Happiness

Happiness, in general terminology or in common parlance has an important place with some significance, which has not been so far recognised.  Happiness, at the outset, has a great effective power on all individuals, whose aim is how to attain it. This question is much more difficult to give an exact answer.  Happiness has various concepts.  We are happy when something fructifies in our lives.  We are happy, when we achieve name and fame.  We are happy, when the wheel of fortune turns in our favour, we are happy when we obtain spectacular success in all our endeavours. Can we call all these aforesaid salient features as happiness?  Can there be anything beyond this?  The answer or solution, on the other hand, is absolutely in the negative.  In point of fact, this type of happiness is rather ephemeral.  Then what is real happiness!  Some say that happiness is divine. Happiness can be said to be a spontaneous over flow of an emotional joy, which, at times leads us to madness or total catastrophe.

“The mind is its own place
And in itself can make an unhappiness
Of happiness or happiness of an
Unhappiness”

Happiness is contentment and contentment is happiness. Some people are of the opinion that service is also happiness and happiness is service.  These two things are, undoubtedly the manifestations of inner happiness and at the same time a boon unsurpassable on this planet.  When we face the realities of life such as truth, sufferings, sorrows and also happiness, we have to accept them in order to know the complete meaning of life.  The great celebrated and unique personalities laid down their lives for the mankind with a view to propagating and leading the people in the right path. The compassionate Buddha, once a Prince, renounced materialistic pleasures and went in pursuit of real happiness or truth.  Jesus Christ, in the name of truth and happiness was crucified.  The Greek philosopher, Socrates, died in the goal as he was given a cup of poisonous juice, called hemlock, for his preachings of truth and freedom.  Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation also died for his principles of truth and non-violence.

Happiness is within us, everywhere and around us. The whole perception of happiness is to share one’s inner feelings with the people.  In England, the Lady who served the wounded soldiers during war was none other than Florence Nightingale.  She attained eternal bliss or happiness.  Service to humanity is real happiness, which cannot be got even if the entire gold of the world is placed before our feet. Happiness does purport to say that to be happy is not at all happiness.  Thus different things make different people happy.

In short, happiness is a state of mind, which should come from within.