Showing posts with label happiness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label happiness. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

are "the rich" really happier?


why are richer people
overall less happy?

first lets agree
that being rich
is itself a relative term.

the one who has more than the other
is considered "rich".

and the group
which has more than the average people on the planet
are "the rich".

had "rich" being an absolute term
even a satisfied comfortable beggar would have qualified for the term.

-

now we turn towards the question
"why are richer people
overall less happy?"

being "rich" is being "infected with the virus of comparison"

being "rich" puts you "at the permanent risk of not being rich"

comparative "rich'ness'" is more of a punishment than a reward!

the moment anyone feels
that he is "rich"
he sub-consciously "switches on"
a pressure to stay "above" others
and stay "rich".

the fear of not remaining rich
turns real!

the "rich" counter this fear
by building the "Safety cushion"
of "reserve riches"

this leads to the next fear
"how much cushion is enough"

thus, as if the fear of not remaining rich was not enough
it gets compounded by
the fear of the cushion being not enough.

this leads to an unending chase
of the "rich" by the hounds of fear!

this breathless chase, inadvertently leads the poor "rich"
into many one-way traps they find impossible to come out!

as if this was not enough
they find unexpected threats
from the winds of change!

--

so where does this lead us to?

should we not be "rich"?
are all "rich" unhappy?
are "poor" happy?

all three questions are traps!

till you use the word "rich" or "poor"
you are in a race
driven by outside factors....

relatives instead of absolutes!

happiness by absolutes has a chance
happiness by relativity has none!

Monday, August 29, 2011

retired before 40


i once attended a seminar
where i was hypnotised and asked

"what are your big dreams in life?"

with a little effort
i listed them

big house
big car
world tour
fat bank balance
freedom to buy anything
long vacations
no need to be in a job
retirement at 40

--

i came back
and as hypnotised
wore the eye-blinders like a horse
and entered the rat race!

while i was moving forward
i met some rats
returning from where i was heading!

the look on their faces were not so inspiring.

i slowed down
and eventually stopped.

"how's the place u r returning from?"

the rat i talked to
didn't reply.

he handed me his walkman

i put on the headphones.

it was jagjit singh's voice

"patthar ke Khudaa patthar ke sanam
patthar ke hii insaaN paaye haiN
tum shahar-e-mohabbat kahate ho
ham jaan bachchaakar aaye haiN

but-khaanaa samajhate ho jisako
puuchcho na vahaaN kyaa haalat hai
ham log vahiiN se lauTe haiN
bas shukr karo lauT aaye haiN"

i quickly handed him back his walkman
and i became a runman
back!

back home
i took out that dream list
and made some changes.

house in place of big house
car in place of big car
mental balance in place of bank balance
'wisdom to buy what i need' in place of 'freedom to buy anything'
'living as if on vacations' in place of 'long vacations'
'loving and enjoying my job' instead of 'no need to be in a job'
'google earth and earthtv.com' in place of 'world tour'

i am yet to turn 40
and i am
truely retired!

Thursday, May 26, 2011

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!

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

bicycle of freedom!

have you ever rode a bicycle?
did you enjoy paddling it?
was it easy to balance it?
how hard was it to paddle it?
--
and
have you ever rode a motorcycle?
was it easy to balance it?
--
now i ask you
an out-of-syllabus question
"would you prefer riding a bicycle with paddle
or riding a motorcycle with paddle!!!"
you would, obviously, be puzzled.
you would say that a motorcycle is moved by a motor
there are no paddles with it
and there is no need for it to have paddles!!
--
agreed.
but my question is still the same.
"if there were a motorcyle sized bicycle
would you prefere paddle riding it
or paddle riding a normal bicycle?"
--
you will
without doubt
prefer
paddling a cycle.....
it would be easy
much easier than paddling the heavy motorcycle!
--
well,
what's the entire fuss about?
simple.
if what we ride,eat,wear,use,buy,drink,see,consume,show-off is our status, our lifestyle
then we maintain the balance for that lifestyle-ride
by paddling it with money.
it is much easier to paddle
a lighter lifestyle, a lighter status
than paddling a heavier one
especially
during the uphills of life!

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

nip that pain in the bud!

pain of loss
is greater than
the pleasure of gain.
--
so when a trade goes wrong
which is often
especially for newcomers
and
loss appears on the screen
the new-bees are left with
only one way
to overcome
and avoid
the pain of loss
???
by not booking the loss
by not honouring the stop loss
....wishing the price
to turn
somehow
into the green
and become
a pleasure of gain!
--
obviously
this doesn't happen.
as a psychological miracle
the pain of loss
gradually turns into
the PLEASURE OF PAIN
and
the pleasure of pain
gradually turns into
the teasing
PAIN OF GAIN.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

waiting for you!

