Sinners and Polluters, Beware!

A pilgrim paid his obeisance to a revered Sant at Mahakumbh city, Prayagraj, and asked, ‘Swamiji, what benefit accrues from Triveni snan?’

Sant: Shastras mention that sins committed at other holy places are removed at Kumbhakonam, sins committed at Kumbhakonam at Varanasi, and sins committed anywhere are removed by a holy dip at Prayagraj. Sangam snan removes sins of this and all previous births.

(Photo Credit: https://kumbh.gov.in/en/mediagallery)

Pilgrim: Is it necessary to perform any special puja before or after snan?

Sant: Ordinary snan cleans the body, but snan at Prayagraj and other holy rivers purifies the spirit. No special puja is required; but Kumbh snan should be undertaken with Shraddha and Sankalp.

Pilgrim: What Sankalp do you suggest?

Sant: Forty crore devotees will perform Mahakumbh snan. Each of them should make a Sankalp- NOT to pollute any waterbody- and truthfully implement it. Then only, Ma Gange, the holy rivers, and all the water-bodies would be clean and life-sustaining.

Pilgrim: Why does water pollution worry you?

Sant: Because polluting waters- the amrut of life- is a terrible sin. Listen to this ancient story.[i]

~~~

The gods in heaven feared the growing power of Vritra, a Vishnu-bhakt brahmin but a demon. Indra, King of gods, engaged Vritra in a long war, but failed to kill him. In fact, Indra was overwhelmed, confused, and dis-oriented by Vritra’s magical powers upon which Vasishtha reminded him of his extraordinary and invincible powers (just as Jambavant had reminded the forgetful Hanuman of his enormous strength and capabilities in the Ramayana), and got him ready for battle once again. But Brihaspati, the Guru of gods, knew it was beyond Indra’s ability to kill Vritra. He solicited help from Shiva who entered Vritra as fever (jvara), weakened his body, and when Vritra yawned, fatigued by fever, Indra hurled his thunder-bolt vajra (into which Vishnu had entered to make it lethal) into the demon’s body which killed him.

Before Indra could celebrate his victory by drinking soma (once he had drunk up, on his own admission, twenty lakes of soma!), there arose from the demon’s corpse a terrible woman, the incarnation of brahmahatya (brahminicide), the most heinous sin, to infect Indra and render him ineligible to be King of the gods. Chased by her around the three worlds, Indra ran away in terror and hid in the middle of a lotus stalk for many years after which he cautiously emerged from it when Brahmahatya, patiently lying in wait for her victim all those years, grabbed him by the neck and held fast. Indra tried hard, but failed to get release from her vice-like grip; but somehow managed to reach Brahma to whom he prayed for release.

Brahma spoke sweetly to the fearsome lady, and solicited her to release Indra. She said, ‘You are the Creator of the three worlds; so, I agree to release Indra, but you must tell me where I may live.’

Brahma thought for a while and said, ‘I will assign not one but four places for you to reside,’ which pleased her.

Brahma divided Brahmahatya to four parts, and assigned a part each to Fire, Trees-Herbs-Grasses, Apsaras (charming women who entertained the gods in heaven), and Waters; who obeyed Brahma’s command but requested for moksha (riddance) from the terrible sin at some point of time.

Brahma assured each of them that they would be relieved from the sin in specific ways: Fire when humans fail to offer seeds, herbs, and juices to a flame they meet; Trees-Herbs-Grasses when humans mindlessly cut or chop them on parva (auspicious) days; Apsaras when men engage in sex with women during their period. Lastly, whenever dumb and deluded humans treat Waters with irreverence, and pollute water-bodies with their phlegm, urine, and faeces; the terrible sin will afflict them.[ii]  

~~~

Pilgrim: Why did Brahma choose those four agencies?

