Preface
The present book is not about academics, not even about success; it is about happiness which we all, in the ultimate analysis, are striving for. All our efforts, since childhood, have been directed toward obtaining that elusive happiness and to make it as lasting as we could. Abraham H. Maslow in A Theory of Human Motivation', Psychological Review (1943) had argued that human needs are organized in a hierarchy of importance. Once one need has been at least partially satisfied, another emerges and demands satisfaction. The top rung of the ladder of human needs is self-actualization need which he defines as, "A healthy man is primarily motivated by his needs to develop and actualize his fullest potentialities and capacities." Further he says, "Musicians must make music, artists must paint, poets must write, if they are to be ultimately at peace with themselves," and, "What man can be, he must be" Maslow gave examples of people who met this criterion using biographical analysis. People who met this standard of self-actualization included: Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, Albert Einstein, Eleanor Roosevelt, Jane Adams, William James, Albert Schweitzer, Benedict Spinoza, and Alduous Huxley. Some authors have further suggested that a man tries to satisfy his self-actualization need in many ways: by playing music, involving oneself in social service, learning computer, getting an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records, and so on. A highly commendable description of human needs, indeed. But, unfortunately, the theory itself and its interpretations fell short of comprehending what man can be, and, more importantly, the method of achieving it, if it can be achieved at all by all. We may say at once, without fear of contradiction, that man's only want is happiness, and that he seeks happiness first and foremost and above all other things, however vague and hazy be his idea of it. This understanding will make things absolutely clear and would make a very elaborate investigation or preparing a learned thesis on the subject of self-actualization entirely redundant. Those who have achieved success in worldly affairs have been able to search for happiness in many objects and places. In each new object and place they found a sense of enjoyment for a while but soon they were back to square one. As soon as the novelty is over and the force of contrast dulled, it no longer remains charming, and one has to search for something fresh. The fact of the matter is that happiness comes not from without, it depends on ourselves, as will be shown in greater detail in the pages of the book. For the moment it is sufficient to note that we ourselves are responsible for our happiness and really no outside help or device is needed to get it, and that worldly success is not the same as happiness. As regard what man can be, the highest aspiration of man can only be to attain Divinity for his soul which gives rise to unalloyed bliss and happiness, and freedom from pain and suffering. The realization of this supreme status is possible with one's own exertion, never by favour or grace of another. The reason for this is that Divinity is the essential nature of the soul, which, in the condition of impurity, or imperfection, is not manifested by it owing to the bondage of different kinds of karmas. These karmas are forces of different sorts which arise from the union of soul with matter, and which can only be destroyed by self-exertion. So long as a soul does not have faith in its own true nature, it cannot exert itself to realize its natural perfection and joy. And therefore an understanding of the forces which cripple the natural powers of the soul is essential. True knowledge, accompanied by right conduct, that is, exertion in the right direction for the destruction of the karmic bonds is the sure way which leads to the attainment of the goal of supreme bliss. The concepts of right faith, knowledge and conduct are discussed in some detail in chapters seven, eight, and ten, respectively, of the book.
About The Book
This book is not about academics, not even about success; it is about happiness which we all, in the ultimate analysis, are striving for. The book is for those who have achieved success in their worldly affairs but hold that their role in life is much bigger than just pushing figures, making strategies, and managing men. Happiness, the book suggests, resides not in any outside object, but must spring up from within. Man's search for happiness is a search for a lost or hidden article, not of anything new. Each one of us has the power to regain the lost health, vitality and happiness, provided one develops the right faith, attains knowledge and then follows the right path.
About The Author
Vijay K. Jain is an Electronics Engineer from Institute of Technology, BHU, and PGDM from IIM-Ahmedabad. Just about one year's stint with the corporate world was enough to convince him that he must be an entrepreneur; and since last more than twenty-five years he is just that leading his life in his own way, to his own taste. Mr. Jain is an Ex-President of Dehradun Manage-ment Association. He has earlier written two books.
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