The Paradoxical Path: Losing Your Mind to Happiness
Happiness is a multifaceted well-being characterized by joy, satisfaction, and contentment. It can be understood from various perspectives:
- Psychological Perspective: A state of emotional well-being that ranges from contentment to intense joy. It often involves the presence of positive emotions and the absence of negative emotions.
- Philosophical Perspective: Different schools of thought have diverse interpretations. For instance, Aristotle’s concept of eudaimonia describes happiness as living in accordance with virtue and realizing one’s potential.
- Spiritual Perspective: In many spiritual traditions, happiness is viewed as a deeper inner peace and fulfillment that transcends external circumstances. The Diamond Approach, for example, might describe true happiness as arising from the realization of one’s true nature and the dissolution of the ego.
- Sociological Perspective: Happiness can also be influenced by social factors such as relationships, community, and societal conditions.
Happiness is often seen as both a fleeting emotion and a deeper, more enduring state of being.
Would we ever feel happy if we didn’t have a word for “happy”? Would we ever feel unhappy if we didn’t have the concept of “happy”? We create the concept of happy, then we live our lives feeling unhappy and trying to be happy. See the trap? – Diamond Heart Book Four: Indestructible Innocence
The word “happiness” has an interesting etymology and history of use. Here’s an overview:
Etymology: The word “happiness” derives from the Middle English word “happ,” which meant chance, fortune or luck. This in turn came from the Old Norse word “happ,” which had the same meaning. The suffix “-ness” was added to “happ” to form the abstract noun “happiness.”
Early Meanings: In its earliest uses, in the 14th century, “happiness” referred to favorable external circumstances or good luck. It was associated with fortune, prosperity, and blessing. The meaning gradually shifted over time to refer to a state of mind or inner feeling.
Philosophical Meanings: Starting in the 17th century, philosophers began exploring “happiness” as a concept related to well-being, life satisfaction, virtue, and living an ethical life. Thinkers like John Locke, David Hume, and Immanuel Kant debated differing views on the sources of true happiness.
Modern Use: Today, “happiness” refers to positive emotions, life satisfaction, meaning or purpose, and overall emotional and psychological well-being. Its usage has broadened to encompass temporary joy and longer-lasting states of contentment.
Happiness through history:
- “Happiness is a perpetual possession of being well deceived.” (Jonathan Swift, 1738)
- “Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your actions.” (Dalai Lama XIV)
- “Happiness (eudemonia – a Greek word translating to the state or condition of ‘good spirit,’ commonly translated as ‘happiness’ or ‘welfare’) is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.” (Aristotle)
So, “happiness” evolved over the centuries from meanings of luck and fortune to more subjective, philosophical, and psychological interpretations.
The Pursuit of Happiness
The American Founding Fathers had a distinct understanding of “the pursuit of happiness, ” drawing from classical philosophy, Christian virtue ethics, and Enlightenment ideals. They viewed happiness not merely as a fleeting pleasure but as the lifelong pursuit of virtue, reason, and self-mastery.
Key Points on the Founders’ View of “Pursuit of Happiness”
- It was influenced by ancient Greek philosophers like Aristotle, who saw happiness (eudaimonia) as the highest human good achieved through living a virtuous life of reason and moderation.
- It drew from Christian concepts of virtue, temperance, and character development to find true contentment and live in harmony with divine laws.
- It was shaped by Enlightenment thinkers (Age of Enlightenment) like John Locke, who saw happiness as inseparable from the “pursuit of virtue” and moral self-improvement.
- For the Founders, the “pursuit of happiness” meant striving for public and private virtue through habits like industry, sincerity, moderation, and self-governance. They saw virtue as essential for self-government and democracy.
- Thomas Jefferson was influenced by the legal scholar William Blackstone, who defined the “pursuit of happiness” as the ability to pursue virtue, wisdom, and the divine laws of nature.
- The phrase was not just a “glittering generality” but had substantive legal and philosophical meaning tied to natural rights philosophy.
