Arjuna’s duty was to fight the war of Mahabharata. He was the most skilled warrior of his time and the cause they were fighting was also fair. Yet, when he stood facing the Kauravas’s army, which consisted of none other than his own family, teacher and friends, many doubts started clouding his mind. Even if his side won the war, would they be happy? Should not following one’s Dharma lead to a path of happiness?

Just like attaining moksha is the goal of one’s whole life, being happy is the goal of one’s day to day life. Our every act is in pursuit of being happy. Though the goal to be happy seems very clear and simple, it is equally difficult to understand the meaning of true happiness. What constitutes happiness and what it is to have a good life has been a question that every philosopher has been wondering about since the dawn of consciousness came upon humanity.

It might be possible that a person with all the riches feels sad, anxious and forlorn while a person with almost no material possessions has peace, happiness and satisfaction in their heart. In this world that we live in, we often attach the notion of being happy with our material possessions, standard of living and their status in society. However, happiness being a multifaceted concept does not fit into this criterion.

In the past few centuries, the world has seen enormous economic progress and the per capita income as well as standard of living has risen for almost every nation. Yet, when we see today, the cases of depression, loneliness and other mental distresses have been constantly, so much that 280 million people are depressed today as per WHO. It might be possible because in the race for material progress, we have somewhere missed the idea of simplicity and authenticity that brings wholesomeness to one’s life.

When an individual’s thoughts, words, and actions are in alignment, they embody a sense of wholeness and truthfulness. Be it Buddha or Mahavira, both realized the holes in their hearts that no amount of riches could fill, and they set out on a path to find the true meaning of life. After years of wandering in search of the true meaning of life, Buddha finally came to realize that the world is full of sorrow and everything from birth to death brings sorrows in life.  The cause of sorrow is desire. It is the un-fulfilment of human desires which leads him to the vicious cycle of births and rebirths.

Thus, one must not link fulfilment of desires as the ultimate path to happiness, but one should try to live authentically to cultivate a deep connection with one’s inner self and reduce internal conflicts caused by cognitive dissonance. This philosophy we later see in Mahatma Gandhi, who chose an austere way of life and purity of soul above all. For him, happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.

Though it might seem unnatural to annihilate all desires, the idea is not to annihilate it but to win over them and have them under control. It is possible when we make a conscious effort to establish a congruence between our thoughts, beliefs, and actions. Today, we talk about fighting climate change and pollution, but our behaviour in day-to-day life contrasts with what we believe and want. Despite all the bans, we still use plastic, do not care about waste management, and don’t really care about the judicious usage of resources. Our greed has taken over our needs and this is reflected in the amount of waste generated per person and the carbon footprint, this keeps rising with rising income.

Such a lack of alignment between thoughts, words, and actions leads to cognitive dissonance which is a state of mental discomfort caused by such inconsistencies. This in turn gives rise to inner conflict, anxiety, and stress. In India, we see a large number of student suicides every year, as per one report 35 students in the age group of 15-29 commit suicide. This is saddening not only because we are losing their great potential, but we are not able to educate our students about the fundamental life skill that is how to be happy. We try to make a fish climb the tree and when it struggles, we blame it for its lack of effort or talent. It is our fault that in pursuit of notional happiness we sacrifice true happiness.

Happiness is not a virtue of an individual only, but it should be a way of life for the whole society. In a society where there is liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith, and worship, strive for a happy citizenry. It is not just about freedom and openness between two individuals or classes etc., but between the government and its citizens that makes a cornerstone of a trust based and happy democratic society. A transparent, fair, and responsive government will reflect the aims and aspirations of its people and enable them to achieve them.

In recent times, we have seen the rise in need for such responsible roles from both citizens and governments to make our societies a happy place again. We are burdened with so many prejudices, inequalities, and intolerance that we fail to see the outcome of our actions in the wave of our emotions. Be it an issue of artificial intelligence, be it the race to space, be it geopolitical warfare or some ethnic clash, be it economic crisis or be it climate situation, today we are moving towards the edge of extreme despair and discontentment.

Thus, we need to align our thoughts, beliefs, and actions towards a common good and more humane objectives. This starts with improvements at personal levels. Self-reflection and mindfulness play pivotal roles in achieving congruence. The practice of introspection allows individuals to explore their inner landscape, identify inconsistencies, and realign themselves. Mindfulness, on the other hand, encourages present-moment awareness and conscious decision-making.

When there is honesty and harmony in one’s thoughts, words, and actions, a sense of authenticity permeates life. This authenticity, born from self-awareness, fuels a deeper connection to oneself and, by extension, to others. An individual who embodies this harmony emits an aura of integrity, drawing people in with an inherent trust in their genuineness. The legacy of leaders like King Ashoka, who renounced violence to propagate compassion, resonates through the ages. His edicts promoting tolerance and welfare stand as a testament to a ruler who aligned his actions with his values, thereby enriching his kingdom and the world.

Similarly, we need to establish more effective means of communication which helps with such an alignment at all levels- personal, professional, and political. Transparent communication helps in creating an atmosphere of trust and openness, enabling individuals to express themselves honestly and authentically. It is indeed time to give at par importance to the Global Happiness Index with GDP and Human development index. Delhi Government’s Happiness curriculum targets the same among children and that seems to be just the right place to start to bring such reforms in society.

We can say that ethics and morals are necessary for a happy life, in the same way happiness at heart makes it easier to be moral and ethical. Thus, When the ethical choices we make resonate with our inner values, we experience a sense of integrity and elation. This integrity not only enriches our lives but ripples through society, inspiring others to uphold their beliefs consistently. It in turn makes us more empathetic and compassionate towards others. Examples like Mother Teresa, Florence Nightingale, Kailash Satyarthi, etc. give a face to such passion to serve others as a true path for happiness.

Happiness as an idea cannot be selfish. It may demand some compromise or some sacrifice. It demands patience. Momentary happiness is nothing but gratification that fades away quickly. For a state of constant bliss, we need to focus on other important aspects. One such aspect is the age-old wisdom of Nishkama Karma i.e., doing one’s duty without any attachments to the goals. That is nothing but another way of putting our thoughts, beliefs, and actions into a synchronized way to achieve the ultimate happiness. Hence, we can conclude that happiness is not a destination but a whole journey that one undertakes.

As Rumi would say, “When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy.”

EXTRA EDGE:

Useful Quotes:

• “Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm, and harmony.” – Thomas Merton
• “Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.” – Dalai Lama
• “Happiness is not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
• “Happiness is not something that you get in life. Happiness is something that you bring to life.” – Wayne Dyer
• “Happiness is not about getting all you want, it is about enjoying all you have.” – Unknown
• “Happiness is a journey, not a destination.” – Ben Sweetland