Every individual wishes to be happy. The wish is associated or depends on health, wealth and attitude etc. Happiness is a relative term as the meaning and understanding of this term varies from person to person. For most of us, the journey in search of happiness is unending. The subject of this book looks simple and common. But in the present day world, it has assumed great significance.
World Health Organisation (WHO) projects 15% of the adult population to be suffering from mental disorders by the year 2005. According to WHO report of September, 1996, unipolar depression was number one disease among women all over the world. It also adds that depression will be the second highest disease that people from all over the world, will suffer by 2020. One out of four urban Indians suffer from mental problems. The fast-paced life and high stress levels are the root causes. There is genuine reason for unhappiness in each of us. We try to be happy in our own ways, which are correct from our points of view. There are as many views on happiness as many people. However the question of happiness does not arise unless the basic needs are met. The urge in each person to get happiness in worldly things, be they people or objects, is short-lived. But the scriptures of all religions convey the message of inner or divine happiness, which is persisting.
The purpose of this book is to take a holistic view to attain happiness in our lives. An effort is made to deal with this subject, which is so vast and in which everybody is interested, from the heart.
In order to do something, which may be of some use to others, it inspired me to write these pages. There was the habit of scribbling daily personal experiences, whatever came to the mind. After writing for over two years, these ideas were found to be interesting and were compiled in this book. A number of suggestions are given which are based on personal experiences. If anybody finds any one of the suggestions useful, it is better to pursue it further because the nature of each person is different. Just as a menu is different from place to place, the various ingredients are also variable. Similarly each person has to choose what is suitable for oneself to be happy out of the various suggestions given in these pages. Sincere effort is made to activate mental strength so as to lead us to the path of peace and happiness.
What was the purpose of God or even of our parents in giving birth to us? For us to enjoy every moment! But what we are doing is everything except enjoying. Our scriptures teach us that we cannot get inner happiness from the material world except by following the spiritual path. But the mind is hankering after petty goals and gets irritated easily. Why cannot we be the bosses? Why are we leading this life of suffering by following the mind even after gaining so much experience over the years? When will we learn from our experiences? So I laugh at myself!
When He sent us to the earth crying, the first feeling we felt was that of love from the mother and others. Why did we forget this message of love? The greatest persons born on this earth and great saints practiced love and spread the message of love to humanity. Why are we selfish and heartless to others? It makes me laugh!
After a long married life, we do not laugh heartily with each other and do not enjoy small jokes. Why do we still crib at each other without caring for the other's feelings? Why do we not express our love even though we miss each other when we are away? Why don't we enjoy each moment that life offers us? Why cannot I say a word of praise to her or vice versa? When one of us will depart from this world, the other will feel sad and remember the missed opportunities. Why cannot we improve? So I laugh at myself!
When we read the scriptures of any religion, we get a feeling of divinity i.e. the person talking is not the body but the spirit within. Though divine, we are worrying, weeping and hankering after money and other desires. What a contrast between what we really are and the way we are living! Why are we hankering after every small desire and making an ass of ourselves even at this late age? Why do we not learn that we are not sent to worry and weep? When will we be as we are? Why don't we start realizing the folly of our thoughts? So I laugh at myself!
When we see nature's fury, it tells us that everyday is not the same and change is the law of nature. So let us make each day, rather each moment memorable by doing good to others in our own small way, by giving or motivating others. We are likely to get back the same in return. Why do we not follow these lofty ideas? So I laugh at myself!
Why do we want children? To enjoy their company. to share love and for progeny so that they would help us in our old age? Why do we not learn from the experience of others? Is it correct to expect from our children in the 21st century when the cultural values are changing so fast? If we observe the world discreetly and learn from the experiences of others, we realize that we love our children and when our children grow up, they in turn would love their own children. So it would be futile to expect mercies in old age from near and dear ones because they also have to lead their lives in their own way. The earlier we realize this the better. It is better to have least expectation from them as many of our pampered younger generation follow their own paths. So I laugh at myself!
Since tender age, we notice, at close range, people dying. We see our dearest passing away before our eyes when we attend their funerals. But whenever I start thinking about my death, my mind immediately distracts me by bringing in some other thought. My mind does not want me to think on those lines. Why don't we enjoy every moment because the time is fleeting and the present moment goes away in a split second? Why cannot we live In the present by forgetting the past and the future? Just because others do it or the whole world does it, should we follow the beaten track and make life miserable and old age in tears or being a nervous wreck? We will, no doubt, become old and dependent on others but we need not lament and weep but try to make every passing moment memorable. A moment lost is lost forever and can never come back. So make the best use of time and leave the rest to God. There is no use of thinking over and over again about the mistakes we made in the past and repenting over them. Why are we wasting our valuable time in thinking of the past or future and missing the golden opportunity of the present moment? So I laugh at myself!
Many times, the actions taken by us in the heat of the moment are in a wrong direction and we go on spending our energies on those lines. Still we do not adopt such measures that would lead us to happiness. So I laugh at myself!
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