In Pursuit of Happiness

Perfect, lasting happiness - that elusive feeling we continuously strive for our entire lives! It seems so within reach, but not quite is, isn't it? Sometimes, we can even hold it for a few moments. Until, more often than not, it slips away and an endless pursuit of happiness is all we are left with, even as we wonder, is this what life is about? Are we supposed to always be running behind something? Are we doomed to simply pursue happiness and never quite get it? Is it possible that we could never be truly happy? 

The desire for happiness is the base of human evolution. In fact, pursuit of happiness is considered a fundamental human right. Yet, in spite of the labor of countless generations, humankind finds itself engulfed in innumerable sorrows. Wars, famine, poverty, disease and hatred of each other threaten our very existence. Even in our personal lives we appear to be in constant turmoil.

 “It is a hidden dictum of Nature that every soul must live a happy and restful life. Otherwise we are spoiling His world.” - Babuji Maharaj  

It is not only our right to be happy, it is, in fact, our duty to be happy. If we are unhappy, our unhappiness percolates into the world spoiling its very fabric. So we definitely should strive to be happy at all times. However, the real question is, do we really understand what happiness is? In the name of pursuit of happiness, have we been chasing a mirage that can never be reached? Not only that, is our pursuit of happiness, in fact, hurting others and polluting the world we live in?

 

To find the path to real happiness, we must understand what real happiness is. Human beings experience happiness in three ways - pleasure, joy and bliss. 

Pleasure

Pleasure is the feeling we get from any activity that satisfies our base instincts and creature comforts.   Indulging in food, sex, drugs, alcohol, various forms of entertainment are all examples of seeking pleasure. While some forms of pleasure maybe less harmful than others, in its essence, pleasure is temporary.

Acquiring pleasure is usually within our control, but it requires continuous stoking to derive the same amount of pleasure every time we do the same activity. In fact, we end up craving and consuming more and more of the same to try to maintain the level of pleasure that we derived when we had it the first time. 

More often than not, excess of the same object causes displeasure, but the absence of the object that gives pleasure causes craving. In fact, the habit of pleasure seeking is often a cause of addiction, greed and unbalanced mental tendencies. Today, the world is in the grip of materialism and we find that most people are trapped in the clutches of an endless, exhausting pursuit of pleasure.

Joy 

Occasionally, when life touches a deeper chord in us, we experience it as joy. Joy is something that is not completely within our control, but we derive it from various life situations. 

Birth of a child, having good health, success in education, getting a job, achieving fame and adulation are all examples of life's joys. Even though, joy gives us deeper satisfaction, that satisfaction is temporary. 

Having a particular joy in life has a shadow of fear of losing it. And if we do end up losing it, this causes exhaustion, disillusionment and even leads to depression. 

The fear of losing often keeps us entangled in the cycle of continuous pursuit. And we find that even life's greatest joys are ephemeral as long as they keep us entangled in their pursuit.

Bliss 

Bliss is achieved when happiness becomes a state of ones mind regardless of good or bad circumstances in life. Bliss is experienced not as never enjoying a pleasure or joy in life, but as not being entangled in them. We need to learn to enjoy everything, but in moderation. This is the real happiness we must pursue, and as human beings, it is our right and our duty to achieve.

"Happiest man is he who is happy under all circumstances." - Babuji Maharaj

A person is able to live a truly happy life when they are able to experience serenity, calmness, tranquility and stability within their mind. The true happiness is everlasting and does not need an external agent to manifest itself.  Human beings are able to live a truly happy life when they are able to bring moderation and regulation in the disturbed tendencies of their mind at all levels of their existence. 

One might ask, how to gain the control of mind? The key is in evolution of consciousness! Internal regulation and balance can only be achieved when, through sufficient purification and practice, the individual consciousness is able to connect to Universal consciousness. At this point, one is able to establish the awareness of the eternal, unbroken connection to their true Self and through this connection experience peace and happiness beyond what words can describe. 

Men and women who are able to bring eternal happiness in their lives are able to spread it around them, making this world a better place for everyone.