Quest for happiness

Forsych

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Follow us:WhatsappFacebookTwitterTelegram.cls-1{fill:#4d4d4d;}.cls-2{fill:#fff;}Google NewsThough men may differ widely in their concept of happiness, the quest for happiness is a common characteristic of human life. In general, happiness is a state of mind and is about inner balance and equilibrium as a result of bodily and mental satisfaction. While we attempt to achieve happiness through a number of activities, we must be conscious of the fact that every person is a member of the human society and their thoughts, deeds or feelings should not lead to unhappiness of other fellow beings.All of us are forever judging the good or the bad, the happiness or misery of other people’s lives. More often, our judgments do not agree with the subjective estimates of the lives we judge.If a film celebrity heavily endowed with wealth, health, beauty, love and fame says that her life is not as good as she wished, most of us either refuse to believe her or wonder what is wrong with her. We are equally incredulous about the reports of obscure people who judge their endless drudgery as leading a good life.People will try to avoid pain and suffering. Yet, it requires elementary wisdom to realise that pain and suffering cannot be totally avoided, no matter how clever we are. Both can be better faced or endured if we have developed a particular attitude towards these evils. Virtues are nothing but such attitudes or dispositions that we build to face situations successfully. Courage is the right disposition towards bodily pleasures and pains. Justice is the right nature in the apportionment of pleasures and pains among our fellow beings.Liberality is the right disposition towards pleasures and pains of dealing with material goods. Maintaining the right dispositions is the essence of good life. When we judge the lives of others, we not only look at their pleasures and pains they have, but also at their attitude towards them, as revealed by their thoughts and deeds.A man who does not value bodily pleasures for himself as highly desirable is judged as one having qualified for good life. For those who refuse to develop such virtues, we have only pity or contempt.The next criterion is emotional security. A life filled with fear, anxiety, frustration, despair and loneliness is not considered to be good. These ills are not always physiological or environmental in origin.They are preventable and remediable by some effort on the part of the sufferer. The situation becomes complicated because the sufferer often conceals his emotional aches and pains. The genius may feel miserable, we wonder why.first published:August 29, 2012, 08:03 ISTlast updated:August 29, 2012, 08:03 IST
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Though men may differ widely in their concept of happiness, the quest for happiness is a common characteristic of human life. In general, happiness is a state of mind and is about inner balance and equilibrium as a result of bodily and mental satisfaction. While we attempt to achieve happiness through a number of activities, we must be conscious of the fact that every person is a member of the human society and their thoughts, deeds or feelings should not lead to unhappiness of other fellow beings.

All of us are forever judging the good or the bad, the happiness or misery of other people’s lives. More often, our judgments do not agree with the subjective estimates of the lives we judge.

If a film celebrity heavily endowed with wealth, health, beauty, love and fame says that her life is not as good as she wished, most of us either refuse to believe her or wonder what is wrong with her. We are equally incredulous about the reports of obscure people who judge their endless drudgery as leading a good life.

People will try to avoid pain and suffering. Yet, it requires elementary wisdom to realise that pain and suffering cannot be totally avoided, no matter how clever we are. Both can be better faced or endured if we have developed a particular attitude towards these evils. Virtues are nothing but such attitudes or dispositions that we build to face situations successfully. Courage is the right disposition towards bodily pleasures and pains. Justice is the right nature in the apportionment of pleasures and pains among our fellow beings.

Liberality is the right disposition towards pleasures and pains of dealing with material goods. Maintaining the right dispositions is the essence of good life. When we judge the lives of others, we not only look at their pleasures and pains they have, but also at their attitude towards them, as revealed by their thoughts and deeds.

A man who does not value bodily pleasures for himself as highly desirable is judged as one having qualified for good life. For those who refuse to develop such virtues, we have only pity or contempt.

The next criterion is emotional security. A life filled with fear, anxiety, frustration, despair and loneliness is not considered to be good. These ills are not always physiological or environmental in origin.

They are preventable and remediable by some effort on the part of the sufferer. The situation becomes complicated because the sufferer often conceals his emotional aches and pains. The genius may feel miserable, we wonder why.