In essence, the Founders saw the “pursuit of happiness” as the active cultivation of reason, virtue, and self-mastery in harmony with moral and natural laws – not just fleeting pleasure but a lifelong journey toward human flourishing.
The quest for happiness is a paradoxical dance, a ceaseless pursuit that often leaves us chasing shadows. The Diamond Approach, as articulated by A.H. Almaas, offers a profound exploration into the essence of happiness, juxtaposing ancient wisdom with contemporary insights from psychology and neuroscience.
The Diamond Approach to Happiness
According to the Diamond Approach, happiness transcends transient pleasures and external achievements. It’s an intrinsic quality deeply intertwined with our true nature. Almaas provocatively suggests that truth, not happiness, is the ultimate goal.
The goal of man is Truth. Truth is more than happiness. The man who has Truth can have whatever mood he wishes, or none. – Diamond Heart Book One: Elements of the Real in Man
This distinction is crucial; it invites us to see happiness not as an end but as a byproduct of living authentically and in alignment with our essence.
In our modern world, pursuing happiness is often mistaken for accumulating pleasures and successes. But Almaas warns that this external chasing leads to a trap, binding us to temporary satisfaction and inevitable disappointment cycles. The Buddha echoed this sentiment, teaching that attachment to transient pleasures is the root of suffering. In his poetic wisdom, Rumi reminds us that true joy arises from within: “The wound is the place where the Light enters you.”
Almaas encourages a shift towards seeking truth, which brings about a more profound and enduring form of happiness rooted in the essence of our being.
The Teaching of the Markabah in the Diamond Approach
In the Diamond Approach, the Markabah is a profound teaching on the nature of pleasure and truth. This wisdom vehicle, described as having a joyous, celebrative quality and a deep inner richness, presents itself like a carousel in a carnival atmosphere.
The Markabah embodies two types of pleasure: the rich, golden, melting love diamond at its center, which signifies loving, satisfying, nourishing sweetness, and the surrounding sensuously textured gems that offer various essential qualities.
The Markabah teaches that all aspects of essence arise in diamond form, each expressing the purity of truth through specific qualities of pleasure. It highlights that the very nature of Being is inherently pleasurable, manifesting as peace, clarity, strength, will, power, kindness, love, and joy. This perspective challenges the common misconception that truth is often unpleasant, showing that pleasure and truth are deeply interconnected.
The Markabah also addresses the deep-seated connection between pleasure and our instinctual drives, a central element in making the spiritual turn inward. It guides us in understanding and overcoming barriers to pleasure, decoupling the drive towards pleasure from animal instincts, and using these insights to fuel the spiritual journey. This teaching reveals that true, nourishing pleasure is an intrinsic aspect of our being, often obscured by external seeking and ego-driven desires.
Insights on Happiness from Psychology and Neuroscience
Modern science provides complementary insights into the nature of happiness:
- Genetic Predisposition: Research suggests that genetic factors influence up to 50% of our happiness levels, often called a “happiness set point.” Life circumstances can modulate but not entirely alter this set point.
- Neurochemical Influences: Neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins are crucial in regulating mood and well-being. Dopamine, associated with the brain’s reward system, plays a key role in feelings of pleasure and motivation.
- Positive Psychology: The field of positive psychology, spearheaded by Martin Seligman, focuses on enhancing well-being through gratitude, mindfulness, and fostering positive relationships. These practices align closely with spiritual teachings that advocate for an inward focus.
- Mindfulness and Meditation: These practices have been shown to significantly enhance well-being by reducing stress, increasing emotional regulation, and fostering a deeper sense of presence and contentment.
Integrating Wisdom and Science
The Diamond Approach and modern scientific findings paint a comprehensive picture of happiness. Almaas’s teachings emphasize that true happiness arises from within, independent of external conditions. This resonates with neuroscience findings that long-term happiness is more about internal states than external achievements.
Almaas offers another profound insight in Diamond Heart Book One: Elements of the Real in Man
If you want to grow, you have to be willing to actually be somebody with different thoughts, ideas, beliefs, and experiences. You come here saying, ‘I want to be happy.’ Fine, you want to be happy. But it might be that to be happy, you will have to become a different person.