Sant: Because each of them is a fundamental life-force. Agni is still worshipped, and ceremonial offerings (patra, pushpa, Akshata, ghee) are made during a yagyan or puja. In traditional homes, after a meal is cooked, a morsel is first offered to Agnidev before the humans are served. Scriptures prescribe detailed guidelines for harvesting trees, plants, and herbs for human use. Even for Lord Jagannatha’s nabakalebara, the chosen trees for the new idols are worshipped and their permission is sought before putting the axe to the trees. Sex is sacred, and for procreation; not for carnal pleasure. Waters are life-sustaining, life-nourishing, and purifying; but humans are duty-bound to keep them clean. That is why the seers of the Rig Veda composed Nadi Stuti, and later Sants composed Gangashtakam, Yamunashtakam, Narmadashtakam, and other prayers and stotras for rivers, lakes, and water-bodies.

In Kaliyug, the terrible sin of brahmahatya no longer resides in the four agencies which bore the original burden as per Brahma’s command; the humans have transgressed, and the sin now stands transferred to humans in whom it stays settled. Sinners suffer, and Polluters pay!

Brahmahatya is not murder of a brahmin. Brahma (ब्रह्म) is the life-energy or life-principle which resides in Fire, Trees, Women, and Waters. Lack of reverence for these fundamental life-forces, and mindless abuse amounts to destroying life. That is brahmahatya in Kaliyug!

~~~

---

[i] It’s a well-known story from the Mahabharata (Bhishma Parva, 12.272 & 273).

[ii] Waters said: Pray tell us how we will be rid of this sin?

Brahma said:

अल्पा इति मतिं कृत्वा यो नरो बुद्धिमोहितः |

श्लेष्ममूत्रपुरीषाणि युष्मासु प्रतिमोक्ष्यति ||५२||

तमेषा यास्यति क्षिप्रं तत्रैव च निवत्स्यति |

तथा वो भविता मोक्ष इति सत्यं ब्रवीमि वः ||५३||

(Source: sanskritdocuments.org: Mahabharata: Critical Edition: 12.273: 52-53)

Thinking of Waters as trivial, whenever deluded humans pollute waterbodies with their phlegm, urine, and faeces; You will be rid of this sin which will swiftly migrate to humans and stay settled in them. This is the method for your moksha, I am telling you the truth!

Advisory for Husbands: Dare NOT, to Stare!

A copy of an Advisory issued by IIWA (India Inc. Wives’ Association)  to IIHA (India Inc. Husbands’ Association) has been received from a reliable source who has requested not to be named.

The text of the ‘Advisory’ is placed below.

To,

President,

India Inc. Husbands’ Association.

Date: 16 January, 2025

Sub: Advisory for IIHA members.

Dear President,

On behalf of IIWA, I convey hearty greetings for the New Year to you and your distinguished members. We sincerely hope and pray that  2025 may bring you success, fame, and happiness, both at work and at home.

The following Advisory, unanimously approved by an Extra-ordinary General Body Meeting of IIWA, may be brought to the notice of all your members for necessary action and strict compliance.

Advisory

1.   Husbands are advised that staring amounts to ocular assault, and may note that wives do NOT consent to be stared at. Anyone who stares, on Sunday or any other day, at our honourable member at home or elsewhere; would be promptly outstared. Obsessive-Compulsive starers may keep a golden statuette of own spouse, à la Golden Sita, in their office drawer.

(Amul Ad in ET-15/01/2025) (Blogger's comment: But, butter melts only when bread is hot!)

2.   Husbands must be grateful, and periodically exhibit their gratitude, for having a very intelligent, beautiful, smart, and talented woman as spouse; and always remember that she is an autonomous person, no arm-candy to meekly accompany them to business lunches and dinners.

3.   An internal survey has revealed that our members are constrained to log in 100 hours or more of work with seven-day weeks round the year, and yet are poorly compensated for their untiring work; whereas men are raising a hue and cry over 70/90 work-hours a week!

