FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS Series 19 - We 'create' UNHAPPINESS for us all the time

We 'create' UNHAPPINESS for us all the time

The stance of my posts in this blog has been that the basic human condition for almost all of us is that of a lingering dissatisfaction, emptiness, meaninglessness, despair, depression and anxiety at the very core. We may successfully deflect our attention from this condition and deny it, but that is the truth. Many of you may be wondering, why the basic human condition is so unhappy. Other living forms that we see around us, notably animals that are close to human beings, like dogs and cats, do not appear fundamentally unhappy. Why are human beings mostly stuck at the level of FUNDAMENTAL UNHAPPINESS? From where did so much unhappiness arise? Was this intended to be the natural state of human existence? This appears to be at odds with most natural phenomenona, which tend to be more self healing in nature.

The reason for this is also part of our human existence. Like many animals, we humans too have emotions. Although it may look so, but our deep inner unhappiness is NOT AN EMOTIONAL MANIFESTATION. It is a manifestation of spirit. But, why are we so disturbed, at the level of spirit?

We humans are endowed with a computer like brain. We are far too intelligent compared to other life forms, even those closest to us. With our brains, we can strategize, plan, scheme, plot, forecast, project, be philanthropic or take revenge, wage war and do a number of similar  things. Our mind is an extraordinary tool available to us. We have the power to either create wonderful things that have benefited mankind, or we can cause untold misery to fellow human beings. 

Unfortunately, due to the very computer like nature of our brain, we have become the mind. We human beings are too mind identified. The combination with our ego, makes the mind even more devastating. This mind-ego combination has taken a stranglehold of the collective human existence. 

We think we are very smart, and can cause pain and misery only to others. But whenever we do that, we accumulate some pain in our spirits. It keeps adding up. This pain builds up not only when we commit ghastly acts to shame or blame others, or when we knowingly inflict pain on others, it accumulates every time that we do small things that are prompted by this mind-ego combination. 

Take the example of jealousy, a common phenomenon among us, humans. We rarely admit that we are jealous; we keep hiding it from others, especially from the person we are jealous of, and make a mess of it. Jealousy peeps out from our beings - it is visible to most people. What is worse is that we keep burning from within. Imagine the pain we are causing to ourselves. What causes jealousy? The same mind-ego combination. 

Every time we indulge in even a bit of jealousy, we create some pain for us. We do not realize it. Small doses of such pain keep accumulating in our system. Every time we scheme or plot unfairly against somebody, we similarly act from the mind-ego combination. The entire humanity has been doing it for thousands of years. The result is the accumulated pain in the entire human consciousness, which is reflected as the collective human suffering.

You will find many such examples from our daily life - seemingly insignificant acts that spring from our ego. I have given more examples in my book, "ARE YOU REALLY HAPPY?". We keep creating pain for ourselves through such acts. I have also described how we can, at least, recognize and notice such acts prompted by the mind-ego combination. Even admitting to yourself that you have been jealous or mean or petty creates that space between you and the mind, and the ego gets humbled a bit. That could be the start of a wonderful journey.

Keep reading.

Cheers!

Deepak Chatterjee

chatterjee.deepak33@gmail.com
www.facebook/deepak.chatterjee.944
@Deepak33C


Views are personal

FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS Series 18 - Acknowledging your lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) status is also a sign of spiritual growth.

Acknowledging your lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) status is also a sign of spiritual growth. It requires both courage and authenticity and leads to self discovery.

Those of you following events in India may be reading about the existence of an outdated Section 377 in the Indian Penal Code (which dates back to 1860!) that makes carnal intercourse 'against the order of nature' between consenting adults a criminal act. In other words, gay sex has been historically considered 'unnatural' by law. The LGBT community and the liberal segments of society have been struggling to get gay sex decriminalized. In a historic judgement delivered in Jul 2009, Delhi High Court overturned the 150 year old section. On 11 December 2013, the Supreme Court of India reaffirmed homosexuality to be a criminal offence setting aside the 2009 judgement given by the Delhi High Court. The Court has ruled that it is for the law makers to amend the law to decriminalize gay sex. This has been unfortunate not only for the LGTB community in India, but also for free, independent thinking. 

Anyone following my blog may have observed that the starting point of a spiritual journey towards FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS is acknowledging your entire existence truthfully. The basic stance of joyful existence is authenticity  or truthfulness about yourself. It leads to self discovery and acceptance of self. If you do not do this, you are in denial. Sadly most of us are in denial as far as the state of happiness/unhappiness is concerned. We may live our entire lives pretending we are happy. The first step is to honestly acknowledge the basic unhappiness within. That could pave the way for lasting real HAPPINESS.

I recall my own plight for many years. I was feeling my inner dissatisfied self; it was painful. Yet, I thought it was 'correct' to pretend to be like other 'normal' people. This pressure to be 'normal' could also be societal. Normative behavior is considered safe. Falling into a predetermined, accepted norm is often considered to be the safest thing to do. In effect we are constraining ourselves like prisoners. "So what? I have the comfort of being accepted as normal" some would say. Not being able to give up our comfort zones is the biggest hurdle in the way towards FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS.

