Happiness is in the human mind. Problem with mankind is that they don’t know where the mind is and how to keep it cleansed of all the negative thoughts to remain ever happy
“There is no logic to science. Scientists create and adhere to scientific theories for what are ultimately subjective and even irrational reasons. It cannot be denied that the chief engine of human destructiveness has been the phenomenal success of science in the 20th century.”— Paul Karl Feyerabend (13 January 1924–11 February 1994) in Against Method written in 1975
“Animals are happy as long as they have health and enough to eat” is the first sentence in Bertrand Russell’s book On Quest of Happiness. He goes on to add that “human beings, one feels, ought to be, but they are not, at least in great majority of cases.”
So, unhappiness is more commonly seen than happiness. Indian ancient wisdom has a solution. “Thena Thyakthena bunjithaaha” says the Ishopanishad, which could be translated as “rejoice in giving”. It is in giving that you get (happiness) was the rule of Jesus Christ. Jealousy is at the root of all unhappiness. The very thought of death brings on fear and unhappiness, but if one were told that all would perish in a catastrophe, people might not be as unhappy as when they are told that they have a fatal disease and they might not survive. The person concerned is worried that he alone has to go leaving the rest to enjoy life here. That makes him unhappy.
Moral of the story is that happiness is in the human mind. Problem with mankind is that they don’t know where the mind is and how to keep it cleansed of all the negative thoughts to remain ever happy. The more you get, more unhappy you are, constantly wanting to get more. So, material wealth might not bring lasting happiness.
Thinkers over the years have had varying opinions. “It’s pretty hard to say what brings happiness; poverty and wealth have both failed.” feels Ken Hubbard. “Remember that happiness is a way of travel—not a destination.” wrote Roy M. Goodman. “Happiness is light on water. The water is cold and dark and deep.” feels William Maxwell. The best, though, is what Robert Frost had to say: “Happiness makes up in height for what it lacks in strength.”
It is spreading the warmth in our hearts to touch the lives of others with joy and good cheer. Sharing and caring is the true meaning of spirituality. “It is not for thee alone, pass it on, pass it on,” goaded Jesus. “Passing it on” is the foundation of good health.
Molecular biology tells us now that even when one wants to pass it on, his/her immune system gets a shot in the arm that tries to raise the immune guard in our body. That would fight to stop any disease coming on. Both the receiver and the giver get the benefit of health improvement in this game. After all, the strength for all of us comes from that enormous source from where we have come in the first place—our creator. If we have the intent to help, the power comes automatically. Intent is very powerful.
We are children of God and God does not punish his children. God is love. God is kindness. God gives and forgives but, man gets and forgets many a time. Even then God forgives us teaching us another great health secret. Good health is happiness. Forgiveness is the main key to good health. Even poets in the past have said this and modern medicine confirms its validity through cutting-edge research in the field. “If you can fill the unforgiving minute with sixty second worth of distance, run. You shall be a man, and, more, this earth shall belong to you,” wrote Rudyard Kipling.
“Kshamavaan aapthopasevi bhaveth aarogyam” avers the ageless wisdom of Indian Ayurveda. Translated into English, it means that if you are able to treat and help everyone in this world as your near and dear ones, good health will be the reward. “Righteousness is more important to the human health than the type of food one eats,” says the 96th stanza in Sura V of the Holy Quran. No religion is exempt in proclaiming to the world the great truths. Religion is good but the man who practices any religion should first understand his/her own religion in great depth. Then and, then only, does he/she understand to love all religions and all of mankind on this planet.
We are all bundles of jumping lepto-quarks—the last bit of an atom—although we look solid and separate. The lepto-quarks keep jumping not only inside each of us but keeps jumping from one to another. All humankind is but one large family and there are no divisions in man’s biology based on any of the artificial divisions that we have made for ourselves. Let us take this message to the world and make everyone happy. In the bargain let us remain healthy and happy.
“Lead kindly light, amid the encircling gloom. Lead thou me on:
The night is dark and I am far from home, Lead thou me on:
Keep thou me feet; I do not ask to see,
The distant scene, one step enough for me.”—John Henry Newman in 1801.
Professor Dr BM Hegde, a Padma Bhushan awardee in 2010, is an MD, PhD, FRCP (London, Edinburgh, Glasgow & Dublin), FACC and FAMS. He is also the editor-in-chief of the Journal of the Science of Healing Outcomes, chairman of the State Health Society's Expert Committee, Govt of Bihar, Patna. He is former Vice Chancellor of Manipal University at Mangalore and former professor for Cardiology of the Middlesex Hospital Medical School, University of London. Prof Dr Hegde can be contacted at
[email protected].)
Nem Chandra Singhal