Where is happiness? What is happiness? These are the two most important questions in the daily life of a human being? It has been kept mystery to all human beings from the time immortal. The parameters of happiness vary from people to people and from culture to culture. The world’s literature and folklore are full of stories that point out how futile it can be to seek happiness. Rather, happiness is a blessing that comes to you as you go along; a treasure that you incidentally find. It is supposed that happiness is a hard thing because it is achieved only by making others happy. What is treated as Real Happiness in the West may be totally rejected in the East? What is treated as real happiness in the East may be judged as violation of basic human rights? From centuries man is in the search of real happiness. The mystery is still unfolded and search of real happiness is still going on and on.
There are several schools of thoughts, which describe the reality of real happiness and show different ways leading to its final/maximum attainment by the human being. There is “Spiritualistic School of Thought”, which recited, that real happiness consists essentially in spiritual mode of life. “Materialistic School of Thought” upholds that real happiness lies simply in the conduct of materialism. “Rationalistic School of Thought” stresses that only reason/wisdom and logic can attain happiness. “Islamic School of Thought” states that the three types of life: the spiritual, the material and the rational are together essential elements of real happiness life. Divine Reality and the basic concept of the Oneness and Perfect Attributes of God gives real happiness and blessings. There are many doctrine of happiness is working in this world of uncertainty and merciless. In the beginning of universal/life, people preferred to live alone and imagined it as pure and simple happiness. Rule of mysticism and Jogiim treated loneness as real happiness. Bull-e-Shah says that happiness is a butterfly, which, when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you. According to Buddhism, happiness not a destination: it is a manner of traveling. Happiness is not an end in itself. It is a by-product of working, playing, loving and living.
What is “real happiness?” For many religious believers, it is a state of perfection that can only be achieved/obtained in the life hereafter, when they will receive eternal reward for their good deeds on Earth. Religious teachings, doctrines and philosophies are always ready to help shield people from painful realities, such as human immortality, the lack of ultimate justice, and the ravages of an indifferent natural world. It is not surprising that several recent studies report that religious believers are happier than nonbelievers around the globe. Surely, they experience a sense of social support, as well as sense of purpose and hope for the future.
Within their various religious traditions, there is a commitment to sacrifice and negate the egos of the heart. According to Sufism happiness does not lie in materialistic things but is confined only to the blessing and submission to God. Ancient mythology of Greek says that happiness is like those palaces in fairy tales whose gates are guarded by dragons so that we mist fight in order to conquer it. Aristotle, in his famous work “Nichomachean Ethics” describes happiness as Good Life and “self-fulfillment of dreams.
But with the passage of times they realized that happiness lies in the joint living. There is doctrine of ” Maximization of Enjoyment” dominates the cultures and societies of the whole west. In the west people believe that happiness lies in maximization of enjoyment, liberty and freedom. But we see that untamed, uncontrolled and unlimited pursuit of happiness brings so many socio-economic and psychological problems in the entire west. Murders, suicides, rapes, drug, abuse, robberies, thefts, and sexual, neurological, psychological problems, juvenile, disintegration of families, widespread curse of Aids, and hex of souls can easily be seen common in the west. So-called dogma of morality, justice, joint family system and truth very much projected in the east as main elements/sources of happiness. But perpetual violation of basic human rights, denial of social justice, fall of joint family system, gender discrimination, child abuse, denial of democracy, frequent religious intolerance and role of the falsified taboos show the contradictory realties of life. All moralities belong to weaker sections of the society and all powers to privileges classes in the most of the cultures and societies of the eastern countries. Then question is that where is real happiness i.e. west or east? It is said that happiness is not confined to farms and in castles, poverty or wealth. It is also not found in homes or jungles, studies, and cloisters where sensible people manage to live relatively lusty and decent lives, as moral as they must be, as free as they may be, and as masterly as they can be. If we only knew it, this elusive arrangement is happiness.
Chalmers says that a person needs just three things to be truly happy in this world i.e. someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for. Pretty girl thinks that real happiness is the name of “Proximity of He Aficionado” but when her lover betrayed her she concludes that physical love in nothing but the total wastage. Young boy believes that happiness is the name of love and romance. But it is quit true that happiness comes more from loving than being loved.
Innocent and simple people say that real happiness is say yes always to the “Ego of Heart”. But we see that ego of the hearts destroy the basic core of humanity, service and sacrifice what is why God orders the followers to follow the things of wisdom and logic. According to Miller, the intellectual pleasures provide longer-lasting benefits. Others say knowledge stands for real happiness but distinctive line between the literate and illiterate shows that knowledge brings element of hatred, jealousy, disharmony and disbelief then where is real happiness. It is our national tragedy that educated people looted the treasures of country without any mercy and fear and gave only the wounds of massive poverty, financial dependency, suppression and depression. Then is it knowledge/education bring real happiness? In Pakistan it is also quite true that education brings disappointment among the ranks of newly degree holders then where is happiness associated with Knowledge and Education.
