What Brings Us Joy?
He said, "Happiness is the path," and it's widely accepted that Buddha said that. At the very least, that's what one of the stickers in my dorm room claims to say. For millennia, man has been preoccupied with finding a way to be happy. During human evolution, something profoundly changed our perspective on life's purpose. As part of the solution, or perhaps as a first step toward it, there are those like Buddha.
To address these concerns has led to the formation of several ideologies as well as faiths over the years. Many people's quest for pleasure on this planet drives them to perform extraordinary things, yet this drive may also lead to enormous pain if it is misdirected. What is the best way to find happiness and what should be the focus of our efforts? This essay's first paragraph claims that there is no way to be happy because happiness is the only way. Let me elaborate on how I came to understand this issue.
Suffering's Original Cause:
The majority of the things that cause us to be miserable are material in nature, even if it sounds like a Buddhist cliché. They're the things we don't actually need, but that make us happy nonetheless. This idea was not just conveyed by a wise man in India in the 6th century BC, but by many others as well. Socrates and Jesus are only two examples of those who have had a profound impact on the world.
The inconsistency in the instructions for achieving happy is what fascinates me about the pursuit of happiness. At first, the goal is to be decent and hardworking in order to gain the things you desire and need in life; however as you start to strive for money, you discover that your life is turning into a game of money grabbing. Consequently, the source of your happiness and stability becomes the source of your anxiety and hostility. When it comes to the pursuit of happiness, some people believe that all material items are a necessary part of it.
If you're in love with someone you're not intended to be, what's the point of it all? The aforementioned advice tells you to give up on your dreams and you'll be free of limitations. It's hard to tell if this is happiness. Or is the true joy found in the pursuit of the seemingly impossible?
Happiness is found in the following place:
People frequently overlook the fact that they are, after all, animals with their own unique set of instincts and requirements. People, like all other animals, are stuck in a struggle for survival, and if you find yourself in the wrong situation, it can be a true hardship to make it through the day. Men have protected themselves from most of nature's dangers, but in doing so, they have forgotten what they have created.
Consider the present from the standpoint of the past. A century ago, up to 80% of all children died from disease, clean water was a rarity for much of our existence, and people had to work for food production and year-round sustenance. Even though some of us are dissatisfied because we do not have everything we wish for, this is merely a sign of our collective infancy. Having a place to call home, a roof over your head, and plenty of food to eat are the only things that may truly provide happiness to a person.
Rejecting all material possessions or earning more money than you can spend will not bring happiness. Looking at your own life and those around you, as well as the lives of others, and realizing that you have so much to be thankful for, is a key to finding a sense of equilibrium. Life does not grant wishes; it's our responsibility to fulfill our own desires. Until that happens, we'll never be satisfied with our lives of happiness. Changing our viewpoint can have a greater impact on our life than anything we can acquire.