This perspective underscores that true happiness arises from an authentic transformation and willingness to evolve, making happiness a natural byproduct of living in alignment with one’s true essence.
Some key points from Almaas’s perspective on what makes us truly happy:
- Presence and Being: Almaas teaches that happiness comes from being present to the truth of our spiritual essence or Being behind the ordinary personality. This involves recognizing our boundless inner ground of presence, consciousness, and reality.
- Integration of All Parts: True happiness requires integrating all aspects of ourselves—mind, body, emotions, and spirit. It involves acknowledging and embodying the qualities of our essence, such as love, peace, and strength.
- Living from Essence: According to Almaas, when we live from our deepest spiritual nature rather than just our surface ego, we experience a profound sense of fulfillment, wonder, and happiness.
- Freedom from Identification: True happiness arises when we disentify from limiting mental and emotional patterns and abide as the vast spaciousness of our true nature.
- Realization of Oneness: According to Almaas’s teachings, the ultimate happiness is realizing our intrinsic union and oneness with the totality of existence.
Authentic, lasting happiness emerges through the journey of self-realization, which involves recognizing and embodying our innermost spiritual essence free of ego identifications.
As the ancient sage said:
Happiness, when viewed through the lens of the Diamond Approach and supported by modern science, becomes a journey of self-discovery rather than a destination. By aligning with our true nature and embracing life’s joys and challenges, we cultivate a more profound and lasting sense of well-being. This integrated understanding allows us to live more fully, embracing the richness of each moment with a heart open to the truth of our existence.
Ten Reflective Questions on Happiness
- How does the pursuit of truth differ from the pursuit of happiness in your spiritual journey?
- The pursuit of truth involves a deeper engagement with our authentic self, beyond the transient pursuit of external joys. Truth provides a stable foundation, leading to a more profound, enduring form of happiness.
- In what ways do you find that your happiness is influenced by external circumstances versus internal states?
- While external events can impact our mood, true happiness is rooted in our internal state of being. By cultivating inner peace and presence, we can maintain a stable sense of well-being regardless of external conditions.
- How do practices such as mindfulness and meditation contribute to your sense of well-being and happiness?
- Mindfulness and meditation anchor us in the present moment, reducing stress and fostering a deep sense of contentment and inner peace.
- Can you identify moments when seeking happiness actually led to feelings of unhappiness or frustration?
- The constant pursuit of happiness can create a cycle of dissatisfaction. Recognizing this trap allows us to shift our focus towards acceptance and presence, which naturally cultivates a more genuine form of happiness.
- How do you reconcile the idea of happiness being a natural state with the challenges and suffering you experience in life?
- Accepting that happiness is our natural state means acknowledging that challenges are temporary. By facing difficulties with an open heart, we can return to our inherent state of joy and peace.
- In what ways does your spiritual practice help you understand and experience different forms of happiness?
- Spiritual practice deepens our understanding of happiness as multifaceted. It teaches us to appreciate the subtle, varied expressions of joy that arise from different aspects of our being.
- How does the concept of non-attachment to outcomes influence your perception of happiness?
- Non-attachment frees us from the anxiety of needing specific outcomes to feel happy. It allows us to embrace the present moment fully, fostering a more stable and resilient form of happiness.
- What role do relationships and community play in your experience of happiness?
- Relationships and community provide opportunities for connection and shared joy. They remind us of our interconnectedness and enhance our collective well-being.
- How do you differentiate between transient pleasures and deeper, more sustainable forms of happiness?
- Transient pleasures are fleeting and often dependent on external circumstances. Deeper happiness arises from within, sustained by a sense of purpose, presence, and alignment with our true nature.
- How has your understanding of happiness evolved through your spiritual practice and self-inquiry?
- Spiritual practice and self-inquiry reveal that true happiness is not something to be chased but discovered within. This realization transforms our approach to life, making happiness a natural expression of our being.