Now imagine the plight of a gay person. If you have the courage to acknowledge your orientation and come out openly with it, you risk social rejection in some segments of society and, worse, you may also invite legal action! Yet, these are the persons who have done a big service to themselves. They have been authentic. Unknowingly, they have brought spirit into their lives. Leave aside their frustrations with society, they could be joyful and peaceful persons, having accepted a major aspect of their existence. That is a mighty starting point.

In contrast, those who are still not out in the open are often forced to lead an artificial, fake life, and are likely to be miserable. Much like the fake life many of us are leading on the happiness-unhappiness scale.

Cheers!

Deepak Chatterjee

chatterjee.deepak33@gmail.com
www.facebook/deepak.chatterjee.944
@Deepak33C


Views are personal

FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS Series 17 - Where, within yourself, do you exactly feel the pain, the discomfort, the fundamental UNhappiness?

Where, within yourself, do you exactly feel the pain, the discomfort, the fundamental UNhappiness? Where, within your body? If you can clearly identify it, you can transcend it to reach the state of real HAPPINESS.

Hi Friends,

As you struggle to find the correct posture of surrender and submission by focusing your attention on that basic human unease, it will help to devote this post on where exactly you notice it.

Before I go further, I am happy to share with you all a review of ARE YOU REALLY HAPPY? that has appeared in another blog titled, "SUBLIMATION" by G S Subramanian. Here is the link:

  http://subbusg.blogspot.in/2013/11/are-you-really-happy-by-deepak.html


Coming back to the question at the head of this post, I can share my experience of where within me I have felt the pain of despair, depression and meaninglessness. If you have the courage (not the kind of courage you need for mountaineering or bungee jumping!) and some truthfulness (authenticity), you can see this uneasiness dissolve and make way for bouts of joy. You add spirit to your lives; everything changes. You get a deeper, richer insight of things, problems appear less acute, peace descends, you actually become a more powerful person - not based on power that you derive from a position of authority, but just innate power that arises from within. If you are in a leadership position, people will look up to you, holding you in high esteem. You will be able to paint a compelling vision for your team members. More than anything else, you contribute towards creating a joyful workplace. So the benefits are huge. Do you want more?

My long years in depression and despair have helped me locate where inside you it is felt the most. Incidentally, I suffered for many years because I was fighting my pain; I did not know that submitting to it, observing it, was the way out. If you strike the correct posture, it can be a matter of weeks or months. Even those who do not feel the human despair deep within them, never mind; focus on whatever unhappiness you notice within yourself. Remember, the bad day example that I took in Series 16?

I felt most of my depression as a psychic ache in the chest region. It was like carrying a heavy chest around with you. The discomfort was mostly in the chest region. Since I honestly did not attribute any external reason for my depression (thank God!) I felt it almost like a physical pain. This is why truthfulness is important. For, had I unfairly blamed someone or something for this suffering, the problem would most likely have shifted from the chest region to the mind! The mind just loves to cling to problems. And, I would have lost this wonderful opportunity of facing my pain and moving towards lasting HAPPINESS.

At times, when my despair and depression were acute, I would also feel them like a lump inside my throat. It was a tragic irony. I would look fine externally, but I could feel as if my soul was weeping! So you can imagine how relieved I feel today as I sense that durable HAPPINESS within.

Similarly, much of the anxiety was felt throughout the body like a restlessness, often even a very mild uneasiness in the heart. While going to sleep, I would often feel this restlessness in the legs. I had to keep shifting my legs. Even at work, I would have this urge to keep swinging my legs. Many people do it.

Interestingly there is a medical phenomenon called Restless Legs Syndrome, also known as Willis-Ekbom disease or Wittmaack-Ekbom syndrome, which is supposed to be a neurological disorder!

Just as psychiatrists do not recognize the problem of depression or anxiety being at the level of spirit or a sign of early growth, I have serious doubts whether this urge to move our limbs is a neurological problem or a sign of deep restlessness - a sign of the basic human unease? However, involuntary muscular movement or twitching is certainly a medical condition and needs professional treatment.

I have given my experiences of how I felt my pain. Others may have had their own unique experiences that they can share.

Now that you have some clear indications of the physical manifestations of the deep unhappiness, it will be easier for you to connect with the practices that I have mentioned in my earlier posts, about taking your attention to different parts of your body, observing your heart beat and following your breathing. If you can hold your attention, without any mental analysis, just being a passive observer, the discomfort can dissolve. You would have taken a giant step towards spiritual growth!

Cheers!

Deepak Chatterjee

chatterjee.deepak33@gmail.com
www.facebook/deepak.chatterjee.944
@Deepak33C

Views are personal

National Book Trust Mumbai Book Fair - My talk on creating a joyful workplace on 1st December, 2013

Hello Friends,

Do attend my talk on "Discovering Happiness at Workplace" at the NBT Mumbai Book Fair at Bandra Kurla Complex, on 1st December, 2013, 2 PM to 3 PM.