4.   Since she manages her own Company, Charitable Trust, numerous social welfare and club activities, provides to husband healthy nutrition, minds his laundry, keeps his wardrobe fashionable and well-stocked (when did any husband ever buy a pair of socks?); she has a hectic daily schedule. Should a husband solicit her company at important events, request must be sent to her PA at least a month in advance.

5.   Should a husband wish to meet her at home on Sunday or any other day; purpose of proposed meeting, duration, and venue (drawing room, dining room, bedroom) must be mentioned.

6.   Husbands must share their detailed daily schedule with spouse, and provide real-time access to their GPS location when out of home. All unscheduled meetings, trysts, and rendezvouses must be reported.

7.   Husbands must share passcodes to unlock their phone and laptop.

8.   Husbands must take our mandatory online Refresher Courses: (1) How to be Productive at Home; and (2) How to achieve Domestic Happiness & Peace. Tests for these courses must be passed with Grade A or above (Grades A+,A++,& A+++).

9.    Husbands must submit Monthly, Quarterly, and Yearly ‘Home Productivity Self-Appraisal’ Report in our prescribed format; making sure to specify the ‘Quality Time’ they spent with spouse for period under reporting.

10.                  Husbands who snore (most husbands do, but vehemently deny it!); must sleep in the spare bedroom.

11.                  Our Association has unanimously resolved to celebrate each Sunday as No-Work Day, ME-Day, Serene Sunday- fully dedicated to the holistic health and wellbeing of our members, unencumbered by spouse, children, and domestic chores. Group and individual activities to be held include Yoga, Meditation, Relaxation & Detox massage, Zumba session with a personal trainer, Laughter-Chat-Gossip sessions, Nature Walk, music therapy, etc.

Protocol for ‘Serene Sunday’: phones on mute, no TV, no cooking at home, cook granted weekly-off. Our members would be on a liquid diet- only juices and other beverages. Should the husband be at home and feel hungry, he may request the gardener or the security guard to order a burger or biryani from Swiggy or Zomato. 

Venue for Home sessions- Prayer-cum-Meditation Chamber with dim lighting, and soothing Om chanting; entry permitted after bath, and on bare feet. Husbands are welcome to join spouse in the Meditation Chamber subject to strictly complying with the above-mentioned protocol.

12.                  Husbands must NOT:

a.   bring work-related tension home

b.   bring laptop to bedroom

c.    make business phone calls from bedroom

d.   check phone messages at 3.00 AM (the blue flicker disturbs the sleep of your spouse)

e.   scatter shoes and socks all over the house

Please acknowledge receipt of this Advisory.

Thanking you,

Sincerely,

President, IIWA.

***

  

Postscript

Two of my esteemed readers tell me that my blog is ‘too one-sided.’ I agree. But my humorous and satirical one-sided-ness was in response to the sexist, outrageous, ‘stare’ comment by the L & T boss!

Kedar Rout, a thoughtful reader and a friend got this WhatsApp forward:

‘Someone needs to tell L&T head that if you work 90 hours & don’t stare at your wife, someone else will;’ to which his response was:

‘Ha.. Ha..here we get some clues from TS Eliot...

Lil's husband is coming back after 4 years serving in the war. Her friend is persuading Lil to spruce up a bit so that Albert (Lil's husband) will have a good time. She further warns 'if you can't give it to him, others will'....’

My note: I had forgotten that Lil was a character in ‘The Waste Land,’ and read Part 2 of the poem once again. Here’s a longer quote:

“…think of poor Albert,

He’s been in the army four years, he wants a good time,

