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Whta is happiness?
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Messages: 1 - 4 (71 total)
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abmehta
1/3/2007 10:12 AM
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1 out of 71 |
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I have enjoyed occasions when I succeeded in whatever I was involved in during that period. But then there were more number of occasions when I felt disappointed or sad. Now when I am a senior citizen, I often wonder what is real happiness. Spiritual persuit has further confused my view of happiness. It is different from enjoyment. Does short term happiness conflicts with the long term view of happiness? I invite readers to join me in discussing this question as we all want to be happy, at least that is what I presume.
-anand
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lapatosu
1/4/2007 5:07 PM
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2 out of 71 |
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I've spent a day thinking of your question. It is such a vast one, much like NHT's thread on "what is grace?"
I really don't have any straight forward thoughts about this to give to a 71 year old male from India. Maybe if we approach it from the perspective of what happiness is not. For example, happiness is not owning 12 homes, at least, not for me. I wouldn't know what to do with them, and the responsibility would be extremely stressful.
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Sacred_Fool
1/4/2007 7:59 PM
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3 out of 71 |
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This is a very good question. For me, happiness is not my highest goal. I would love to be happy, but I hold integrity above happiness, and because of this I may be living more authentically but I may also be unhappy. Does this bother me? Of course it does, but I know that as long as I am truthful to myself I will eventually find happiness in me. Where does happiness come from? I believe it comes from within me, not from things or even other people. It may seem that other people can "make" me happy, but really that happiness starts from within me and then it is able to flow outwards. Some may have the power to nurture others' happiness but it still starts from within the individual. So, nothing "makes" me happy. My happiness is within me and it is always there, just like the sun is always shining even if it is behind an overcast sky. What exactly is happiness? Of course this would be a very personal thing for everyone, but for me I believe happiness is being comfortable in the moment. Being comfortable with yourself, your situation, and accepting everything in the moment. It's also the excitement, wonder, and awe that just being alive brings. I think that being thankful also has a lot to do with happiness. Overall, this is a very complex question and I am not sure my answer even satisfies myself, but it's close.
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Sacred_Fool
1/4/2007 8:08 PM
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4 out of 71 |
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"Does short term happiness conflicts with the long term view of happiness?"
That's also a tough question! I know it can with me. For instance; I'm a drug addict. I have often struggled with the reality that a pill could bring me a temporary happiness, but obviously screws up my long term chance at happiness. For me, the "short term" happiness is in reality instant gratification. Instant gratification may seem like happiness, but obviously it isn't. I believe that true "long term" happiness is more gentle.
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