What do we see around us? Many people have money and
possessions but are not happy. Money and possessions are a source of comfort
but never a source of happiness. Comfort is a physical condition while
happiness is a mental condition. Providing comfort is not providing happiness.
If comfort and happiness are synonymous, hundreds of years ago when science was
not advanced, our ancestors should have been miserable and today with the
availability of a wide range of products for comfort people should be happy.
But that is not so. Many people are comfortably unhappy! They have
air-conditioned worries. Many others do not have money or possessions but they
are happy. In the shastras we can
find many references to enlightened people who were happy without anything.
From this it is clear that money and possessions are not the cause of
happiness.
What then is the cause of happiness? The human being has
not been able to find an answer. In fact this is our problem. We keep on
experimenting: we change jobs, houses, cities in the fond hope that the new
situation will bring in happiness. But that rarely gives elation for the mind.
Since we are not able to find happiness from our experiences, it is better to
go to the shastras. The shastras alone can help us to know what
will make us happy.
What does the shastras
say? The shastras says there is only
one thing that is the cause of happiness and that is punyam. Between punyam and
happiness alone there is a cause and effect relationship. Punyam alone is the cause of happiness. If punyam is not there, even if money is there, there can be no
happiness and money becomes a cause for sorrow. On the other hand, when punyam is there, even if money is
absent, there is joy. So to produce happiness, me must work towards it cause
and accumulate punyam.
How to produce punyam?
Punyam can be generated only leading
a dharmic way of life. Only dharma
produces punyam, which in turn makes
an individual happy with or without comforts.
What is dharmic
life? The entire shastra expounds on
this subject. The Vedas discuss them elaborately. The essence of dharmic life can be classified into
noble actions and noble values.
What are noble actions? Sage Vyasa defines noble actions
as those that are beneficial to others (may or may not include oneself). Any
actions that directly or indirectly harm others come under the category of papa. So dharmic life consists of actions that are beneficial to others and
the avoidance of actions that are harmful to others.
What are noble values? This topic is elaborately dwelt in
the Bhagawad Gita, Puranas, and Vedas.
Lord Krishna says that if we want to avoid suffering and enjoy happiness, we
must take care of three instinctive or natural weaknesses. These are not
acquired but are universal for every human being is afflicted by it. If we
learn to manage these three, we will live a life of values. What are the three
weaknesses? Kama, Krodha, and Lobha
(desire, anger, and greed).
What is Kama
management? Kama management is taking
care of three conditions with regard to all our desires. The three conditions
are: First, all our desires must be legitimate. Parents wish their children to
be well educated and settled. Such a desire is not illegitimate. Secondly, our
desires must be moderate. If we have an inordinate number of desires, we will
have to spend the entire life time in the fulfillment of these desires. There
will no time for religion or scriptural study, very little time for spiritual
development. Hence moderation is recommended for a healthy religious side.
Thirdly, all our desires must be converted to nonbinding desires. This means
converting needs to preferences. A need means without its fulfillment, we will
be miserable. A preference means we accept both; its fulfillment or non-fulfillment.
This is detoxification of kama –
taking the toxin or poison out of kama.
Kama management is accomplished by santhosa
or contentment.
What is Krodha
management? Anger creates problem in two ways. First, it comes out as a violent
expression that is harmful to others. It will lead to himsa or violence. According to shastras,
himsa is mahapapa (great sin).
Secondly, if we swallow the anger and avoid violent action, it is equally
dangerous because it gets suppressed. Suppressed anger will create problems
including physical problems like psychosomatic disorders. If anger is
expressed, it is harmful; and if it is suppressed it is equally harmful. Then
what is the way out? We have to train ourselves in non-violent expression of
anger. We must express anger without hurting others. Hurting others is allowed
only as a last resort. We can write a letter and then destroy it. We can go to
the beach and shout. These are all non-violent expressions of anger and they
work effectively. Sometimes we read in the newspapers that some members of a
political party burn the effigy of a politician belonging to another political
party in protest of some policy. This is nonviolent expression of anger. Krodha management is attained by kshama or patience.
What is lobha
management? Lobha is the notion of
ownership and is associated with miserliness, stinginess, petty mindedness etc.
Lobha management is learning to share
whatever we have – be it time, knowledge, or money – with somebody who is in
distress. We do not own anything we think we own. This includes our own body.
Everything is a temporary gift given by the Lord to use for some time. The Lord
can take back anything HE wants at any time. We must develop the idea of
trusteeship. We are in reality the trustee of what we think we own. Lobha management is achieved by dhana or generosity.
So how should we proceed? Let us learn to manage Kama, Krodha, and Lobha. Let all our
actions be noble. Kama management, krodha management and lobha management (noble values) along
with noble actions is a dharmic life.
A dharmic life will produce punyam and in turn produce sukham or happiness.
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