Look forward to seeing you all

Cheers!

Deepak Chatterjee

FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS Series 16 - What exactly is "feeling yourself from within"? What exactly is feeling and observing your pain?

What exactly is "feeling yourself from within"? What exactly is feeling and observing your pain?

Hi Friends,

The intensity and depth of questions that I am receiving from those who are reading this blog and my book, "ARE YOU REALLY HAPPY?" prompt me to dwell more on the questions that I have posed at the head of this post. For, I can sense that many of you are quite close to it, have understood me well, but are missing it by a whisker. So what exactly signifies, "feeling yourself from within" or "observing your pain"? That is most crucial to enable  you to take that first step in a spiritual journey towards HAPPINESS.

Let me focus on it by stating upfront what it is not. It is not a mental exercise. While all of you are certainly using your intelligence to comprehend what I write in this blog, which is also the correct thing to do, the actual steps to be taken thereafter have nothing to do with the mind. Rather you have to be alert and truthful to check whether the mind (often accompanied by the ego) has crept in. The mind just loves to make an entry with its great ability for analysis. 

Now let me try to make this clear with an example that all can relate to. Forget, for a moment, the innate, fundamental unhappiness that we all seem to be afflicted with, something that I have been underlining endlessly. Let us, instead, take the example of the day to day stress that almost all of us feel. Take a day that has been particularly bad - say, you had a tiff with someone, or someone humiliated you, or someone unfairly threw rude words at you. We all witness bad days sometimes.

At the end of a day like this, when you settle to go to bed, adopt a relaxed posture, and just observe how the "unhappiness" is working physically on your body. The mind will love to go to the reasons that probably triggered the stress or unhappiness earlier during the day. Do not fall into that trap. Do not go into the reasons why you are feeling low. The mind just loves that.

Instead, just accept whatever unhappiness or stress you feel; do not fight it. Do not deny it either. Often we feel we are being 'weak' by accepting that we are upset. So we pretend that all is fine. Not acknowledging your feelings is the stupidest act, and takes you far away from spirit and hence, HAPPINESS.

Now, once you have decided that you will not allow a mental analysis, also take care to see that you do not fight with your mind. Thoughts will come. Do not resist them. Yet do not get entangled with them. Be a passive onlooker of the thoughts. Please try what I have described above. You will be able to adopt the correct posture by trial and error. Gradually you will enjoy thoughts come and go, without you getting involved in them.

Having reached this stage, come back to observing what this unhappiness is doing to your body. Just focus your attention to the different parts of your body, feel the muscles, the aliveness. Focus on how you are inhaling and exhaling. Just observe the flow of air, without getting involved in it. Observe your heart beat. With practice you will be able to learn this art of passively observing your entire self. You may be surprised to discover that there is so much of stress in your body. Feel the stress, the pain of stress. If you can actually feel this pain, you have taken the first giant step towards HAPPINESS. Remember, this 'pain' is not physical; it is psychic pain, which we often tend to overlook. If you can hold on to this position, say for 45 minutes, and if your posture is correct, you will actually see the pain dissolve. You will also notice that the degree of your unhappiness has reduced substantially. You can now go to sleep. You feel much lighter next morning. Normally, the morning after a bad day, one feels the worst.

Come on, try it out and come back to me...

Cheers!

Deepak Chatterjee

chatterjee.deepak33@gmail.com
www.facebook/deepak.chatterjee.944
@Deepak33C

Views are personal

FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS Series 15 - BOOK LAUNCH IN DELHI

Hi Friends,

My second book launch event for "ARE YOU REALLY HAPPY?" at Landmark Stores, Ambience Mall, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi went off very well. I thank all readers of this blog who came for the event and helped me make it a big success. Apart from Ms. Narayani Ganesh, editor of the Speaking Tree in the Times of India, and Kajal Ghosh, Chief General Manager of State Bank of India, Delhi Circle, I was delighted to have psychiatrist Dr. Chandan Gupta with us in the event. He had many years ago treated me for depression and has written the Foreword to my book.

Here are some pictures from the launch event:

Before I come to Series 15, I am happy to give the links to some very good reviews of the book that have come out on various platforms.

Here is a review done by an anonymous blogger, who specializes in book reviews and uses the name "Privy". The blog http://wingstomywords.blogspot.in has had over 37,000 visitors. Do have a look at that blog. The link to the book review is given below:

http://wingstomywords.blogspot.in/2013/11/book-review-are-you-really-happy-by.html

Another review has appeared in Business Standard, All India editions on 5th Oct, 2013:

http://www.business-standard.com/article/beyond-business/pursuit-of-fundamental-happiness-113100401049_1.html

FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS Series 15

I have a thought: to devote this series to the interesting questions that came from the audience at the time of the Delhi book launch, along with my responses. That will help clear similar doubts or questions that readers of this blog might have. It will help since this blog and the book have the same theme, though the text, articulation, emphasis and detailing are different.