And if you don’t give it him, there’s others will,…” (The Waste Land- Part II-A Game of Chess: T.S.Eliot).

Thanks, Dear Kedar, for that.

 

God’s Surname

What is God’s surname? The question had never occurred to me. I’m familiar with the 1000 names of major Hindu deities, the 99 names of Allah, and the names of Biblical divinities; but have never heard of a surname of any deity, Hindu or non-Hindu.

Ram and Krishna were both kshatriyas, yet they are not called Sri Ram Singh or Sri Krishna Singh Yadav. Ravan was a brahmin, but wasn’t called Ravan Chaturvedi. Proper names sufficed, surnames- an appendage invented by man- were unnecessary.

May I come up, please, he asked, didn’t wait for my reply, and rushed up, as usual, to my study on the first floor.

Have you finished your work? He asked.

Of course, my work is finished as soon as you enter my study, I said.

I know that. Let us now play. Look, I’ve a big truck. A real truck; smoke comes out from behind when it runs. See for yourself; he held a quick demo. He was thrilled with his newest toy- a gift he had received the day before on his fifth birthday.

I put aside the book I was reading, and he led me to the veranda. Before ‘play’ began, he said, ‘I love you, Uncle.’ The little master manipulator knows how to wrap Uncle around his little finger, and get him to do just anything.

I replied, ‘I love you, too, Yug Bhatt.’

No, I’m not Yug Bhatt, I’m Yug Sachan!’

But yesterday, you were Yug Bhatt!?

Now, I’m five; and now I’m Yug Sachan; he declared!

My Dad is Varun Sachan, Mom is Payal Bhatt Sachan, and I’m Yug Sachan. Got it? Don’t forget.

Do you know how far this truck can go?

No, I don’t.

He had left behind the remote control at his home, and manually manoeuvred to send the truck rushing forward.

Wow, very impressive, I said.

Let us now play ‘goal.’

But, that’s a truck, not a football!

Stand with your legs apart; like this, he gave a demo. That’s your goal-post. If my truck runs past it, I score a goal.

We played goal for a while. I stopped a goal or two, but let others score. He was thrilled.

You lost, he declared.

Time-out, please; I requested.

I had a mild cold, thought I might sneeze, and went to the adjoining room to fetch a kerchief from the wardrobe. He followed suit. At the puja alcove, two-feet above floor-level, he noticed the incense sticks which spouse had lit a few minutes ago by for Makara Sankranti puja.

He put down his truck, took off his crocs, sat on the stool in front of the puja alcove, folded his palms, and said, ‘Thank you, God, for giving us food.’

He noted me standing near with a bemused smile on my face, and continued with his prayer, ‘God Sachan, Thank you.’

Who told you God’s name is God Sachan?

No one, I just know. And you are Uncle Sachan.

Yug Sachan had comprehended and imbibed Advaita Vedanta philosophy, and had delivered his first sermon to Uncle Sachan!

***

 

Gita Counselling: Supreme Healer’s Public Therapy

 

Gita Counselling:
Supreme Healer’s Public Therapy

Gita: Meaning

Gita generally refers to the Bhagavadgītā. However, Gita is a generic name ‘for certain sacred writings in verse, often in the form of a dialogue and devoted to the exposition of particular religious and theosophical doctrines; e.g. शिवगीता, रामगीता, भगवद्गीता’ (V.S. Apte).

Bhagavad Gita appears in the Bhishma Parva, the Sixth Book of the Mahabharata. There are 24 other Gitas in the Mahabharata including the Anu Gita (Ashvamedha Parva) where Arjuna prays to Sri Krishna for a reiteration of Bhagavad Gita. I have  forgotten your teachings, he submits; Krishna chides him for being so neglectful and forgetful, and says, listen once more, be attentive; but I won’t reiterate with comprehensive details as earlier.

