Happiness

Happiness is a very simple term which is used commonly. Even a small kid may be able to tell you the meaning of happiness. But how many of us really know the meaning of true happiness and how to attain that state? Not many! Happiness is something which is difficult to describe in words. It can only be felt. Several philosophers have given different views on this topic; however, the most dominant one is that happiness comes from within and must not be searched for in the outside world. Happiness is essential for leading a good life but unfortunately it is missing from the lives of most people these days. Different people have different ideas of happiness. Some believe that it can be found in wealth, others feel happy and content when they are in a good relationship, yet others feel elated when they are doing well professionally.

Many people think that if they have enough money to relax, they will be happy. If this was the case, then rich people would  not feel sad. But on the contrary, we see that it is the rich who seem more anxious, fearful, stressed, experience broken families and suffer from depression. Celebrities such as movie stars, singers and political leaders have hoards of money and yet the divorce rate of these people is often much higher than that for the general public.

These people live in constant fear, and hence require security all the time. They are more fearful about the safety of their children. They are also the ones more prone to theft and robbery. Many of them have so much overflow of wealth that they are constantly stressed about where to invest or hide it. They don’t know who is after their money and who they can really trust. So, we can conclude that being very rich does not mean the person is happier than the common man.

What else have people said about happiness?

Aristotle, a Greek philosopher, believed that happiness was attained by living a life of virtue (which itself was defined in a variety of ways).

In Buddhism, they believe unhappiness is caused by how people think. Buddha believed that it was important to understand the main cause of suffering, i.e., attachment to worldly things. To let go of desire or attachment would be to let go of suffering. In some ways this can be interpreted as not grieving over the past or fearing what may happen in the future.

This may explain the Buddhist teaching of dwelling in the present.

In Hinduism, depending on who you ask (as it’s a very diverse religion with a variety of beliefs), happiness can be attained by  good actions and the grace of God. Hindu philosophy considers Physical Happiness, i.e., happiness of the body. It also looks at Mental Happiness (being free from worry and anxiety) and Spiritual Happiness (attaining salvation). The aim of some Hindus is to experience supreme blissfulness as a free soul in the heaven. They recognize that the happiness in this world is temporary.

Jainism teaches its followers to walk on the path of aparigraha to achieve “Moksh” or total liberation and happiness. They are taught to detach themselves from worldly possessions. For ascetics, Jainism requires a vow of complete non-possession of any property. Such adherents must also detach themselves from emotions, likes and dislikes (including detaching oneself from one’s family).

From studying these different perspectives, we become more appreciative of

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