Happiness-सुखस्य मूलं धर्म: The basis of ‘Sukha’ or all true happiness is ‘Dharma’ or the
righteous conduct (Chanakya).
He had elaborated it further in Chanakya Neeti.
But those will work in cultured, educated and enlightened
societies. Do we see that anywhere including our country?
Do we find Dharma being practiced in politics, elections,
business, religion, religious bodies, temple, housing societies, banking/insurance
/government departments and finally family itself?
Questions are rather embarrassing to face.
How can then one expect lasting happiness? How indeed?
Go back to India of, say, 500 years back. What would have
been the scenario then? Come back to the country of today. What is the
situation in many places now?
What do the reports
show? What does the future portend?
Mostly people are afraid of the Pandemic now. However, should
we be afraid of the pandemic or the perennial adharma that has seeped in to
every pore of the society for centuries, though Mahabharata’s main theme was
Dharma—
धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे.. (BG 1.1). Can anyone plead ignorance of
this noble knowledge?
'You too, Brutus?' - is not-and will
not be- the final cry of Julius Caesar alone. What do you
think?
Hence it is honest to think, whether lasting
peace and happiness is going to be a reality at any time or a mere mirage?
What is Dharma? Doing the right thing with right attitude.
ReplyDeleteThere are certain Sharma's universally true. It would be applicable to all at all times everywhere.Examples : Speak truth;
Do not cause harm to others;
Certain Dharmas change according to circumstances: depending on the time, place and person.Think what could be examples.
Read Dharmas instead of Sharmas
ReplyDeleteThere were many epidemics in the past. What did human beings learn from those to introspect and practice dharma? The present one is also as per predictions. Do we care to learn from this wrath and return to the creator our God and say....what is mentioned in the 2 Kings chapter 7 and verse 14....
ReplyDeleteThere's no other hope for man than to repent for his or her sins and go back to God.
Thank you Murali for your valuable inputs. Such sharing will make the contents rich for the reader
DeleteThe book of 2 Kings Chapter 7 and verse 14 is from the holy scriptures The Bible. (For the sake of those wanting to know what this scripture says and keep the inquisitive desire, I have kept away from sharing...)
ReplyDeleteSir, you are an accredited scholar. But my view on happiness is simple. Life goes on dotted lines like perforated paper. We do not see the perforation because of our quest for material achievement. All that we need to do is our duty with utmost dedication and leave the rest to Almighty.What happens to us or around us is what ought to happen. We are only driven by force of time. If we take everything as experience of life stop reacting to it. We can be happy because ultimate destination is to merge with God. Destination of everyone is same. What happens here is play written and directed as a result of our past karma. To moan Or feeling happy over what happens in this worldly stage is our ignorance. So let's be happy and wait to join the divine city of God earlier or later. No worry. Complete surrender. But doing our best in the stage. Playing our part and narrating our script .
ReplyDeleteRaoji,thank you for your kind perspective on happiness and approch to living.Such sharing will open up new vistas to others. You will agree that living is a subject which remains an enigma to one and all with all the advancement in religion, philosophy, technology and science.
DeleteAfter seeing the original posting and the comments thereon I am tempted to elaborate on my earlier comments. I had stated Dharma is doing right action with right attitude. What is right attitude?
ReplyDeleteIt encompasses the following:
1. There should be no malice (likes, dislikes).
2. We should not accept anything that comes without our contribution.
3.. We have a right to those benefits from those who have benefited from the duty we perform. If it is not forthcoming on itsown you can ask for it. But if we still do not get it, we cannot snatch it; we must sacrifice that right in the hope that the Lord will give it to us.
4. I do the duty, but when the benefit is denied to me I must sacrifice it with with the pretense of ease. I have to do my duty with the attitude of worshiping God. By doing so one can expect entitlement from God. God will also benefit in some way.
4. In Bhagavat Gita, Bhagavan Krishna says that do your duty and do not try to do the duty of others. So it is enough to just do our duty.
5. If we do not get the benefit of the duty we do properly, we do not need to regret it and do not feel guilty in the mind.