Question:
We are often running after more and more of knowledge. Knowledge is available with the click of a mouse or through many gadgets like iPads, smartphones etc. Can endless pursuit of knowledge also be a roadblock in our journey towards FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS? 

Answer:
The crux issue here is not how much of pursuit of knowledge can become a roadblock in our journey towards FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS. The issue that has to be honestly addressed here is: what is prompting me to pursue knowledge? As I have mentioned earlier on in my posts, the various distractions and mental exercises that we usually employ to keep our basic inner unease at bay, come into play very slyly. We may think, in all sincerity, that we are pursuing knowledge because it is important. We have to look deep within and question, whether, in the process, we are also keeping our attention away from our inner selves that is painful and unbearable. You need a fair degree of authenticity to recognize what within you is prompting you to pursue knowledge, or for that matter, pursue any other activity or interest. We do a lot of things, seemingly important, but often hidden within us is the secret desire to keep ourselves cut off from our interiors. As I have suggested earlier, no matter what important and deeply engrossing activity you are pursuing, remain aware of your inner self at the same time. Develop the practice of doing most things from being. That helps us stay connected with ourselves no matter what we are doing. I have elaborated on these aspects in my previous posts.

Question:

This is not a question but a statement. One very close family friend whom I have known since childhood, got up and stated that he is already fundamentally happy.

My response:
Before I state what my response was, let me mention here with the benefit of having known this gentleman since childhood. I have never seen ever him operate through ego. He is one of those rare, almost 'ego-free' persons that you get to see once in a while. I have never seen him complain about anything, or ever hold a grudge. Yet he has always been very sincere about whatever he is doing. I have dwelt on this area in my book, "ARE YOU REALLY HAPPY?", mentioning that you do get to see such naturally peaceful persons. They are, probably, in a naturally surrendered state. But are they, therefore, automatically fundamentally happy? Hence, in my response I left it to this gentleman to come to his judgement whether he is fundamentally happy. One test is whether your happiness is un-caused, just like the basic human unease is also un-caused. Even such naturally peaceful persons, who do not crave or strive for things in life, would find their existence turn richer and deeper if they seek some spirit in their lives by looking inwards. They might discover some pain within themselves, in the process, which was overlooked earlier, and then go through it to a deeper existence.

I am not surprised at people often claiming that they are fundamentally happy. The basic human unease and tentativeness is so deeply embedded and carefully kept under wraps that we mostly do not notice it. We do get hints, though, and I have given many examples of how we often come uncomfortably close to it. For instance, when we feel the pain of boredom, or any situation where we are forced to be with ourselves, like loneliness. We quickly divert our attention, get busy and return to the comfort of our 'normal' experience.

Having suffered the pain of depression and anxiety for so many years until I came out of it, I can state that when I look back, I find those years well spent. They gave me a lot of insight, learning, depth, perception and, thankfully, dealt a hefty blow to the monster within, the ego! May be it is easier to say so as I have traversed a fair bit on my journey, but my suggestion to all readers is to not shun unhappiness of any kind. Our minds are trained to go away from any pain. That's natural. But it only increases the pain. Remember, resistance increases pain; surrender dissolves it. I have mentioned this in my book: the maximum resistance is likely in persons who are successful seniors/veterans, and the least resistance is seen in the youth. How do you react to this premise? I could easily fall into the category, "successful senior". At my stage in life, often opinions and the mental frame of mind get solidified. We could be less open to new thoughts or ideas and are likely to be poor listeners. The younger ones, are more open to new ideas. Most importantly, once they understand something or appreciate the value, they are very quick to adopt it. "ARE YOU REALLY HAPPY?" has a section devoted to the Spiritual Youth. Read on.

Cheers!

Deepak Chatterjee

My sincere apologies to readers in the US and other geographies outside India. The physical copies of AYRH? take time to reach the Amazon.com portal through distributors. I will let you know through this blog, the moment that happens.

chatterjee.deepak33@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/deepak.chatterjee.944
@Deepak33C

Views are personal

Book launch event in Delhi: 6th November 2013

Hi Friends, 

After the grand success of the launch of my book, "ARE YOU REALLY HAPPY?" at Mumbai on 4th October, I am having a launch at Delhi on 6th November, 2013.

Venue: Landmark Book Store, Ambience Mall, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi at 6:30 PM

Ms Narayani Ganesh, Senior Journalist from the Times of India, and the editor of The Speaking Tree, has kindly consented to launch the book for me.

Here is the invite...

All friends from Delhi, and their friends, are cordially invited to join the event.

Cheers!

Deepak Chatterjee
chatterjee.deepak33@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/deepak.chatterjee.944
@Deepak33C
www.google.com/+DeepakChatterjee

FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS Series 14 - ACCEPT NOTHINGNESS

Hi Friends,

I am back. I am incorrigible! I keep coming back. It is my life's mission to take this message on the possibility of tasting FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS to as many people as possible. From the responses I get and the viewership across the globe, I get a sense that many of you are connecting with my proposition. 

