How Happy Are You!

Happiness is not a Destination

Happiness is within me from the moment I am conceived! But I have NO awareness of it. Life is all about discovering that HAPPINESS.

I wonder how many of us would accept that! Happiness is not a destination. Then what is it? Is it not what all of us want? I have time and again asked people in personal talks, in counselling, in Seminars and even in railway train conversations, "what is it you want most in life?" And the the answer invariably would be the same, "HAPPINESS"

Material Wealth

So we are all busy in the business of finding happiness. We work hard to make enough money and hope to be happy. We buy gold and silver, jewelry and cosmetics, land and houses, cars and what not. But where is happiness?
In fact the "Pain" quotient just goes higher. We now have to protect our wealth, and create fear. Fear of being robbed, fear of being cheated, relationships that once were cordial now turn "sour" as we begin to distrust. We become competitive in work and business, dishonest create enemies. I'm sure you get the idea. But where is "HAPPINESS".

Power and Position 

If it is not Material wealth, then ofcourse it is Power and Position. As I grow wealthier (or poorer), I convince myself happiness is just round the corner, once I get that promotion. Once I am in charge, once I am the BOSS. But all it brings is headaches, and headaches and more headaches. Not to mention, ulcers, and backaches, and sleepless nights. But "HAPPINESS" where is "HAPPINESS"

As though that is not enough, I take to social drinking, then to smoking, friends convince me gambling and drugs will enhance my image and soon I find myself spiraling down a bottomless well. But NO Happiness.

Relationships (legitimate or otherwise)

Then ofcourse in our search for Happiness, we have always turned to relationships, companionships, friendships, Oh! Yes, marriage, family. Call it what you like, for we have always believed that someday, somehow, somewhere, I will find someone who will truly love me just the way I want to be loved, who will accept me just the way I am  and who will never find fault with me. Unfortunately that just never happens and so happiness remains an illusion.

What is worse, that in whom I hoped to find happiness, has now become a drag! A source of pain and suffering for me. He or she (as the case might be) now expects me to fulfill his or her needs. Or blatantly makes use of me and all I possess and Am.

Then there is the relationship where I have become in a sense addicted. I have become attached, dependent and consequently feel robbed of my freedom. I cannot live without the other. Result I am jealous, I am hurt, I am angered etc. So where is Happiness and where is Love! All a myth, all an illusion.

Happiness! Where is it! What is it!

Yes, as I mentioned at the beginning, it is within us, perhaps it is the Divine in each of us. But we are unaware of its existence. 

From the moment of our conception, but more so when we are born,  we are being distracted. We are literally being trained to think, to believe that my life, my happiness depends on others, on things, persons and experiences external to me. In short, Parents, relatives, friends and the world around us transcribe their broken "Scripts" upon the new born child and recreate a broken version of themselves - selfish, self centred, fearful, angry, UNHAPPY.

To be Happy, all one needs is  AWARENESS and DETACHMENT. 

To be aware one needs SILENCE. To achieve silence one needs to MEDITATE. In Meditation one will realise how imprisoned one is. Imprisoned or Attached to Material wealth; Imprisoned or Attached to the will (or EGO); Imprisoned or Attached to Persons.

To be Happy, to be Free, all I need to do is to DROP my ATTACHMENT. Put another way, I need to practice "Letting Go". I need to Practice Detachment. I must understand there is no peace, no happiness, no love in Attachment. There is only selfishness, pain and sickness. 

(I hope this elicits reflection and questions)