Modern life is a struggle to gain money, comfort and luxury. Instead of bringing happiness, such life brings anxieties and stress. However, one day everybody will realize that material things are of little value when compared to the mental or spiritual joy of detachment from worldly things.
Our lives are made up of million moments, spent in million ways. Some are spent earning for maintaining livelihood and others for love, peace and happiness. Whether we live in a decent building with servants and wealth or struggle to manage the rent each month, it is in our power to be satisfied and live a life happily.
In fact, happiness is a perfume one cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on oneself. Buddhism teaches to adopt harmless and righteous means to gain happiness. There is no means in trying to enjoy one''s happiness by causing suffering to another person or living beings.
If one wants to live happily one should allow others to live happily. Unless and until one adjusts oneself to live according to these noble principals one cannot expect happiness in this world.
Actually, all human beings face and share the same fate. Due to ignorance of the true nature of life, one often weeps and wails. At times one even smiles and weeps again.
For happiness one should not expect gratitude from others. Dale Carnegie says, "If we want to find happiness let us stop thinking about gratitude or ingratitude. Ingratitude is natural like weeds. Gratitude is like a rose, which is to be fed, watered, cultivated, loved and protected."
Where do we look for happiness? ''Within you'' Says, Lord Buddha, Actually, happiness is the state of mind. It cannot be found in the material things such as wealth, power or fame. Those who spend a lifetime harvesting and accumulating more wealth will be disillusioned, and money cannot buy even a grain of happiness.
It has been my observation, Says Abraham Lincoln, ''that people are just about as happy as they make up their minds to be.'' In reality, happiness is the most desirable state of beings. It is not something, which simply happens. It is a state of consciousness that does not depend on the physical appetites and passions.
One cannot hope to gain happiness by simple praying; one has to work to gain such blessings. Beyond doubt, belief in god and praying for blessings is useful, but they are not all.
Nobody is happy unless he or she is contended with himself or herself. Actually, happiness is only possible through mental culture or meditation, which purifies our mind and engenders divine nature. Perseverance, strong determination and persistent efforts will help to achieve such quality.