Highway to Happiness.

Everyone wants to be happy. But life is full of suffering and illness, but people always look for happiness. Aristotle remarked “Happiness is the whole aim of man and end of human existence.” As human being, we engage in life and seek happiness, even when it hurts.

In this ever changing world, what makes someone happy? Is it good health, money in the bank, modern computers, internet chatting, fame, a good family? 

Happiness is not the absence of emotional misery, or knowing modern technology or lack of anxiety syndrome. Happiness is an art and science. It requires spiritual knowledge and effort. People think that happiness is important and they starve for it. If we speak about happiness in contemporary culture, we can undoubtedly say that modern civilization and the consumer spirit resulting from it are not conducive in the development of happiness. Modern science and technology has created a strange paradox. These modern gadgets can help make our life more enjoyable, but these are certainly not a Highway to Happiness.  While pursuing a vision of progress and improvement in human condition, modern technology and consumerism has led to increasing dehumanization, unhappiness, alienation and cognitive dissonance.

Cognitive dissonance occurs when human beings are confronted with new technology, new information processing or consumer products that contradicts what we know or believe. Cloud computers, fast information processing, and new communication system can be exciting. But they also can be a pain. Our world view, personal philosophy, and daily life can be challenged to the extent that people can be nervous and anxious. Modern technology has reduced our traditional wisdom into knowledge, knowledge into information and information into data and data can be used to manipulate and disorient us.

There is no easy resolution to reduce cognitive dissonance. Spiritual knowledge and satisfying our life transitional needs including need for affiliation and salvation (Moksha) is the only Highway to eternal Happiness. Ralph Waldo Emerson put it this way 170 years ago “Citizen must be brave in this endeavor and not fearful—fear always spring from ignorance”. We cannot afford to be unhappy, anxious and fearful. There is no easy solution to our unhappiness, or look for easy road to reach Happiness. That’s been tried before, and it doesn’t work.

Today, People’s love for humanity, search for happiness and spirituality became a rare phenomenon. Consumer society offer momentary pseudo-happiness and meaningless values. This throwaway culture has a profound influence on the character structure of modern life. New developments in modern technology force people to adapt to novelty, transience, and meaningless modernity. An increasing number of people cease to be independent and become dependent on modern consumer gadgets.  The emphasis is on buying new products and an ever increasing number of unwanted goods. For several people, Happiness is the accumulation of modern gadgets. As a result people suffer from intrinsic and extrinsic problems.

The basic realty is that possession of ever changing material goods is not going to make people happy. The basic reality lies in the totality of human existence. These modern consumer products offer form pseudo-happiness. Modern men are alienated from their own spiritual powers. They are deprived of all of their inner strength. Unhappiness and disappointment are bound to occur. And as a remedy people seek for new consumer goods, reach for drugs and or alcohol, and attend special training that offers pseudo-Happiness. And it sometimes happens in an unending cycle.

One can find Happiness from within. Make our Atman and Brahman our partner. Become one with our ultimate reality (Brahman). One may not see Brahman but acknowledging HIM will make our life happy. Happiness can be found in following our Dharma. It is rooted in science and based in a perception of reality that reaches beyond the scientific framework to intuitive awareness of oneness of life.

When the concept of Happiness understood in the spiritual (Vedic) sense, as the individual (JIVA_ATMA) is connected to the cosmos as a whole (BRAHMA), one become HAPPY. The awareness is truly spiritual. This Hindu concept is holistic, spiritual and life affirming.

The Hindu perception is based on Hindu Dharma, and it is humanistic, realistic, and achievable. It also recognizes transcendental needs as intrinsic aspects of Human Happiness. It is right of every individual to pursue happiness. And the spiritual path is the only Highway to Happiness.

 

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