Hello Friends,
I extend a warm welcome to my blog to readers from across the globe, particularly from India, US, France, Russia, UK, Nigeria, UAE, Australia, Switzerland, Bangladesh... (the top ten countries by pageviews, as registered by blogger.com). Many of you have shared my links through Facebook, Twitter and Google+. That really helps. Thanks.
Those of you who have landed on this page for the first time, I reiterate my request that you start from the first post titled, 'You too can taste FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS'. Thereafter I have uploaded 7 posts, in serial order, with two intermittent notes. Please scroll down to the first post. If you cannot, please click the button 'Older Posts' at the bottom of the page. Or you can use the blog archives at the top right corner of the page.
We ought to be fundamentally happy! It is within us, yet we are not able to connect with it. The problem is that the term, 'Happiness' as we mostly understand it, is always in the context of some cause for happiness. If we are happy, we are so because of this or that reason. Does it follow that if there is nothing to be happy about, we should necessarily be sad? That sounds odd to me.
What is the normal state of human beings when there is nothing to be happy or sad about, something like a neutral situation? My guess is that if there is no regular supply of happy situations, natural or created, many of us are likely to find ourselves unhappy. It is this question that had baffled me four decades back causing a lot of distress and disquiet. I realized that most of us are almost successful in creating these happy situations that keep us 'happy'. Devoid of those props, we are fundamentally unhappy. Those who are not able to create these happy situations feel the unhappiness within. They are not able to tranquilize themselves.
The Danish philosopher, Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855), beautifully described this predicament by saying that such sensitive persons are not able to tranquilize themselves by the trivial.
It is probably for this reason that we humans are so scared of boredom and loneliness. Imagine, if we could connect with the FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS, also part of our inner core. None of these would bother us. We would be fundamentally happy, without needing external props. We can still enjoy external happy situations, as long as they last, probably enjoy them even more, for we don't need to cling to them any more and don't fear losing them.
Let me begin by pulling a section from my previous post (Series 7) and dwell on it for a while: If you sense spirit but you do not understand, you can suffer pain which often manifests as depression or anxiety. Awareness is what takes you through. All my posts are about awareness. As you build awareness, the steps to be followed for your journey towards FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS will be clearer and easier to understand.
This word 'awareness' is crucial, and its significance in the context of our journey towards FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS needs to be clearly understood.
If you recall, I have stated a few times, that uncaused depression, anxiety or meaninglessness is not a psychological disorder, but a sign of spiritual growth. The solution is not to pull such persons down to look like 'normal' persons, but to help them grow further and move towards FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS. (The use of the word 'normal' within quotes, is only to highlight the fact that persons suffering from depression etc are often seen or categorized as 'abnormal', which is grossly incorrect and unfair. In real terms all human beings are normal. I have used quotes to only differentiate the so-called 'normal' people from the suffering ones. No insult or inferiority is intended for persons who are fine the way they are and are not troubled by day to day questioning of existence, and hence do not feel uncaused depression or anxiety. I have mentioned earlier how such persons are almost successful in keeping their inner malaise at bay).
On a scale of awareness, persons who feel their inner disquiet are actually more aware than the 'normal' beings, though not enough to take them through. They feel more than other persons. If you do not understand this, let us take an example. How does a person feel uncaused depression? One possibility is that he questions the purpose or meaning of life. He does not find satisfactory answers and suffers despair. Others may also occasionally question the life, but they are able to find consolation in the million of things that they keep engaged in or pursue or possess. The internally sensitive person knows more, is more aware, and is not satisfied or tranquilized by the usual answers.
The reality is that the person who seriously questions life and does not find answers is actually sensing the deep disquiet that is there within all human beings. Many such persons similarly question life, but blame the lack of meaning to others or to circumstances. And, still many more are able to 'satisfy' themselves by many 'purposes', 'activities', 'possessions' and similar other things. They are able to console themselves through these diversions. Remember, the categories 1, 2 and 3 that I had described earlier in Series 4? If not, please read Series 4, right now. I reiterate my promise that I will not ask you to discard these 'things' in life.
Trying desperately to find the meaning of life is just one manifestation of the fundamental unhappiness within. Other examples are fear of the unknown, feeling of hopelessness, despair, emptiness or the fear of death.
I keep coming back to these concepts because it is necessary to understand and internalize them. These are not difficult concepts. The only problem is that our mind is used to seeing things in a particular way. This is a different way. Also, if some readers are experiencing such dilemmas, they can draw comfort from the fact that they are not suffering from any mental disease. They are more ready for a journey towards FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS.
