Sunday Musings - February 12, 2023
The false god of happiness
Philosophers, theologians and psychologists have challenged the idea that happiness is a desired goal. Perhaps for some, as with all language, it is a semantic discussion. What one intends when one uses the word happy, or happiness may be as varied as the number of hair products on the market!
John Stuart Mill and a host of others have opinioned the value of happiness. Mr. Mill is reported to have said: “…humans cannot desire anything except that which is an instrument to or a component of happiness.” (iep.utm.edu)
In an interview with psychologist Iris Mauss, host of Hidden Brain podcast, Shankar Vedantam, explores “Happiness 2.0: The Path to Contentment”). Dr. Mauss suggest that the more we pursue happiness the more elusive it is.
The United States Declaration of Independence states that ‘We hold these truths to be sacred & undeniable; that all men are created equal & independent, that from that equal creation they derive rights inherent & inalienable, among which are the preservation of life, & liberty, & the pursuit of happiness;” If one viewed many advertisements in the United States, one might conclude that happiness is as accessible as choosing the right hair product, the sexiest car, a team winning a sporting event or having a house with many bathrooms.
Sadly, the term happy is also often used to suggest one is happy at the expense of another such as when one is happy that “justice” has been done; when the person who hurt their loved one or themselves is sent to prison or even executed by the state. Another might say that they would be happy if a certain sports team pounced or soundly defeated another team.
Some might posit a state of happiness if the Ukrainians could bring the Russian military forces and Putin to their knees.
From a spiritual standpoint I do not think of happiness as a goal. It seems to me that a desired spiritual goal might be to be at peace with how one has treated another person or even Mother Earth. If a friend dies most of us want to be able to say that we did not leave anything or at least very little unsaid or undone which would have ensured the friend knew one loved and respected them
Most of we parents and teachers want to teach children to aspire to do no harm; to do the next right thing even if doing so results in some sadness, grief or another feeling.
We humans often give gifts of time, money or labor to others. When a disaster such as the recent earthquake in Turkey and Syria visits abject destruction neighbors comes to the assistance of each other. One might feel devastated, sad, overwhelmed, exhausted and a host of other feelings but internally at peace because of doing the next right thing,
If lucky one’s core values are more often than not clearly in the forefront; the criteria for making decisions. For most of us, despite cultural, political, or marketing influences the question of personal happiness is not a primary or secondary goal. The goal is to be at peace or at home with myself.
Iris Mauss reminds us that Buddhist teachers often remind the student (all of us including the teacher) to drop the dualities. That is, do not label some item, life dance, decision or event as good/bad, right wrong or to use any other point/value system. That same teacher would suggest we notice a person, situation or state of being. If one does not label but just notice, one can remain at home with oneself. If one does not feel as home; if one has violated a core value; if one has unnecessarily injured another one will not feel at home. Call that unhappy, out of alignment, off balance, “not me” or just noticing what one’s body is suggesting.
Perhaps we as students, teachers, parents, neighbors and children can remind each other that it is both necessary and sufficient to be at home; that we do not need to be right, to win the argument, to be the brightest star, the sexiest person, or financially the riches to be at home. Once again, I am reminded of Ram Dass reminding us that “We are all just walking each other home.” It may be that striving to be momentarily happy can impede this goal.
Written February 12, 2023
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
The false god of happiness
Philosophers, theologians and psychologists have challenged the idea that happiness is a desired goal. Perhaps for some, as with all language, it is a semantic discussion. What one intends when one uses the word happy, or happiness may be as varied as the number of hair products on the market!
John Stuart Mill and a host of others have opinioned the value of happiness. Mr. Mill is reported to have said: “…humans cannot desire anything except that which is an instrument to or a component of happiness.” (iep.utm.edu)
In an interview with psychologist Iris Mauss, host of Hidden Brain podcast, Shankar Vedantam, explores “Happiness 2.0: The Path to Contentment”). Dr. Mauss suggest that the more we pursue happiness the more elusive it is.
The United States Declaration of Independence states that ‘We hold these truths to be sacred & undeniable; that all men are created equal & independent, that from that equal creation they derive rights inherent & inalienable, among which are the preservation of life, & liberty, & the pursuit of happiness;” If one viewed many advertisements in the United States, one might conclude that happiness is as accessible as choosing the right hair product, the sexiest car, a team winning a sporting event or having a house with many bathrooms.
Sadly, the term happy is also often used to suggest one is happy at the expense of another such as when one is happy that “justice” has been done; when the person who hurt their loved one or themselves is sent to prison or even executed by the state. Another might say that they would be happy if a certain sports team pounced or soundly defeated another team.
Some might posit a state of happiness if the Ukrainians could bring the Russian military forces and Putin to their knees.
From a spiritual standpoint I do not think of happiness as a goal. It seems to me that a desired spiritual goal might be to be at peace with how one has treated another person or even Mother Earth. If a friend dies most of us want to be able to say that we did not leave anything or at least very little unsaid or undone which would have ensured the friend knew one loved and respected them
Most of we parents and teachers want to teach children to aspire to do no harm; to do the next right thing even if doing so results in some sadness, grief or another feeling.
We humans often give gifts of time, money or labor to others. When a disaster such as the recent earthquake in Turkey and Syria visits abject destruction neighbors comes to the assistance of each other. One might feel devastated, sad, overwhelmed, exhausted and a host of other feelings but internally at peace because of doing the next right thing,
If lucky one’s core values are more often than not clearly in the forefront; the criteria for making decisions. For most of us, despite cultural, political, or marketing influences the question of personal happiness is not a primary or secondary goal. The goal is to be at peace or at home with myself.
Iris Mauss reminds us that Buddhist teachers often remind the student (all of us including the teacher) to drop the dualities. That is, do not label some item, life dance, decision or event as good/bad, right wrong or to use any other point/value system. That same teacher would suggest we notice a person, situation or state of being. If one does not label but just notice, one can remain at home with oneself. If one does not feel as home; if one has violated a core value; if one has unnecessarily injured another one will not feel at home. Call that unhappy, out of alignment, off balance, “not me” or just noticing what one’s body is suggesting.
Perhaps we as students, teachers, parents, neighbors and children can remind each other that it is both necessary and sufficient to be at home; that we do not need to be right, to win the argument, to be the brightest star, the sexiest person, or financially the riches to be at home. Once again, I am reminded of Ram Dass reminding us that “We are all just walking each other home.” It may be that striving to be momentarily happy can impede this goal.
Written February 12, 2023
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
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