It is also my keen desire to help all those who may be suffering from un-caused depression, anxiety, emptiness, meaninglessness or despair, that is often diagnosed as 'clinical depression'. I wish to hold out my own example as someone who has been through all that and today does not need medication or mood altering drugs to stay happy. So, read on.

Some of you would have tried the initial exercise that I described about feeling different parts of your body, and then feeling your entire body internally. You will discover an energy flow within yourself. Witness that energy quietly. Apart from doing this exercise when you are free from distraction and noise, I also suggested that you gradually cultivate the habit of doing this also during brief intervals that you get amid a busy life. You can do this while waiting in a queue, waiting at the boarding gate at the airport, or while stuck in a traffic jam.

Have you noticed how we feel satisfied when we keep our schedules fully packed? We might complain that we are too busy, that there is no free time. But, secretly, we are comfortable that way. Imagine yourself suddenly confronted with a situation that you have nothing to do for a full day! Let's say all your planned programs for a Saturday get canceled. Also, imagine that the friends you could possibly connect with are also busy elsewhere. So you have nothing to do! Now, that could be a terrible situation to be in, at least for most of us.

Now here is what you can do. ACCEPT the situation that you have nothing to do. Your mind will be fidgety, looking for a way out of this loneliness. Do not fight your mind. Just observe it. Take a decision that today you will do NOTHING. Be with the nothingness. 

There are a few things you can do when you are doing nothing. Wherever you are, look around. You will notice many things. Can you notice the empty spaces around everything? Or, more specifically, do you notice the space, the emptiness, that has allowed all things to be? Do not try to objectively reason out this "nothingness". Your mind will love doing it, and once again you will get trapped. Whereas if you have the courage to just peacefully face the nothingness, and also witness your uncomfortable mind, without fighting it, in a while you might discover a peace you have not felt before. This is where sensitivity is important. Sensitive persons, who are able to hold this position for some length of time, may be able to feel that peace and joy spring from within. 

Those who have been too engrossed in the external, material world, with their possessions, positions, position-power, or essentially all ego driven attachments, may miss these subtle messages from within.

Which is why I have suggested right at the beginning that you question your attachment to all these 'things'. Fathom yourself bereft of all these things. You need not give them up completely. Just question and notice how you are clinging to them. Having moved up the spiritual journey, now enjoy them from a new vantage point, from a higher vision.

Once you develop this ability to notice the emptiness around you, and see things in the backdrop of this nothingness, the beauty of the same things will increase manifold. The same mountains or trees that you were seeing earlier, will now appear alive and rich!

Here is a picture that I took in 2012 of Lake Michigan, USA from my room in the Kellogg School of management at the Northwestern University, where I had been for a course.  

I was spellbound by the sheer beauty of the scene outside. Notice the beauty of the trees with all leaves shed, against the vast openness and the expanse of the sea! You actually develop a new vision. Not only that, you can listen to music too from a different level. You start seeing things and listening to music and other sounds, like birds chirping or water flowing, from the level of being. 

Keep reading. Cheers!

Deepak Chatterjee

Readers looking to buy the book, "ARE YOU REALLY HAPPY?" in the US and other geographies outside India, please bear with me for a while. I will give you the Amazon.com link soon.

chatterjee.deepak33@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/deepak.chatterjee.944
Twitter: @deepak33c
http://fundamentalhappiness.blogspot.com

Views are personal

FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS Series 13 - WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY 2013

World Mental Health Day, October 10, 2013

Tomorrow is World Mental Health Day. This year’s theme is "mental health and older adults". A lot of discussions and debates are going to take place. There are serious mental health issues, like dementia, that concern the aged. Other serious conditions like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia could afflict the young as well as the aged. 

The more common mental situations like depression and anxiety are reaching alarming proportions. The statistic on the incidence of depression is itself depressing. And, India is rated as one of the most 'unhappy' countries.

As you read the reports, the focus inevitably is on the causes of depression: lifestyles, work pressure and even dietary habits and genes! Eventually depression is seen as a manifestation of  altered 'brain chemistry' that needs to be set right through medication. The pharma industry is ever eager to be ready with the supply of anti-depressants and tranquilizers.  

As a person who has been through all this, and has come out on the other side, FUNDAMENTALLY HAPPY, it pains me to see how all attempts at tackling depression are always stuck at the level of the brain, and  hence, the mind, and not at the level of spirit, where the solution lies. 

• That ordinary uncaused depression or anxiety is not a mental disease but a sign of spiritual growth is completely missed out.

• That the way out is to seek further growth by embarking on a non-religious spiritual journey towards what I call FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS is also overlooked.

• That suffering from anxiety and depression could be an excellent opportunity to grow is often ignored. 

• That you could move towards a blissful existence, by honestly acknowledging and feeling your suffering, is not understood. It does not dwell in the psychiatrist's domain of thought.