All traders trade for money.

They want money for happiness.

We all want to be happy too.

Whatever we do

the desire is to be happy!

But in the end we are not happy.

Why?

It's because

although it appears that we are after happiness

what we are really after is

permanence of happiness.

If happiness is not there

we seek happiness.

when it comes

we suspect it

and expect it to be lost...

...so this happiness fails to make us happy!

Then we continue seeking happiness.

The cycle continues!

This explains the disease of unending accumulation of wealth

The fear of difficult times has gone bone deep in us.

Rather, all kinds of fears have sunk deep in us.

We are so frightened that we want guarantee from someone that our happiness will not vanish in future!

Obviously, such guarantee never comes!

It isn't there, anywhere!

If someone looks at Earth from the space he will find billions clinging tight to the trees of sorrow seeking permanent happiness.

If someone digs deep inside the Earth he will find billions of bodies still clinging tight to the trees of sorrow seeking permanent happiness.

Our fears suspect the happiness that is right under our pillow every morning!

'The happiness of the next morning' seems to be the true happiness.

And it is not surprising that 'tomorrow never comes'.

Seeking permanence is the root cause of every trouble in life!

Our deeply injured souls are after the wrong thing!

Happiness of tomorrow cannot come today.

Happiness of day-after-tomorrow cannot come today.

Happiness of day-after-day-after-tomorrow cannot come today.

Happiness of future is a mirage.

Happiness of today is here

and is waiting for you!

Friday, August 20, 2010

How rich are you?

A very rich trader died at the age of 51 and went to God's visa office.

"Want visa for Heaven", he said to the old lady at the counter.

"Pl give your finger prints here", she said pointing to a screen.

"What's that!" he asked.

"The machine will rate you on a scale of 10 on richness. If you score more than 7, you go to Heaven!"

"No problem!" said teh beaming trader who was sure to score 10 out of 10.

He put his palm on the screen

Pop came out the result

"2½/10 : The gentleman may kindly be trasported to Hell.

- By order

Secretary,

Home Affairs,

Kingdom of God"

"How can it be?" shouted the effluent trader.

"Your data is wrong.

I am one of the most successful trader in my generation.

And your machine has given me 2½ out of 10 on richness scale!!!" he protested.

whent the martials were about to catch him from arms

the old lady said

"Wait, Martials!"

"Here is the detailed score card for you, Mr.Trader" said the lady, handing over the scoresheet to the agitated trader.

The trader snatched it in a flash and read

"Richness by wealth = 1/1

Richness by Health = 0/1

Richness by character = 0/1

Richness by spiritual solace = 0/1

Richness by Family & Social ties = 0/1

Richness by Self Realisation = 1/1

Richness by Mannerisms, Behaviour & Cultural Refinement = 0/1

Richness by Fragrance of Wisdom = 0/1

Richness by Apathy = 0/1

Richness by Luck = 0.5/1

Total = 2½/10

Trader's eyes and mouth went wide open!

...and suddenly he woke up!

..and found himself sweating like hell!

"Thank God, I still have time!" he murmured!

Sunday, August 1, 2010

When will you be happy?

You are likely to be one of the following four kinds of people:-

1. "Not conscious that I am being regularly unhappy but if i were conscious I know how to be happy!"

= If this is you, you are not "awake", are "intoxicated" with your state of affairs and are caught in the rat race!

2. "Not conscious that I am being regularly unhappy but even if i were conscious I didn't know how to be happy!"

= If this is you, you are caught in the "sorrow trap"! how, when,whether you will be free are the questions!!

3. "Conscious that I am being regularly unhappy but don't know how to be happy!"

= If this is you, all you need is to seek the way out! Half the road to happiness already!!

4. "Conscious that I am being regularly unhappy and know what to do about it!!"

= If this is you, Happiness is set to dawn. You are almost there. Congratulations, you lucky!!!

9 Passwords to Happy Life

9 Passwords to Happy Life

Each one of us desperately wants to be happy. If happiness is a treasure locked in a strong vault with nine chambers, here are the nine possible passwords. Read these without being disturbed, in private, absolute silence and without haste.

First Password
"Simple"
'It is so simple to be happy, but it is so difficult to be simple.'
Life is 99% clutter and 1% substance. If you are a computer and life is your RAM, then this 99% clutter is the virus which has jammed the free flow of happiness!
Remove the unnecessary and in the end all you will be left with is happiness!
But it requires a lot of courage to live simple.
Absence of simplicity is making us all unhappy!