The Gita sermon- transcendental knowledge of Yoga, ancient and mysterious- was first taught by Sri Bhagavan to Vivaswan (the Sun god) who taught it to Manu, the father of mankind, who taught it to King Ikshvaku; and thus, the wisdom was transmitted down the ages through the revered Guru-shishya Parampara. However, in course of time, this supreme knowledge was lost (4.1 & 4.2). Sri Krishna delivered the sermon twice to Arjuna- once prior to the commencement of the Mahabharata war, and again as Anu Gita.  

There are many other Gitas in the Ramayana, the Puranas, with some Gitas existing as independent texts.

Gita Upanishad

Though not one of the ten principal Upanishads, Gita is called an Upanishad since it is structured as one. Upanishad means ‘sitting down near’ referring to the shishya seated at the feet of his Guru. Upanishads are in Q & A format with the shishya asking questions and the Guru leading him to understanding.  

Arjuna, the shishya would ask questions; Sri Krishna, the Guru, would explain with patience, empathy, and compassion, and remove Arjuna’s confusion and doubts. Notably, Krishna addresses Arjuna as sakha (friend), and bhakta (devotee), extending and expanding the Guru-shishya relationship.

(Source: Wikimedia Commons- Sri Krishna preaching Gita Upadesh to Arjun - Unknown, Miniature Painting, Kashmir School - Google Cultural Institute- Date-1875-1900)

Who says What?

Gita is structured as reportage by Sanjay for Dhritarastra’s benefit. Sanjay was granted Divya Drishti – virtual audio-visual access to the battlefield – to give a blow-by-blow account to Dhritarastra whose blindness was physical as well as moral.

Gita is essentially Shrikrishna’s sermon, with 574  of the 700 shlokas delivered by Krishna. Arjuna has 85 shlokas of which the most are in C-11 (33), and C-1 (21); in the remaining, he asks a few questions responding to which Srikrishna expounds on different aspects of the mysterious and sacred Yoga, guiding Arjuna and other humans to navigate the turbulent seas of life.  Sanjay’s role is not insignificant; he has 40 shlokas; and  Dhritarastra has only one, the opening shloka.

Gita Therapy

Bhagavad Gita is much more than a religious sermon, and may be appreciated as psychological counselling- the world’s first therapeutic session; administered in an emergency to a valiant warrior who had suffered an unforeseen nervous breakdown; open-air, public therapy viewed by millions of warriors; and completed in a single session with guaranteed healing!

With no couch available, Arjuna sat down on the floor of his ratha. He was confused, torn with doubts about the right course of action for him, sad, dejected, depressed, and declared his resolve not to fight. Tormented by moral dilemmas, I surrender myself to you, please instruct me, he prayed.

A significant departure from the typical Upanishadic setting of Guru-shishya dialogue in Q & A mode. Kurukshetra was a battlefield where rivers of blood would soon flow, no hermitage with a relaxed ambience conducive to teaching-learning. Krishna was no rishi or a regular Guru in his ashram; he was very much a man of the world, a master strategist, and an invaluable ally, Arjuna’s relative (cousin), and a friend (sakha). But Arjuna had surrendered as a devotee and sought his guidance as Guru. At that point, Arjuna was unaware that Krishna was the Supreme One; Krishna would reveal his identity later during the session, and upon Arjuna’s prayer display his Vishwaroopa.

How did the session proceed? Arjuna had suffered a massive, crippling anxiety-attack, and was psychologically and physically not in a position to engage in war, not to speak of leading the Pandava army to victory. The 18 Chapters constitute 18 modules or phases of counselling- proceeding from basic to complex and intense. Chapter-2 is designed as a potent, effective dose to help Arjuna unlearn and discard fallacious assumptions, comprehend the ancient, mysterious knowledge imparted by Krishna, and act upon it.