Mighty books on philosophy try to explain all this. They include ancient texts - for instance the ancient Indian text Vedanta. I am sure there are such texts in all cultures. But the language is so difficult! Yet the underlying truth is the same.
Do stay with me. The posts in this blog will help you commence an exciting journey towards FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS. It has to be done slowly. The steps to be followed are not difficult. Just like we do physical exercises to develop our bodies, we need to do spiritual exercises - simple, nothing complicated. But the thoughts that I am sharing now have to be internalized first. Hence you will notice some repetitions.
Hope you are not finding this stuff too heavy. From the responses I can make out that many readers are with me and seem ready to move on quickly. It is a good idea, though, to approach it slowly. After all we are dealing with the human spirit, not some sprained muscle that you can tackle by some medication or physio sessions.
See you soon.
Deepak Chatterjee
chatterjee.deepak33@gmail.com
twitter: @Deepak33C
www.facebook.com/deepak.chatterjee.944
Views are personal
I extend a warm welcome to my blog to readers from across the globe, particularly from India, US, France, Russia, UK, Nigeria, UAE, Australia, Switzerland, Bangladesh... (the top ten countries by pageviews, as registered by blogger.com). Many of you have shared my links through Facebook, Twitter and Google+. That really helps. Thanks.
Those of you who have landed on this page for the first time, I reiterate my request that you start from the first post titled, 'You too can taste FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS'. Thereafter I have uploaded 7 posts, in serial order, with two intermittent notes. Please scroll down to the first post. If you cannot, please click the button 'Older Posts' at the bottom of the page. Or you can use the blog archives at the top right corner of the page.
We ought to be fundamentally happy! It is within us, yet we are not able to connect with it. The problem is that the term, 'Happiness' as we mostly understand it, is always in the context of some cause for happiness. If we are happy, we are so because of this or that reason. Does it follow that if there is nothing to be happy about, we should necessarily be sad? That sounds odd to me.
What is the normal state of human beings when there is nothing to be happy or sad about, something like a neutral situation? My guess is that if there is no regular supply of happy situations, natural or created, many of us are likely to find ourselves unhappy. It is this question that had baffled me four decades back causing a lot of distress and disquiet. I realized that most of us are almost successful in creating these happy situations that keep us 'happy'. Devoid of those props, we are fundamentally unhappy. Those who are not able to create these happy situations feel the unhappiness within. They are not able to tranquilize themselves.
The Danish philosopher, Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855), beautifully described this predicament by saying that such sensitive persons are not able to tranquilize themselves by the trivial.
It is probably for this reason that we humans are so scared of boredom and loneliness. Imagine, if we could connect with the FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS, also part of our inner core. None of these would bother us. We would be fundamentally happy, without needing external props. We can still enjoy external happy situations, as long as they last, probably enjoy them even more, for we don't need to cling to them any more and don't fear losing them.
Let me begin by pulling a section from my previous post (Series 7) and dwell on it for a while: If you sense spirit but you do not understand, you can suffer pain which often manifests as depression or anxiety. Awareness is what takes you through. All my posts are about awareness. As you build awareness, the steps to be followed for your journey towards FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS will be clearer and easier to understand.
This word 'awareness' is crucial, and its significance in the context of our journey towards FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS needs to be clearly understood.
If you recall, I have stated a few times, that uncaused depression, anxiety or meaninglessness is not a psychological disorder, but a sign of spiritual growth. The solution is not to pull such persons down to look like 'normal' persons, but to help them grow further and move towards FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS. (The use of the word 'normal' within quotes, is only to highlight the fact that persons suffering from depression etc are often seen or categorized as 'abnormal', which is grossly incorrect and unfair. In real terms all human beings are normal. I have used quotes to only differentiate the so-called 'normal' people from the suffering ones. No insult or inferiority is intended for persons who are fine the way they are and are not troubled by day to day questioning of existence, and hence do not feel uncaused depression or anxiety. I have mentioned earlier how such persons are almost successful in keeping their inner malaise at bay).
On a scale of awareness, persons who feel their inner disquiet are actually more aware than the 'normal' beings, though not enough to take them through. They feel more than other persons. If you do not understand this, let us take an example. How does a person feel uncaused depression? One possibility is that he questions the purpose or meaning of life. He does not find satisfactory answers and suffers despair. Others may also occasionally question the life, but they are able to find consolation in the million of things that they keep engaged in or pursue or possess. The internally sensitive person knows more, is more aware, and is not satisfied or tranquilized by the usual answers.
