The Art of Happy Living

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There is a natural longing in human beings for happiness. It is therefore important to understand what happiness is. Happiness is more likely to be ours if we know the reasons for unhappiness and avoid them.

In today's materialistic world everybody feels the pinch of stress. While some level of stress is beneficial, it needs to be managed for optimum results and happy living. This book also provides several tips for successful living. It is hoped that these will greatly help the readers in changing their daily lifestyle to lead a happy and peaceful life.

R K Jain, a Mechanical Engineer, firmly believes that we are ourselves responsible for our state of affairs and others have practically no role in it. He has written that this book with the the hope that his experience would inspire several readers to modify their lifestyle towards happy living. Mr Jain is presently Member-(Thermal), CEA and Chairperson of CEA.

This book perhaps marks the maiden attempt to analyse all important elements of happy living. Happiness is defined in different ways. It is, therefore, important to understand what happiness really is. Most people, given their preoccupation with mundane matters, hardly ever find time for what has come to be labelled as a luxury. For many, accumulation of wealth is the sole purpose in life and they do it at the cost of their own health and that of their family members. The only goal set for children is to outshine their peers in classrooms, play-fields and future career. At no stage is any guidance given about the purpose of life. Everybody picks up bits and pieces here and there and most of us develop our own picture about life and try to lead it accordingly. Clarity on this subject is therefore essential. It is only after acquiring adequate knowledge, understanding and awareness of this subject that one can go forward on the path of happy living. It is true that every body wants to be happy. We have to distinguish between happiness and pleasure. While pleasure is short-lived, happiness is long term. Happiness is a state of mind when external stimulants do not disturb us and we are contented with whatever we possess and are at peace within ourselves. A child is always happy because he is carefree, innocent, and has no feelings of envy or competition. A poor man can be happier than a rich man. In fact, we develop many negative traits automatically from society as we grow old. It is only after discarding these negative qualities that we can look for happy living.

The experience of several affluent people shows that happiness does not come from accumulating wealth, nor does it lie in celebration of success or achievements. In the materialistic world of today, we never find the time to promote stillness and enjoy happiness.

The first and foremost requirement for happy living is good health. Everyone of us has been bestowed with a well designed body. Our bad habits erode these gains. If a person understands the basic functioning of the body and its requirements and knows how to keep it in proper order, one can remain healthy. The body for its upkeep needs ingredients which come in the form of food. It is absolutely essential to inculcate good food habits and discipline.

Happiness and unhappiness do not coexist. A. person becomes unhappy following some events which may look trivial to others but affects the subject deeply. On the other hand, a person can be happy without any sound reason. In fact happiness is a state which one can attain by practice. It is therefore, necessary to understand what causes unhappiness and try to eliminate it as far as possible.

Like any substance or entity, human mind also has certain characteristics which need to be understood and controlled. Human mind can become easy prey to passions such as lust, anger, greed, attachment and egotism or vanity. These passions in turn compel a person to long for wealth, love, pleasure, power, position etc. People commit sins in life without even understanding the why, what and how of it. Overcoming the bonds of attachment and controlling feelings of jealousy/envy can help a lot. It is natural for a person to get attached to spouse and children but this has, over time, got extended to accumulating wealth for them by right or wrong means without realising that no beneficiary or claimant to the booty will ever take part in the suffering that the man must undergo for his misdeeds. It is also possible that such a person is doing injustice to those who were related to him in previous births and as dear to him then as are the existing ones in this birth. Generally a person who earns his livelihood through hard work and honest means without malice or ill will for others lives a happy and contented life. In the present fast moving, mechanical and materialistic world, one is always in hurry, constantly worried, tense and stressful. All these cause unhappiness. One has to practise to overcome fear of any kind-particularly the fear of death. This is possible by gaining a clear understanding of life, and its purpose. Interesting part about life is that while memory of previous births fades away after rebirth, the consequences of earlier actions and deeds, good or bad cannot be avoided.

Reasons of unhappiness like worry, fatigue, anxiety, inferiority complex, or negative thinking which are often overlooked need to be understood and controlled. Expectations and assumptions that things will remain same as they are also cause unhappiness. Very often we experience problems because we never organise things. Habits of postponing actions and decisions, finding faults with others or blaming others for our failures, unkind acts, using questionable means to secure monetary gains and avoiding difficult situations or postponing them, telling lies, trying to do more than one thing at a time, etc. are not conducive to promote happiness.

One principal reason for a person's unhappiness is ignorance-lack of knowledge. Quite often, we grope in the dark and undertake tasks without having full information and knowledge of things. Thus we cultivate certain wrong notions about life. Many times, we develop the fear of the unknown which makes life still more complicated and miserable. In order to feel happy it is essential for everybody to understand the basic facts and underlying principles of functioning of human body, mind, soul, nature and environment, birth and rebirth. We must understand the laws of nature and obey rather than defy them. The principle of non- violence needs to be respected. Application of knowledge imparts wisdom. Practical wisdom helps us in living better, working better, achieving more and becoming more competent. A competent person is strong in skills, attitude and emotional intelligence. Since there is no difference between two living beings, everyone must respect the individuality of others.

We must learn to live in the present and not allow the past or future to determine our actions, our behaviour and our relations. Do your level best to perform your duties well without any expectations of reward. Be good to all. Find time to enjoy nature and play with children. Nature has enough to meet the needs of all but not the greed. These are some of the principles for happy living. When you have controlled your desires, feeling of contentment, hatred or affection, you will start enjoying all the work you do and live each and every moment of your life. You will be able to enjoy and derive satisfaction from all acts you perform. You will find yourself in a state that gives total happiness. You will be in good state of health when you are away from stress and tensions. Your food will be natural.

You will not be in a hurry to complete any job. You will thus be leading a disciplined life with noble values which are the attributes of an ideal character viz. love, forgiveness, honesty, simplicity, patience, tolerance, selflessness, modesty and calmness. These qualities help us to look into our attitude and approach, and our responses to the situations we face every day and in decision-making.

At the end of the book, a number of important phrases and quotations relating to lifestyle for happy living have been compiled. It is hoped that these will enable readers to understand closely the meaning of life, bring about changes in lifestyle, inspire and motivate them. Successful living, right living and happy living tend to go together.

A prayer has been prescribed in the end. This captures all the ingredients of happiness based on the characteristics of soul. This will help readers to imbibe various essential qualities needed for happy living in their daily life style.

This book provides sufficient information and knowledge about happiness based on my own experiences and also that of several others. One may find it interesting reading but that will not serve the purpose. Whatever is written needs to be experimented with and experienced. The real benefit will be derived when it becomes your own experience.

I am thankful to Sh. H. N. Fotedar, who has with love and devotion edited the entire manuscript of this book with great care. I am also thankful to Sh. S. K. Ghai who has kindly agreed to publish this book to spread the message of happy living. My sincere thanks also to all the great philosophers, saints, writers who have worked untiring in the past so that people could learn the art of happy living.