Arjuna enumerates his anxieties and submits most of his queries in Chapters 1 & 2, but continues to seek clarifications till the very end, and the session concludes only when he declares that his confusions and delusions have been cleared by the competent counselling.

Therapy comprised audio lessons backed up with never-before-seen visual illustration- Vishwaroopa. Sanjay narrated full details of the session to Dhritarastra, and Veda Vyasa transcribed it for others to benefit from the wise counsel of Sri Bhagavan.

No medication was required; the problem was psychological; the counselling was healing- it cleared the cobwebs of anxiety and confusion; and the healing came from within Arjuna who steadied his mind.

Gita’s universal appeal is owing to its secular counselling, not limited to believers and practitioners of Sanatan Dharma; it transcends all religions, is relevant to humanity, and speaks meaningfully to the modern readers, too.

Memorable Similes*

Gita makes dexterous use of alankara, a poetic tool in Sanskrit literature. It has numerous profound upamas (similes and metaphors) to convey deep philosophical truths with simplicity and brevity. These similes often draw from nature, daily life, and spiritual metaphors, offering vivid imagery to explain abstract concepts.  

Here are a few examples:

A thousand suns arising simultaneously! A what-if scenario that defies imagination. How would that look like; are human eyes capable of handling such dazzling, blinding radiance? Surely not. But Sanjay having been granted divyadrishti could describe the divine radiance of the Supreme One in Chapter 11 of the Bhagavad Gita.

If the splendour of a thousand Suns was to blaze all at once (simultaneously) in the sky, that would be like the splendour of that Mighty Being (great soul). (11.12**)

Grieve not, tells Sri Krishna to Arjuna, for Death is not a terminal event, but a mere transition. Just as humans discard old, worn-out clothes and adorn new garments; the soul abandons the old, decaying body, and acquires a new body. Why worry about what is inevitable; for those born will die, and those who die will be reborn?

Just as a man casts off his worn out clothes and puts on new ones, so also the embodied-Self casts off its worn out bodies and enters others which are new. (2.22)

When, like the tortoise which withdraws its limbs from all sides, he withdraws his senses from the sense-objects then his Wisdom becomes steady. (2.58)

For, the mind, which follows in the wake of the wandering senses, carries away his discrimination, as the wind carries away a boat on the waters.(2.67)

He attains Peace into whom all desires enter as waters enter the ocean, which, filled from all sides, remains unmoved; but not the desirer of desires.(2.70)

As a lamp placed in a windless place does not flicker — is a simile used to describe the YOGI of controlled-mind practising YOGA of the Self (or absorbed in th e YOGA -of-the-Self). (6.19)

Song of God: Philosophy through Poetry

The Bhagavad Gita is of enduring appeal, not for Hindus alone. Of course, it is an important scriptural document; but it is much more than that. It is an eloquent song, where the distilled wisdom of the Vedas and Upanishads is woven into exquisite poetry, and composed in anustubh chanda for lyrical chanting. Philosophy made easy through poetry and song! Gita is thus eulogised in Gita Mahatmya:

सर्वोपनिषदो गावो दोग्धा गोपाल नन्दनः ।

पार्थो वत्सः सुधीर्भोक्ता दुग्धं गीतामृतं महत् ॥

All the Upanishads are the cows, Krishna the milkman, Arjuna the calf, and the discerning, diligent readers the partakers of this nectar.

Why are non-Hindus and non-religious persons also fascinated by Gita? Maybe, because Sri Krishna’s counsel includes many secular recommendations for a meaningful, balanced life; relevant to all humanity regardless of religion.

