Joseph Lewis D’ Silva
Everyone desires happiness as a way to avoid sufferings. But the understanding that happiness is produced within and not originated from external matters is not taught in schools and colleges.
The following quote, often attributed to Sadguru Thyagaraja is: “You may have a good family life with wife and children. You may have wealth, power and prestige. You may be scrupulously carrying out all the religious rites and rituals. You may not be lacking in any worldly want. You may be adept in all the scriptures and texts. With all your knowledge, you may possess the ability to read people’s minds and gauge them. You may be respected in society for your knowledge and learning, you may have even developed the power to control your senses --- but, without the inner peace happiness eludes you.”
Yes, happiness which is derived only from external objects of gratification such as power, wealth, fame, appearance, money, relationships, status or travel --- can provide a few days of happiness. It is short-lived.
True happiness lies within a person. It doesn’t come from acquiring everything one desires. It comes from inward realization, that happiness is a mindset; --- a mental attitude to enjoy with inner calmness with what one has in the present; and in understanding this fact about happiness; that internal happiness is lasting.
Two negative forces that torment the minds of human beings and bring about their downfall are desire and anger. As a result of which calmness and self-control is disturbed. Therefore, some precautions are to be taken, so that one’s true happiness are not polluted. First of all, when the mind gets agitated if one is unable to achieve one’s desirable things, another one raises its head; and the cruel cycle goes on and on; in such cases, the person should cultivate inner wisdom of peace with discipline of mind and body. Peace comes to a person by controlling one’s mood and emotions. But the one who has no control over his senses, he does not have mental purity. Without mental purity, man cannot attempt to look inward and thus he gets no inner peace; and without inner peace, real happiness does not last for long; because happiness is an internal phenomenon and not an external achievement.
Secondly, one should make friends with people who bring joy, and avoid those persons who mock or belittle you.
Thirdly, avoid low self-esteem and inferiority complex. Be kind to self during difficult moments without indulging in self criticizing; because the way you picture yourself in your mind can affect your happiness. Fourthly, habits prevents us from changing the happiness on external objects. Here the precaution to be taken is to change one’s erroneous thoughts --- the likes and dislikes that reside in one’s heart area.
Just as our body requires physical exercise to keep it healthy, so also, the mind requires internal exercise.
One should forget grudges or negative feelings towards others to reduce stress.
These internal precautions creates a long lasting happiness. Lastly, the simple and direct method to overcome unhappiness is to appeal to the indwelling divine, through prayers. The everlasting happiness can be experienced with God.
In conclusion, true happiness is lasting, firm on inner state of peace and satisfaction. It is not a fleeting moment which is tied to external achievement or possessions.
One should live like the lotus --- unaffected by the muddy surroundings in which it grows; and behave like the lotus leaf which is un-wetted by the drop of water on it.