Jain Digest 1999 04

Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

Page 32

The Search for Bliss and Happiness
H
appiness is usually termed as absence of unhappiness. But this definition merely shifts our search to the concept of unhappiness. The worldly life is beset with various types of misery, distress and affliction that give the feeling of unhappiness. The factors that lead to unhappiness can be divided in three categories of Ädhi, Vyädhi and Upädhi. The first relates to the mental unhappiness. The second relates to physical unhappiness. The third pertains to the problems arising from the extraneous factors. To get free from all these aspects is Samadhi, the state of true happiness.
But most people are not much concerned about true happiness. They are more interested in getting worldly happiness which can be termed as pleasure. The pleasure is defined as the agreeable sensation arising from expectation, acquisition or possession of something desirable. This definition implies that it has to be free from vexation, annoyance, anger, affliction, distress, sorrow, trouble etc. Our activities are generally motivated by the desire to gain such pleasure.
The feeling of pleasure is closely associated with comforts. Making the life comfortable therefore happens to be the main objective of all our activities. Comforts and amenities can therefore be equated with pleasure. The present day science has provided to us the comforts and amenities that were beyond the purview of the people of earlier generations. The electronics and other devices have extended to us the facilities that were unimaginable a few years back. It is hardly an exaggeration to state that an ordinary woman can now garb herself the way, which even the Mughal queens could not afford. That has however not made us happier. The reason lies in the sense of desire. The desire to have something more prevents us from experiencing happiness that can be availed from the existing situation. The desire knows no limitation. The more we get, the more we aspire for.
30/JAIN DIGEST SUMMER 1999 Jain Education International
In order to explain the nature of desire, the scriptures have depicted the character of Kapil. He went out to bless the king with a view to gain two grains of gold. But pitying his condition, when the king permitted him to ask for anything he liked, his desire was let loose and he was induced to think of continually increasing amount. Instead of getting two grains of gold, he successively thought of asking for 1000 coins, 10000 coins, millions and so on till he conceived of asking for the entire kingdom. That thought, however, gave him a jerk. He was astonished to note that simply because the king was kind enough to grant him what he asked for, he was led to think of making that very king a pauper. What sort of mind is it! That induced him to think otherwise and he ultimately decided
by Manu Doshi not to ask for anything. This story indicates that desire is endless and insatiable. It can be restrained only by laying voluntary limitations on acquisitions and possessions.
Another area where we normally look for happiness is the gratification of senses. For that purpose we try to procure and accumulate objects of senses. We like to touch, eat, smell, see or hear something of our choice. For instance, we feel excited with soft touch or with tasty food or drink. We also feel happy in the company of spouse and experience a sense of delight in the process of procreation. When we avail of such objects and situations, we feel delighted. But that sense does not last long. After some time we become sick of the existing situations and start hankering for something else. This happens, because the sense objects do not have the capability to provide happiness.
It is evident that happiness would evade us as long as we look for it from the sources where happiness does not lie. In this connection it is worthwhile to cite the example of an old woman. She was once looking for something in the street. A young girl happened to pass by and inquired what she was looking for. The woman replied that she was looking for her needle. Thereupon the young girl joined her in the search. Since the needle could not be located, the girl asked the woman if she remembered where the needle was dropped. The woman replied that it was dropped inside her hut. The young girl was exasperated and asked her why she was wasting time in looking for the needle where it was not dropped. The woman replied that there was dark inside the hut and she was therefore looking for the needle in the day light. The incident may seem ridiculous, but we happen to be continually involved in similar activities. Happiness lies inside but we are afraid to dive deep and have all the time been looking for it outside, where it does not exist.
Most people are not much concerned about true happiness. They are more interested in getting worldly happiness which can be termed as pleasure.
Since we have equated happiness with pleasure, it needs to be understood that the increasing amount of anything, even of the cherished objects, leads to reduction in pleasure and eventually it ceases to give pleasure. The sense of pleasure actually depends upon the intensity of desire that a given situation or object is expected to satisfy. The higher the intensity, the higher would be the degree of satisfaction arising from its gratification. For instance, if we have intense desire to eat certain type of food, getting such food results in a high level of satisfaction. But after eating some quantity, the desire for it starts going down till it comes to a zero. Then, not only does the same food seem non-relishing, the additional quantity may actually result in disinclination.