• That this journey needs authenticity and a bit of courage, beyond which it is simple and straightforward, is also not recognized.

It is going to be my persistent effort to propagate these ideas through this blog. All my posts, starting from the first one on 23rd July, 2013 until Series 12 dated 25th September, 2013 are devoted to these ways of bringing real HAPPINESS to your lives. 

My book, "ARE YOU REALLY HAPPY?: FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS" got launched on 4th October, 2013 at Crossword Book Store, Kemp's Corner, Mumbai. The book was launched by Ad Guru Prahlad Kakar and Actor Rajat Kapoor. Here are some pictures:

The book is available at Crossword, Landmark and Media Mart stores in India. You can also buy it online from the links provided on the top right corner of this page. If you are in the US or other geographies, you will soon be able to buy it from Amazon.com. I will convey it to you through this blog when that channel is ready.

Series 13

Now let us start from where we finished Series 12. 

I have discussed in detail how focusing on different parts of your body, on your breathing, and generally focusing inwards, at the same time accepting and noticing whatever pain you may feel, is one of the ways of dissolving your depression or anxiety. Also, as I have been stressing, your orientation has to be that of submission, of surrender. 

I have also explained how you can extend this exercise to any time of the day when you have nothing to do, even if it is for 15 minutes or so, while waiting for transport, while in a queue, or while traveling. Basically, these are exercises to be with yourself. And, we usually do the opposite: we do everything possible to ensure that we do not spend time with ourselves. We keep busy, run after things, activities, pursuits... the result is that we are running away from ourselves.

Now, let us learn another extension of the same exercise: develop the practice of always keeping a certain degree of attention within yourself, even while doing anything else. Do not confuse this with being distracted. Rather, it is possible to do whatever you are doing with full attention, and at the same time, be conscious of your being. With time, you will realize that you have developed the ability of focusing on every act from being, instead of excessively using your mind. When you are having your cup of tea or coffee at your workplace, fully enjoy it. Do not mix it with work. Relish every sip. Also, be aware of yourself. This way you can enjoy your drink from being. Listen to music, obviously with your ears, but also from being. This will add a richness to your life that you may have not have tasted before. You are now well on your journey towards FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS.

Cheers!

Deepak Chatterjee

chatterjee.deepak33@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/deepak.chatterjee.944
twitter: @Deepak33C

Views are personal

FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS Series 12 - Launch of ARE YOU REALLY HAPPY?

LAUNCH OF MY FORTHCOMING BOOK

ARE YOU REALLY HAPPY?

FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS

Hello Friends,

I had mentioned about my book in Series 11. We are now ready with the launch. It's on 4th October, 2013 at 6:30 PM at Crossword Bookstore, Kemp's Corner, Mumbai. All of you in Mumbai, do attend the launch. Ad Guru Prahlad Kakkar and Award Winning Actor Rajat Kapoor, have consented to launch the book. Here is the invite from the publisher, Embassy Books and the bookseller, Crossword:

Series 12

Now let us come to series 12.

So, how many of you could collect yourselves in a relaxed posture to notice each part of your body from foot to head? Could you be a passive observer of your beating heart, your breathing process? Could you, at some stage, feel your entire body internally? Did you passively observe your thoughts? Often the mind will try to pull you away to many distracting thoughts, pressing issues or worries. Please don't fight your mind. Just observe it. See it from a 'distance'. Create a 'space' between you and your mind. Treat your mind as an experience, just as your body is an experience. 

While you notice different parts of your body, appreciate how each part is alive. Also remember, no part of your body, from foot to head, is you! You are 'being'. Similarly, you are not your mind. If you can fathom your mind as similar to your body, you have made a major progression in your journey towards FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS.

As you stabilize in this exercise, you will realize that you need not wait for the daily time slot allotted by you for it. You can do this many times during the day, even while you are at work! We all get interludes in our lives, amidst busyness, when we are doing nothing, just waiting for something. These are also moments when we get restless; we grumble about having to wait, wasting time, and try our best to fast forward our lives and move on.

If you have appreciated the stance behind the exercise that I have described, you will realize that you have given away so many opportunities that could have been used to quietly do this exercise for 10-15 minutes. Yes! You can do this exercise while waiting for transport, while traveling, waiting for a meeting in another office, before an interview (it actually helps!), when you are getting bored and have nothing to do (!), waiting in a queue for anything, or even when you are attending a meaningless but 'important' meeting where your presence is incidental! 

But, please do not try to do this when you are required to pay full attention to something else. Rather, do what you are doing with full attention, instead of getting distracted by what else you have to do, or other pressing issues. Remember, doing whatever you do, joyfully, with full attention, without distraction, is itself a spiritual exercise. I have noticed many persons who are fully absorbed in what they are doing at a given time. I find them at peace. They are not grudging what they are doing. They are not in a hurry to finish what they are doing. Even if you try to distract them they are not likely to get distracted. Whenever you find a person like this among your friends or relatives, just pause and think about him or her. Chances are that you will find such persons mostly peaceful. They may not be consciously in a journey towards FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS, for they may lack the required awareness. Yet, they could be persons ready to embark on this journey.