The reality is that the person who seriously questions life and does not find answers is actually sensing the deep disquiet that is there within all human beings. Many such persons similarly question life, but blame the lack of meaning to others or to circumstances. And, still many more are able to 'satisfy' themselves by many 'purposes', 'activities', 'possessions' and similar other things. They are able to console themselves through these diversions. Remember, the categories 1, 2 and 3 that I had described earlier in Series 4? If not, please read Series 4, right now. I reiterate my promise that I will not ask you to discard these 'things' in life.
Trying desperately to find the meaning of life is just one manifestation of the fundamental unhappiness within. Other examples are fear of the unknown, feeling of hopelessness, despair, emptiness or the fear of death.
I keep coming back to these concepts because it is necessary to understand and internalize them. These are not difficult concepts. The only problem is that our mind is used to seeing things in a particular way. This is a different way. Also, if some readers are experiencing such dilemmas, they can draw comfort from the fact that they are not suffering from any mental disease. They are more ready for a journey towards FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS.
Mighty books on philosophy try to explain all this. They include ancient texts - for instance the ancient Indian text Vedanta. I am sure there are such texts in all cultures. But the language is so difficult! Yet the underlying truth is the same.
Do stay with me. The posts in this blog will help you commence an exciting journey towards FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS. It has to be done slowly. The steps to be followed are not difficult. Just like we do physical exercises to develop our bodies, we need to do spiritual exercises - simple, nothing complicated. But the thoughts that I am sharing now have to be internalized first. Hence you will notice some repetitions.
Hope you are not finding this stuff too heavy. From the responses I can make out that many readers are with me and seem ready to move on quickly. It is a good idea, though, to approach it slowly. After all we are dealing with the human spirit, not some sprained muscle that you can tackle by some medication or physio sessions.
See you soon.
Deepak Chatterjee
chatterjee.deepak33@gmail.com
twitter: @Deepak33C
www.facebook.com/deepak.chatterjee.944
Views are personal
Well articulated article. Incidentally, I have gone through the articles upto post 7 and found them equally interesting. The order comes from chaos only. If one delves into these questions agitating the mind then only one will try for seeking deeper answers for the same and will achieve, or shall I say reach, true state of happiness. I also have some similar thoughts to share on the subject. Will share with you sometimes through my blog on SpeakingTree. Regards
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sudhir. That's the reality. Our minds are trained to look away and, if possible, to move away from pain. What is being suggested is to actually move into the pain and break through to the other side. I will be happy to see to read your blog. Bye.
ReplyDeleteWhat you are suggesting is a paradigm shift in the way we see things and relate to the underlying pain and restiveness of our mind. Not to shy away from pain but move into it with a possibility of breaking through the pain from the other side where lie unlimited possibilities and may be, fundamental happiness. I have a lurking doubt that though many will try to do this, few will succeed, not because it is difficult but because, like a homoeopathic drug, it works on some, not on all. I hope to circumvent my this doubt with your future posts Sir.- Ajay Mishra
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that many may not try this out, though the trend is changing. Thanks to evolution of human consciousness, there is already more spirit in human existence, which is manifested by more angst and more restlessness. Human beings are more ready today than, say, 100 years ago. Coming to your second point that this paradigm works on some and not all, I totally disagree with your proposition, for these shifts are governed by the laws of nature. It is like saying that the force of gravity acts on some but not on all! If you jump in water and give up all struggle against it, you will automatically rise to the surface. If you struggle, you may not come up. But the basic law of physics governing any object going inside water is the same - the old Archimedes Principle! Why many people may not succeed could be for only one reason: our mind is trained to turn away from pain, whereas, the way is through the pain. That's why I am dwelling so much of time on this aspect. Also, as I have mentioned in my posts, being on the journey itself is very enchanting, for you have imparted more spirit to your life. It is very rewarding, even if FH is still several steps away. This aspect is very pertinent for those who do not feel any pain or basic unhappiness at all.
ReplyDeleteYour explanation is scientific and convincing Sir. People will have to be motivated to undertake this journey of endearing pain, and thus discover a connect with the spirit. I am sure your writings will do a great job in this direction because they have a scientific flavour, unlike other writers in the field who approach the subject with a mystical or religious overtone.
ReplyDeleteYes, Ajay. My proposition is fully amenable to science.
ReplyDelete