Enigmatic Question: What Is Happiness
The question, 'What is Happiness?" is an enigma. It is like the question, 'What is time?" of which Augustine in 'Confessions' says, "If one asks me I know, but when Iam ked to explain I am at a loss, as I am table to provide an answer." pines, like the notion of time, is nothing about which we know but en asked to explain, we are at a loss to e a cogent answer. As Wittgenstein t, it is "something that we know when one asks us, but no longer know when are supposed to give an account of." Like Schopenhauer, we can say, "Al pines and gratification, is that Wich is negative, the mere abolition of esire and extinction of pain.” This inition explains the fact that "as a ewe find pleasure much less asurable, pain much more painful stand still; in happiness, it takes wing. Happiness is not a natural state of mind or body If it were an innate passive state, Aristotle argues, "It might belong even to a man who slept all through his life, passing a vegetable existence, or to a victim of the greatest misfortune." We have to strive and make a conscious effort to achieve happiness. Happiness is inherent in an activity. Happiness is not a means but an end in itself. Happiness is distinct from pleasure. Pleasure can be abandoned after it is achieved, as its attainment marks the end of the quest for t Happiness surrenders to its fulfilment. It is a continuous, never ending process of purging desires and annihilation of pain and suffering. It is perpetual. hows that happiness is not whatwe wish to achieve at any cost. Suppose we have a drug that induces in us extreme, infinite and perpetual happiness. But, it has a side effect that renders us infertile, making ours the last generation of human beings. Most of us will decline to take that drug as we value continuity of the human race above our individual or collective happiness because continuity of life has an intrinsic value higher than any other value. Thus, happiness alone cannot be the end of human conduct. Charkas, like other materialists, wrongly believe that summum bonum of happiness lies only in eating delicious food, keeping company of young men and women, using fine clothes, with sandal paste and so on. Aristotle argues, "Happiness lies incontrol of oneself and becoming masteof one's own passions and appetites".He says, "Intemperate craving can never be satisfied. Temperate life is onin which one is content with whatever comes to hand and asks for no more." The temperate and moderate are happier than the intemperate. As the old adage goes, "Happiness is not havingwhat you want. It is appreciatirwhat you have." The key to happiness, according to Plato, is living life as a "play, playing certain games, making sacrifices, singingand dancing". Indic wisdom says, life is a lila, play Contentment iswhat makes us happy. What makes us content differs according to the contexfrom time to time, from one form of lifeto anotherform of life. So, too, is the notion of happiness.
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in the Article above are Ashok Vohr views and kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it.
Courtesy: Ashok Vohra and Speaking Tree,Times of India
Enigmatic Question: What Is Happiness
The question, 'What is Happiness?" is an enigma. It is like the question, 'What is time?" of which Augustine in 'Confessions' says, "If one asks me I know, but when Iam ked to explain I am at a loss, as I am table to provide an answer." pines, like the notion of time, is nothing about which we know but en asked to explain, we are at a loss to e a cogent answer. As Wittgenstein t, it is "something that we know when one asks us, but no longer know when are supposed to give an account of." Like Schopenhauer, we can say, "Al pines and gratification, is that Wich is negative, the mere abolition of esire and extinction of pain.” This inition explains the fact that "as a ewe find pleasure much less asurable, pain much more painful stand still; in happiness, it takes wing. Happiness is not a natural state of mind or body If it were an innate passive state, Aristotle argues, "It might belong even to a man who slept all through his life, passing a vegetable existence, or to a victim of the greatest misfortune." We have to strive and make a conscious effort to achieve happiness. Happiness is inherent in an activity. Happiness is not a means but an end in itself. Happiness is distinct from pleasure. Pleasure can be abandoned after it is achieved, as its attainment marks the end of the quest for t Happiness surrenders to its fulfilment. It is a continuous, never ending process of purging desires and annihilation of pain and suffering. It is perpetual. hows that happiness is not whatwe wish to achieve at any cost. Suppose we have a drug that induces in us extreme, infinite and perpetual happiness. But, it has a side effect that renders us infertile, making ours the last generation of human beings. Most of us will decline to take that drug as we value continuity of the human race above our individual or collective happiness because continuity of life has an intrinsic value higher than any other value. Thus, happiness alone cannot be the end of human conduct. Charkas, like other materialists, wrongly believe that summum bonum of happiness lies only in eating delicious food, keeping company of young men and women, using fine clothes, with sandal paste and so on. Aristotle argues, "Happiness lies incontrol of oneself and becoming masteof one's own passions and appetites".He says, "Intemperate craving can never be satisfied. Temperate life is onin which one is content with whatever comes to hand and asks for no more." The temperate and moderate are happier than the intemperate. As the old adage goes, "Happiness is not havingwhat you want. It is appreciatirwhat you have." The key to happiness, according to Plato, is living life as a "play, playing certain games, making sacrifices, singingand dancing". Indic wisdom says, life is a lila, play Contentment iswhat makes us happy. What makes us content differs according to the contexfrom time to time, from one form of lifeto anotherform of life. So, too, is the notion of happiness.
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in the Article above are Ashok Vohr views and kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it.
Courtesy: Ashok Vohra and Speaking Tree,Times of India