| ART OF HAPPINESS | | | | your loved ones and friends, or just sitting quietly |
| By | | | | and leisurely reading a good book, or taking a walk |
| VIKRAM KARVE | | | | enjoying melodious music, or enjoying your work, |
| The primary aim of philosophy and spirituality is to | | | | leisure, hobbies are some of the mild pleasures which |
| help ordinary people live a life of happiness, fulfillment | | | | will make you happy and keep you healthy too. |
| and tranquility. | | | | It is simple to be happy. (But it is difficult to be |
| Every day you ask yourself: | | | | simple). |
| How do I live a happy life…? | | | | The first thing you must do is to introspect and list |
| Is it simple to be happy…? | | | | your most pleasurable activities – simple pleasures |
| What is the art of happiness…? | | | | and things that give you true joy, happiness and |
| Let us see what the Taoist philosopher Mingliaotse | | | | satisfaction in all aspects of your life. |
| has to say on this topic: | | | | Make your list as exhaustive as possible and from |
| "The art of attaining happiness consists in keeping | | | | this list select those "mild" pleasures that you can |
| your pleasures mild." | | | | enjoy every day or often, simple pleasures that are |
| You know that whenever pleasure is present you | | | | feasible, practicable and viable to implement in your |
| are happy - this is a fact that cannot be denied - for | | | | daily life. |
| a pleasure is an enjoyable event or delightful emotion | | | | And then fit these mild pleasures into your daily |
| which is bound to make you happy, at least for that | | | | routine. |
| moment. | | | | See what happens. |
| Highfalutin philosophers and spiritual gurus may | | | | Experiment, innovate and be open minded and |
| prescribe various impracticable esoteric paths of | | | | creative. |
| renunciation, asceticism or sectarian precepts which | | | | Delete those "pleasures" that you thought would give |
| stipulate the eschewing of enjoyment and abstention | | | | you happiness but in actual practice these activities |
| from pleasure as the sine qua non of happiness, but | | | | made you stressed-out; like some "pleasures" you |
| the fact of the matter is that to an ordinary person | | | | thought would be satisfying but actually turned out |
| happiness and pleasure are inextricably intertwined. | | | | to be unrewarding and unfulfilling. |
| Discovering simple enduring pleasures which you can | | | | Do not hesitate to add new items to your list – |
| easily and regularly accomplish, fulfil, practice and | | | | you can always remove them from your "happiness" |
| enjoy in your day-to-day life will produce | | | | list if they fail to produce the desired results. |
| contentment, fulfillment and happiness. | | | | Fine tune and religiously practice your "happiness" list |
| No pleasure is a bad thing in itself, but wanton pursuit | | | | each day. |
| of pleasures is counterproductive as it leads to | | | | And I assure you that you will experience happiness |
| over-indulgence and excesses which bring with them | | | | every day, day after day, till happiness becomes a |
| disturbances which are detrimental to our happiness, | | | | habit, a part of your life. |
| health and well-being. | | | | This prescription of keeping your pleasures mild will |
| In your search for happiness you indulge in | | | | enable you to structure your life in such a way |
| extravagant parties, unrestrained consumption, | | | | where your happiness will be in your control and you |
| thoughtless shopping, limitless spending, ostentation, | | | | will find greater joy in your life. |
| expensive entertainments and try to enjoy | | | | It will be feasible and within your control to ensure |
| everything at once. | | | | that you enjoy these mild pleasures daily or at least |
| You want instant gratification by over-indulgence in | | | | fairly regularly. |
| wining, dining and dancing, stretching yourself to the | | | | You will see that with only the limited waking hours |
| maximum limits possible. | | | | during the day, these enjoyable events will begin to |
| At first you enjoy yourself and feel happy but when | | | | crowd out the neutral, unpleasant, and irrelevant |
| you come to the point of satiety you begin to feel a | | | | activities in your daily life and make you feel fulfilled |
| sense of repulsion, and if you overdo yourself, next | | | | and happy. |
| morning wake up sick and feeling miserable with a | | | | Dear Reader, start today and discover the art of |
| sense of melancholic dejection rather than happiness. | | | | happiness. |
| Grandiose, complicated, ostentatious and intemperate | | | | And do let me know your experience – did |
| overindulgences which you think will ostensibly make | | | | keeping your pleasures mild make you happier…? |
| you happy will in actual fact render you stressed-out, | | | | Gradually you will discover which are those mild |
| mentally exhausted, physically fatigued, dejected and | | | | pleasures that make you truly happy and joyful…? |
| unhappy and will cause you more harm and misery in | | | | "The art of attaining happiness consists in keeping |
| the long run. | | | | your pleasures mild." |
| There is no need to overdo things in order to be | | | | Follow this philosophy of life and soon you will |
| happy. | | | | become happier and happier, every day, day by day, |
| Just keep your pleasures mild and you will be happy. | | | | day after day. |
| Enjoying a simple, tasty and healthy meal in good | | | | It works – you can take my word for it. |
| company and in an atmosphere of positive vibes with | | | | |