Happiness

[Guest guest]

" Vinayak Sagara " <vinayaksagara

 

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 me ask you this one very important question.

Since the time of creation, is there one single individual who has

been born onto this earth that 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 " . You will find that there is not even one

single individual on earth who has not had at some time or another

some 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 about by natural forces beyond our control-floods,

earthquakes, tidal waves, cyclones, fires, famines. Then there is

suffering brought about by other forms of life-germs, microbes,

bacteria, viruses, insects, reptiles, animals. But by far the greatest

source of suffering is caused by man himself. It is suffering that is

self-created, that arises within our own psychological self due to

desire and attachment for worldly objects- 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 our 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 you

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 you actually see? If you like milk and you take a glass full of

sweetened milk flavored with spices; the first glass may give you

satisfaction. And if you 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 your 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 forced 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 its 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 continually 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.