Many of you would have seen craftsmen/women produce their artifacts at crafts melas. They are fully absorbed in their work. They do their work with a sense of joy and satisfaction. They do not get distracted by a crowd of people watching them. They are certainly more peaceful than many who are fully consumed by an urban, high paced life setting.

There could also be persons (many such persons, actually) who find no interludes at all. They are pulled in different directions all the time. Or they create perpetually 'interesting' and 'important' situations for them to be in. Such persons need to pause and take a look at themselves. Those who are themselves packing their lives with activities, leaving no space for anything else, need to ponder about how to deal with themselves. They could find some time, read my posts starting from the first one, and take a call. Those who are in jobs or situations that just do not leave them with any space for themselves, also need to ponder: is there really no free slot? This brings me to my suggestion that you take a holiday from life. 

You will appreciate that this holiday, need not be a physical holiday. It is more to do with your stance in life. For some, it could well mean the need to actually take a holiday for some days. Well, you can soon come back to your usual life with a different orientation.

There are many more things we need to do. I have described just one exercise. We need to spend time and progress slowly. There is much more to follow.

Cheers!

Deepak Chatterjee

chatterjee.deepak33@gmail.com
facebook.com/deepak.chatterjee.944
Twitter: @Deepak33C
http://fundamentalhappiness.blogspot.com

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FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS Series 11 - My forthcoming book: ARE YOU REALLY HAPPY?

Hi Friends,

I have written a book titled,

 "ARE YOU REALLY HAPPY? FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS"

It is being launched by my publisher, Embassy Books, Mumbai, early October. 

Here is the cover:

For those of you who are following my blog, it is easy to guess what the book is about. Yes, the theme is the same. The book, though, has more explanations, anecdotes, examples and also details of my own journey towards FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS. It captures, in a step by step approach, the stance necessary to embark on this journey. 

I will share more details about the book launch in a while. You may notice links on the right hand side of my blog page in future posts.

MY BLOG WILL CONTINUE
Yes, my blog will continue. The channels are separate. So is the manner of articulation. Readers are welcome to benefit from both or either of them. I am available to address queries of both categories of readers.

Now, coming to my last post (Series 10), there are a few things I would like to further elaborate. I have described just one of the many exercises in that post. You will have to appreciate the fact that if you just follow the steps like a physical exercise, you will reach no where. The exercise suggested by me is neither physical nor mental. Your stance in life is most important. That is the reason why I devoted several posts on readying you before describing the first exercise.

If you are too busy, too preoccupied, leading very hectic lives, witnessing too many pressures from all fronts, then gathering the required stance will be difficult. That's why I suggested a holiday from life. At least for some time.

What exactly is this holiday from life? Simply put, it means that you make that space available in your life to just be. Some persons can do that without taking a break from work. Yet, there could be some who could proceed on leave and still not find that space to be, due to the sheer pace of life, activities, attachments, or striving. It is for this reason that I keep suggesting that before you begin, do revisit my previous posts and internalize the thoughts. You have to take an honest look at yourself, and decide to start an inward journey. Don't worry; once you have stabilized on this journey, you can go back to the many things that you had given up for being in this holiday, but now from a different vantage position. You will not cling to them any more. You have awareness now. This solid foundation of awareness is of extraordinary significance. It is for each one of you to consider how 'busy' you are and then decide on how to take this holiday from life. Some may find this idea of just existing and doing nothing much, unnerving. If that is the case, observe the discomfort. Focus on what it does to you internally. That could be a very good starting point. 

Our body is a very useful portal to embark upon this journey towards FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS. It helps us to become less mind identified. With practice you will be able to appreciate what it is to feel each part of your body as you progress from foot to head. You don't have to identify with each part of the body. Just notice that it is alive! 

Similarly just be a passive observer of your thoughts. Don't fight your mind. Your mind will love to engage in a fight with you! Our minds are just too active. Observe your thoughts go by without latching on to them. You will gradually be able to appreciate that you are not your mind.

The beauty of this journey is that you can passively focus on any unhappiness within you and make spiritual progression. As an example, let us say, someone has humiliated you. Instead of immediately reacting to the humiliation, stay with it for as long as you can. Observe how you feel from inside while in the humiliated state. Focus your attention on the pain you are suffering without any analysis, fault finding or justification. You may be amazed to find that the pain actually diminishes, may be dissolves, and peace descends. Now do what you have to do with the person who inflicted the humiliation, from this position of peace! Your action now will be very different. Makes sense?

Good! That should be enough material for a post. Stay connected.

Cheers!

Deepak Chatterjee
chatterjee.deepak33@gmail.com
facebook.com/deepak.chatterjee.944
@Deepak33C
http://fundamentalhappiness.blogspot.com

Views are personal

FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS Series 10 - How to go about it?

