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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 who 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 flavoured 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, it becomes undesirable. And if it is forced upon you, a
fourth glass of milk 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.
Even the most mundane things in life can become the most beautiful
experiences if viewed in a different persepctive, 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.
Therefore, the great world teacher, Lord Krishna had this very important
insight to impart to us 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, these experiences are ultimately the
source of sorrow. There is no real happiness in these sense contacts and
sense experiences. They are but mere momentary sensations afterwards
giving you pain." |
