degree of

happiness or pleasure as was the first glass. And if

the stomach is already full with two glasses of milk,

if you try to take a third glass of milk, it becomes

unpleasant & undesirable. And if a fourth glass of

milk is forcebly fed on you, it produces nausea and you

will have to throw it up.

Where then is real happiness? If milk had in it the

power of giving happiness, it must be able to grant

you this happiness at all times, under all conditions.

It cannot change it's nature. Such examples show that

all experiences derived from the contact of senses

with their respective sense-objects ultimately are

experiences that end in disappointment.

Does happiness really rest in the World tour that

seems impossible? Or can you find happiness in a

little walk down the lane, hand in hand with the love

of your life? Yes, just as unbelievable it sounds, it

is true that most people in this world WAIT for

happiness like they wait to catch the next train. We

wait for big things to happen in life and forget the

small little packages of joy that come our way. We

seem to forget all those wonderful things that we

possess and continuosly crib about what is beyond

reach.

 

It is appropriate to look at the advice of the Great

Teacher Lord Krishna when he said: " O Arjuna, all

these experiences, brought about by the contact of one

or other of the five senses with their respective

sense objects, are ultimately the source of sorrow.

There is no real happiness in these sense contacts and

sense experiences. They are but mere momentary

sensations producing pain. "

 

Conclusion:

 

Even the most mundane things in life can become the

most beautiful experiences if viewed in a different

perspective, if tackled differently. In simple words,

it is the ATTITUDE that brings you happiness in most

cases than the actual object of joy. Making best of

life's situations, being content with what you have

are sure ways to everlasting happiness. One does not

need to chase happiness then, it will come and perch

itself in your life like a beautiful butterfly.

 

Regards

 

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