Hi Friends,

Welcome back to my blog on FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS. I concluded my last post with a suggestion that we go on a holiday from life. I received some questions on that proposition, some prompted by disbelieve. Well, let's see.

I would like to discuss one spiritual exercise in this post.  

What I suggest, to begin with, is that you consider honestly facing up to whatever dissatisfaction you are currently experiencing. It could be circumstantial or existential (our fundamental unhappiness within) or a mix of both. 

As you consider your dissatisfaction, it is possible that much of it could be attributed to circumstances - the situation you are in, what other people may have done to cause the unhappiness, or other sources of dissatisfaction. Is it possible to get out of your circumstance? Is it possible to significantly change it? Is it possible to stop dealing with the persons responsible for your misery? Often you have the freedom to exercise some choices, which you are not exercising. That has to be your call. Beyond this, you still have to question yourself. How much of your unhappiness lingers that cannot be further assigned to any situation or person? If you cannot honestly blame anyone, you are possibly at a dead end. But if you honestly reach this point, you have taken the first major step in your journey towards FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS. For now you are ready to squarely face the basic human condition.

Many of you are already struggling against a kind of unhappiness that you are not able to ascribe to anyone or any thing external. This probably manifests as unanswered questions about what could be the ultimate purpose of life, a sense of void, hopelessness or anxiety - all uncaused. You are more ready than many others for the next step that I am going to describe in this post.

Now let us come to the first spiritual exercise.

Whenever you find time, settle down in a relaxed position. Do this when you do not have anything pressing to do or engaging your mind. If there is something nagging you, deal with that first. 

Now, just focus your attention inwards into your body. Feel yourself as a body. We humans have got so mind identified that we often take our bodies for granted. How often do we just silently observe our hearts beat? Try following the rhythm of the heart beat. Just observe it passively. Don't get involved in it. Gradually you will understand the difference between just observing and getting involved. Notice your inhalation and exhalation. Mentally feel each part of your body. Just observe the liveliness of each part. 

Those who are already caught in depression or angst, will be able to feel the pain of our existence. Stay with the pain. Please do not try to analyse anything. The mind just loves it. Be a passive observer of the pain. Focus your attention to whatever psychic pain you feel. Do nothing about it. 

Those who consider themselves happy and content and have no complaints against anyone or anything, may also notice some basic discomfort or uneasiness that was probably overlooked before. If this is what you are going through, then you are on track. 

What do you do with your mind? Thoughts will keep coming in. Do not fight your mind. Be a passive onlooker of your thoughts. Observe your thought come and go, as you see traffic go past on a road. With time you will be able to master the art of not getting latched on to your thoughts. Yet it is important that you do not try to resist any thought or try to control your mind. Your mind may try its best to attribute whatever discomfort you are feeling, to things external or other persons. Instead of getting into any analysis or causes, just observe the discomfort.

Remember, just like we recognize our hands and feet as parts of our body, try to see your mind also as part of your existence. You are not the hands and feet; they are part of your existence. You can experience them. Similarly, you are not your mind. With practice, you will be able to treat your mind also as an experience of your existence. You are probably too mind identified now. Focusing your attention to various parts of your body helps you to become less mind identified. This is only your first exercise. You will gradually be able to appreciate that you are not your mind. Mind is just a tool available to mankind - a very valuable tool indeed! Just like our hands, feet or eyes. Recall, that in my previous post, I had stated how our body has a role to play in our journey.

With sustained attention to the pain or uneasiness, you will notice that it actually diminishes and may eventually dissolve. If this happens with you, remember, you have just taken the first step. You have embarked on a journey. You have not reached FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS yet. Don't rush to somehow reach the end result. Enjoy the process itself. There are many more steps to be  taken. It will take time. 

It is best to do this exercise when you are not hard pressed for time and your mind is not preoccupied with anything very pressing or urgent. One good time to do this is when you go to bed at night. Before you start on this, keep away your phones, laptops, iPads or any other gadgets!

You can make this a regular practice. Gradually you will be able to do this exercise wherever you are with some time at your disposal: while traveling, waiting in a queue, even in office, if you have nothing else to do! It will take you some time to reach that state.

While I have described this as an exercise, those of you who are feeling uncaused depression, meaninglessness, emptiness or anxiety, make it your stance to just be with that feeling. Accept it. Do not fight it. Focus your attention to what happens to your body, internally, when you feel the meaninglessness. Accept that the external world is meaningless. The more you try to find meaning, the more you will get caught in the pain of meaninglessness. if you feel depressed, stay with the depression. Do not resist it. 

I hope all this is not too much in one post. I have tried my best to ready you through my earlier posts. You can always go back to the previous posts by clicking on the blog archives appearing at the top right corner.

Do share your feedback with me.

Cheers!

Deepak Chatterjee
http://fundamentalhappiness.blogspot.com
http://facebook.com/deepak.chatterjee.944
@Deepak33C
Views are personal