Happiness is universally desired by everyone, and at all times. But how one gets real
and long term
happiness, depends on the person himself. Best happiness comes by doing something good to others. Life is full of joys and sorrows. Partly, these joys and sorrows are of our own making. The author talks of curative remedies, preventive measures and spiritual remedies, the last one bringing tremendous amount of sweetness and compassion.
This topic has been discussed in 23 Chapters of the book. Sorrow is described as some undesirable experience, in respect of mind, body, family, money and society etc. It is created by us, due to our own mistakes, wrongs and sins. Even when we are successful in achieving some of our desires, we feel happy for a little while only, since in the meantime we generate some other desire to be fulfilled, and become unhappy about it. Never ending desires, lead to never ending sorrows. Therefore for getting away from sorrows, we should go in for detachment. We should avoid momentary happiness, and go in for lasting joys. The artificial needs in our life cause unhappiness. Joy lies in renunciation, and not in fulfilling of our desires. Our joy should be dependent only on ourselves, but if it depends on something else, joy goes on reducing with time. The policy of detachment will give us right vision, and also real joy, which is within ourselves. Accumulation of wealth and other assets, does not give happiness. Those who have amassed wealth and worldly materialistic objects do not sleep well in the night. Ego of the individual is another cause of unhappiness. If we truly serve others with full cooperation, without selfishness and without expecting any gains in return, we will get happiness. If we sacrifice our possessions, have compassion, see welfare of others and go in for humanitarianism, it will lead us to happiness. Closeness of the family gives happiness. Love for fellow human beings, amounts to our following the path of God. We should have friendship, but no feelings of superiority or selfishness. We should sacrifice pride and arrogance, and also show tenderness towards others. Real joy comes from peace,
equality, generosity, fellow-feeling etc. Meditation helps us in looking inwards, so that we can be free from sorrows. If we can reduce our desires to not, and earmark and utilize our materialistic assets for social welfare and development especially of poor people, we will get true happiness. Real assets are our good qualities. We should aim for spiritual prosperity, in place of materialistic prosperity. A healthy mind has a healthy body. A pure person will have good health for a longer time. Finally everything depends on us, regarding the course of action we follow, in our quest to get joys and not sorrows.
Written in simple language, this book is for those who want their own improvement to a position of unbounded joy. This is based on personal knowledge and own experience. It gives examples from daily life. It gives details of a simple way, in which a common man can obtain continuous happiness, rather sorrow less joy. It is a valuable book for each and every one of us, to read and follow.