Second Password
"Silence"
The world is full of noise. Noise - of words, of thoughts, of visuals...
Just remain silent for an entire day and your life will change...! Silence will evaporate every clutter in and around you. Silence not just of sound but of the mind as well!!!
Silence never comes alone. It brings smile even when everything around you is on fire! It opens the eyes of the mind!
Absence of silence is keeping us unhappy!

Third Password
"Slow"
Everyone on the Earth is running!
But where? For what? Why??
It is all madness!
99 out of 100 are running because they don't know anything except running or because they see everyone around running.
People are running without thinking. They don't want to be the odd man out!
Stop.
Step aside.
Look how everyone is still madly running! Towards imaginary destinations which keep on shifting everyday and which they don't even know clearly!!!
Leave the track. Get into the meadows!
Death is nature's warning to us to slow down.
The hypnotic pace of everyday life is fueling the unhappiness in our lives.

Fourth Password
"Easy"
Why complicate everything?
Whom are we trying to impress? The person we are trying to impress is already busy trying to impress someone else?
Why make it difficult?
Are we fools?
Keep everything easy and natural.
Difficulty in every thought and action and emotion is blocking our path to happiness!

Fifth Password
"Enjoy"
The ultimate purpose of life is to enjoy life! Nothing is more important than life!!
(But enjoyment must be such that it doesn't sow the seeds of loss of enjoyment at a later stage)
If you are not enjoying, then you are not living!
You are rich only when you live an enriched life.
Enjoy the nature you miss everyday. Enjoy the food, the music, the emotions, the pleasures…
Consuming life without enjoying is depriving us of happiness!

Sixth Password
"Relax"
Relax…life is a picnic…a grand party…It is not a job…not an interview…no race…no question…no challenge…no burden…no deadlines…
Every clutter is our creation. We keep on reacting on everything in life, and life keeps hitting us back!
Lack of rest and relaxation is keeping us tense!

Seventh Password
"Natural"
What requires 'force' brings stress. What is 'natural' is full of life!

Eight Password
"Patience"
Impatience with life is like eagerness for death!

Ninth Password
"Contentment"
Lack of contentment in 'what is', is like throwing away God's starter before he serves you the maincourse...

Relax…life is a picnic…a grand party…It is not a job…not an interview…no race…no question…no
God wanted us to be happy, we used our "intelligence" and messed it all up!

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Life lessons from RSI

* you can't keep a good man down for long

* a bad man can't keep himself up for long.

* no thing or situation can remain in highly excited state for long.

* no thing or situation can remain in highly depressed state for long.

* if things are good due to some genuine reason, expect them to get better to the extreme unless there is a change in the fundamental realities.

* if things are bad due to some genuine reason, expect them to get worse to the extreme unless there is a change in the fundamental realities.

* any highly excited state is unsustainable and unstable and is an opportunity.

* any highly depressed state is unsustainable and unstable and is an opportunity.

* before jumping into any extreme situation, wait. the biggest sting comes just before reversal.

* any wave of situation, emotional, financial, social, physical, political etc. is likely to continue till it reaches an extreme, and then it recedes.

* while receding, the situation is likely to retest and retry to regain its earlier heightened state atleast once.

* if it fails to regain it, the situation is surely dying.

* if any heightened situation remains constant but perception of the participants starts receding, it is a pause before the continuation of the severe situation.

* if the situation is improving but the perception is worsening, or when the situation is worsening but the perception is improving, the situation is likely to reverse soon.

* any situation is likely to pause or reverse at its extreme.

* excess of everything is "bad"

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Invest in & hold on to these 10 stocks for lifetime!

1. Children

- yours and everyones!

2. Spouse

- your partner for life!

3. Health

- maintenance of the "vehicle" you are travelling in the journey of life!

4. Faith & trust in God

- if you don't know the meaning of what is happening in life, trust Him!

5. Guru

- someone whom you can fall back on in dark times for light!

6. Honesty and Character

- lets keep atleast our own self clean!

7. Cleanliness and Orderliness

- in the mind and outside!

8. Spirit of life

- live a lively life and let live!

9. Mother , Motherland and Mothertongue

- including Father, Bros & sisters, Countrymen, Fellow human beings, Own Culture, Animals, Plants & Environment!

10. Self

- who's this?

- don't lose yourself! There is only one on this Earth! God was not wrong when he created you!!!