no compulsion to be happy

a short while ago
i was reading
'1001 motivational quotes for success'
by Thomas J. Vilord

i had reached
page 11
when i came across a quotation
which stuck me
like an electric shock!

it was simple
rather too simple
....but piercing!

i was forced to put down the book
and let it sink deep.

it said
"happiness is the highest level of success."

nothing big on the face of it

but the moment you dive below the surface
you realize the intensity of the statement...

--

it wasn't mentioned
who had said it!

but whosoever would have uttered it
must have been a great great man indeed!

--

everyone on this planet
is running running running

after what?

majority don't care?
many don't know?
and rest say they are doing it all
to be happy!

and how are they doing it?

by collecting gadgets and assets
by building bank balance
by magnifying our ego and diminishing those of others

why?

they believe that this will make them happy?

so, does this actually make them happy?

they do get intoxicated
but do they become happy?

lets ask ourselves
are we happy?
are we relaxed?
is our race over?

why not?

the problem as well as the solution lie in the saying itself

"happiness is the highest level of success."

people think that since happiness is the highest level of success
one has to achieve all other forms and stages of success
to achieve this highest level i.e. happiness!

this is the very problem.

it is highest
not because of the place where it exists
but highest
because finally only happiness matters!

if finally only happiness matters
can we get it earlier than "finally"?
can we get it right here right now?
can't we be happy unconditionally?

can we detach our every race from happiness?

so that whatever we do, whatever is the outcome, we are always happy?

can't it happen that we do things because we need to do them

and not because we seek happiness!

can't we grow happiness under our feet?

can't we take happiness with us wherever we go?

--

there is no compulsion to say yes to the above question

just like there is no compulsion to be happy

actually.

--

if you are not successful

but still happy

please consider yourself

more successful than the most successful.

and if you are not happy

even after a piles of success

you are less successful than the least successful.

--

success without happiness is hollow

happiness irrespective of success is heavenly!