Barren couple thinks that “Having Child” is real happiness. With the passage of time their assumption proves wrong and they feel loneliness after the separation of their beloved son i.e. wife’s slave. Small boy thinks that “Youth” is real happiness but when he comes of age he founds that this world is not worth living place. Young man thinks that “Making Marriage” brings happiness. But he is totally wrong. Mutual conspiracy of in-laws, doctrine of maximum of enjoyment and bitter economic realties teach an everlasting lesson then he realizes that he was much happier in age of virginity. Innocent people believe that “Truth” brings real happiness but in daily routine he founds that truth brings shame insult, and backwardness. Hardworking man says that “Industrious Habit” brings real happiness but results prove that only cunning minded and manipulated people achieve their goals. Common people believe that “Justice” delivers real happiness. But in real terms justice is not done but sold. Fabricated practice of justice carries more discomfort, distrust, displeasure, disharmony and disintegration.
The poor man believes that “Economic Prosperity” definitely brings happiness in his life. But arrival of wealth proves that he is wrong. Wealth does not bring real happiness but there is separation of not bodies but souls, hatred not love, trouble not peace and disintegration not harmony in his own life and associates. Flood of wealth brings the fall of home and dawn of house. People depart and walls become closer. It is really tragedy that we all want to be happy, and we are all gong to die. You might say those are the only two unchangeably true facts that apply to every human being on this plant. Weak human being concludes that “Power” carries real happiness and tries his level best to capture power. But he may be annoyed with the bitter consequences of brutal mechanism of power. Power stands for brutality, cruse, deceit and ruthless killings. The killings of millions of millions soldiers in World War I & II concludes that possession of power dies not stands for happiness but increases miseries and agonies.
Adam broke the ice and spirited with the real happiness while repenting on his follies and seek the blessings of God Almighty. Abraham experienced real happiness by offering the life of his beloved son for the submission of God. Jonas glimpsed of happiness in the belly of a great fish and found it in the genuine and complete submission of God of all worlds. Moses climbed up to the famous mountain Toor to collect treasures of real happiness and came back with 10 Commandments of God, which narrated the simple and real course of getting real happiness. Zakria made hide himself in the big trunk of a tree and founded real happiness after being martyred by the unbelievers. According to the faith of Christianity Christ, the Messiah crucified himself to save humanity from the curse of black evils and God and to gain simple and sustainable happiness. Muhammad (peace be upon him) mediated in the cave of Hira and blessed with real happiness in modesty, justice, sacrifice, assistance, forgiveness, truth, struggle, industriousness, knowledge, wisdom, logic, simplicity, and high standards of moralities and total submission towards God. Buddha left his grand palace and life of all comforts and blessings and searched the real happiness in the jungles and founded real happiness laid in the service of humanity. Confucius stressed that real happiness is very much common in active persuade of “Seven Virtues. Ram searched it in the dark caves, high mountains and strange lands and reached up to it in the well being of common man. Alexander searched real happiness by conquering the whole world and failed to win the heart of his beloved one. Unaccounted people sacrificed their lives to gain real happiness of independence for next generations in the sub-continent. A solider always stands firm on the fronts to save the happiness of their country fellow men. Imam Hussian offered his live along with his beloved one to protect the real, pure and simple teachings of Islam and to get real happiness of God.
In modern times concepts of happiness have changed. Happiness is not something that happens. It is not the result of good fortune or random chance. It is not something that money can buy or power command. It does not depend on outside events, but, rather, on how we interpret them. Happiness, in fact, is a condition that must be prepared for, cultivated, and defended privately by each person. People who learn to control inner experience will be able to determine the quality of their lives, which is as close as any of us can come to being happy. Rational approach tells that Happiness is a feeling. It is probably the balance of pains and pleasures, fortunes, sacrifice, love, cooperation, harmony, justice, truth and decency. Happiness lies in the distribution of easiness among others. Happiness stands for forgiveness and justice. Happiness is the name of compromise with unpredicted life. Happiness is the name of struggle and courage. Happiness may be founded in seeking of true knowledge and rule of wisdom. Happiness may be shared in service and duty. Happiness is also the name of success; happiness may also be founded in humanity. Happiness may be seen in the laughs of small kid, tears of a mother, and genuine concerns of a trust worthy companion. This life is combination of joys and sorrows and honest efforts should be done to make this life journey of happiness, love, peace and harmony because LIFE is play/game of one innings.
