The pursuit of happiness is an inalienable right of every person on earth. The more than six billion people that grace this planet each have the right to pursue happiness and its causes as an integral part of their everyday existence.
According to (Narada, 1998) “The Buddha and His Teachings”, Buddhist Missionary Society, Malaysia) “Real happiness is found within, and is not to be defined in terms of wealth, power, honours or conquests.”
The Bhagavad-Gita alerts us that, “In the proper discharge of duty, one has to learn to tolerate non-permanent appearances and disappearances of happiness and distress.” (Bhagavad-Gita as it is, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Pradhupada, 1984, McPherson’s Printing Group, Victoria).
Within the book Discourses by Meher Baba (1967, Sheriar Press Inc. South Carolina, USA) it states that, “Everyone seeks to be happy, yet most persons are immersed in some kind of suffering. If at times they get small instalments of happiness in their lives, it is neither unadulterated nor abiding.”
Given such eminent discourses it is easy to see that the pursuit of happiness is replete with great peaks of attainment and pitfalls of grandiose significance. Yet, we still maintain a forthright determination to pursue this most ephemeral of feelings. We often seek happiness through the accumulation of power, fame, money, knowledge, beauty or health. Perhaps it is sought in art, science or technology. Indeed, within such an abundance of opportunities and distractions, it is simple to be happy, but (in our culture) difficult to be simple.”
It would seem a simple and self-evident acknowledgement that, within our western society, we are more than ever detached from the realisation of our goal to achieve happiness. This observation is illustrated through the indicators such as that:
- We have record numbers of both youth and adult suicide;
- Depression is occurring in our children from early teenage years; and
- The biggest selling pharmaceuticals are products treating depression, anxiety and stress.
Happiness can be derived from the deep sense of fulfilment that will arise from the achievement of a goal, i.e. reaching and maintain a desired weight or optimum weight. It might be in the area of relationships in which there is some ‘point of agitation’, a relationship that is not working, or that is important to you but dysfunctional. This might be with a life partner, parent or a child. It may be in the workplace where a business relationship, a boss or a colleague is causing you grief or stress. These are areas that cry out for us to ‘focus attention’ and take some positive action that will improve or remedy the situation that causes this grief or stress.
Happiness can also be derived from the deep sense of fulfilment that will arise from the very effort of trying to improve the current situation, i.e. having ‘given it a go’ or tried your very best to ameliorate the relationship.
Happiness can be derived from even the smallest improvements in our state of well-being - not in having the things that we ‘want or desire’.
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