THE EQUATION OF HAPPINESS

 - Swami Advaitananda

If there is one equation that has been unanimously accepted and adhered to by all the people in the world, irrespective of all differences, it is this -

WEALTH = HAPPINESS
Unfortunately, it is now* proved wrong. According to a world happiness survey conducted by a team of researchers from London school of economics, it now stands revealed that material prosperity and happiness are poles apart and are not necessarily related to each other. While the survey probed the link between personal spending power and the perceived quality of life, the naked truth that surfaced was that money does not bring happiness. While the search for happiness has always lured immigrants to the USA, it was ranked only 46th in the list and way behind countries like Ghana, Latvia, Croatia, Estonia and many others that have to be searched for in a global map! Even UK stands 32nd on the list! Russia and other east European states, the power blocs were much in the rear, having neither money nor happiness. Even Netherlands and Canada, the so called economic 'power houses', had failed in leading with happiness. And this is the fate of our developed countries! I wonder what development is all about.

And now comes the surprise, the happiest nation is - Bangladesh!!! With all its poverty and problems, it has managed to beat the western world hollow! And India was not far behind. It ranked 5th.

These findings point to the ancient Indian revelations that many a time, wealth is a curse and poverty a blessing. The sages preached that contentment with one's own state and the curbing of material desires were the secret of happiness. I'm not trying to glorify poverty but only trying to expose the hollowness of the value structure; we have come to accept.

" O wealth, in seeking you there is pain
Having sought, in keeping you there is pain
In your caring, there is pain
In your leaving, there is pain
                                             Pain alone art thou"         -says a Sanskrit verse.

Lest it be understood as an envious cry of an unsuccessful soul, let me tell you it is the voice of a king turned recluse - Barthruhari. If a king who ruled an empire, who ate from plates of gold and silver, who rode chariots drawn by horses and elephants, who slept on the best of beds with the best of women, whose every bidding was fulfilled, if he could not find happiness; what to speak of us?  Is then happiness an illusory shadow we are chasing? Is there a way to be happy?

Vedanta, the philosophy of divine unfoldment has a unique equation for happiness. It says happiness is not to be found outside but within ourselves. We need nothing from the world to be happy and it is in fact our own desires, which prevent us from being happy. Though it sounds like a paradox, it is true. As an equation, quantum of happiness is expressed as -
 

  HAPPINESS     =   THE NUMBER OF DESIRES FULFILLED
                                                     ____________________________________________________________________
                                THE NUMBER OF DESIRES ENTERTAINED

 The quantum of happiness is increased either by
1. Increasing the numerator, i.e. maximizing the desires fulfilled. Or
2. Decreasing the denominator, i.e. minimizing the desires entertained.

Though the equation is technically perfect, we have to understand that the numerator can never be increased. A fulfilled desire seeks fulfillment again or leads to further desires. We get caught in a vicious circle. It is on the denominator that we have control. We can minimize the entertainment of desires and it is here that we can exercise our choice. Here is the key to happiness. It is in our own hands to unlock the doors of joyful living in serene content and divine disposition.

The acme of perfection is attained when one is blessed with desirelessness. Seek nothing and never shall you be unhappy - roars Vedanta. Desirelessness is God. But that is too tall an order now. Let us begin from where we are. Let us heed to the words of Acharya Shankara when he says -

"O Fool! Give up this insatiable thirst to amass wealth. Be pleased with what you obtain as a result of your past actions. Devoid of passions in the mind, create thoughts of Nobility and Truth. Seek Govinda. Turn to the Divine. Resort to the lord".

We constantly struggle to keep up with our neighbors. We raise our blood pressures with increasing income levels. In trying to maintain a standard of living, we lose our lives. This unending rat race leaves neither the time, nor the energy to savor the joys of life we have come to obtain. Wealth does not bring us happiness. But with it, we can live and die unhappily in great comfort. How unfortunate! If only we could change the equation of happiness!
If only YOU could!
 
 

*Dec.1998

©Voice of Advaita,12-98