~~~

*Source for text in italics under this section is shlokam.org

** Verse Reference: Chapter-11 ,Verse-12.

~~~

1.   Bhagavad-Gita As It Is: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

2.   Sanskrit Documents.org

3.   Shlokam.org

4.   Sacred Songs: The Mahabharata’s Many Gitas (Rupa, 2023)– Bibek Debroy

5.   You Tube

6.   ChatGPT, CoPilot, and Gemini

 

 

International Day of Happiness

International Day of Happiness

The World Happiness Report 2025 was published today (Mar 20) in celebration of the UN’s International Day of Happiness. As per the report, Finland is the happiest country, and Afghanistan, the unhappiest. India is ranked 118 among the 147 countries surveyed and ranked. As per the report, "all countries are ranked according to their self-assessed life evaluations averaged over 2022 to 2024." 

(Source: Economic Times, 21 Mar 2025)

UN designated in 2012 the day of spring equinox as the International Day of Happiness at the behest of Bhutan which pioneered the concept of Gross National Happiness. Surprisingly, however, Bhutan is not among the 147 countries ranked by WHR 2025. Why? Because the survey data for Bhutan is not available!
Was the spring equinox designated as IDH because the day and night are of equal length on this day, signifying the presence in life of happiness and sorrow in equal measure? During some seasons of the year, the days are longer, in others shorter.

Should Indians be unhappy, and trash the report as a global conspiracy to denigrate their great country which has been chanting swasti mantras for universal happiness and well-being since ages?

Sarve bhavantu sukhinah

Sarve bhavantu sukhinah. That’s how a popular swasti mantra begins. Every being is entitled to happiness. A shanti mantra invokes peace for the entire universe including the Sky, Space, Earth, Waters, Plants, Trees; for holistic peace is unrealisable if the entire creation is not in sync and peace.

If the goal of life is to attain and enjoy happiness, what goes awry to create so much misery and unhappiness in the world?

What is Happiness?

Does the fulfilment of desires result in happiness? Does happiness accrue from owning valuable assets, or consuming the best products available: living in a premium villa, being transported from place A to B in a luxury sedan driven by a liveried-chauffeur, going off for exotic vacations, having the latest iPhone, or winning a fancy girlfriend? Desire is never satisfied by enjoyment, just as fire is never quenched by pouring ghee.

Happiness is insubstantial, intangible, impossible to capture, possess, or retain. It’s not a packaged product that can be bought off-the-shelf.

Happiness is a butterfly; chase it, it’ll fly away; sit still sipping your coffee in the sun-kissed garden, it may land on your arm; grab it, it dies. But some folks have strange tastes, they love to frame dead butterflies to beautify their homes! Happiness of man matters, not that of the butterfly!

Happiness is a tiny dew on a flower petal radiating the pure joy of a glorious sunshine. Touch it, the delicate dream vanishes. Happiness is each one of the two million flowers a worker bee visits in her lifetime to collect one-twelfth spoonful of honey. Happiness is the soul of a water-drop that ascends to heaven for rebirth as rain. Happiness is the flower that blooms to greet the sun or the moon. Happiness is the wind’s song in the orchestra of trees, mountains, and rivers. Happiness is rain from heaven, a gift, a blessing for all. It gurgles like a mountain stream, the water sprays cavorting with the rainbow colours.

Happiness is all around you, provided you’re not desperately looking for it.

Happiness ‘set’ point

Psychologists claim that each person has a happiness ‘set’ point to which she returns after periodic peaks and troughs. Win a lottery, get a promotion, you’ll get a ‘high’; verbally whipped by Boss, lost a friend or a dear one, you’ll feel ‘low’.

This theory claims that human happiness is determined - 50% by genetics, 10% by circumstances (personal health, profession, financial status, etc.), and 40% by lifestyle. Critics dismiss the ‘set’ point theory as too deterministic, and suggest that the brain adapts and recalibrates the happiness point, when given a chance. Anyway, lifestyle choices provide a large playing field, and can significantly boost happiness.

Mind your DOSE, Be Happy!

For scientists, Happiness is a cocktail of chemicals – the bundle of miracle hormones – Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin, and Endorphin (DOSE) – that our body releases. If you facilitate your body to manufacture and circulate DOSE daily, you’re likely to feel happy.

For a quick primer on DOSE, an excellent link is:

https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/dopamine-the-pathway-to-pleasure

This piece is part of a series, and leads you to brief, informative pieces on the other hormones.

What can you do to be happy? Help your body to manufacture these essentials hormones through lifestyle choices: diet, exercise, rest, relaxation, and bonding.

•      Mindful eating and drinking. Avoid junk food, sugar-laced carbonated drinks, too much caffein or alcohol. Eat a healthy diet including mood-enhancing food. To boost each of the DOSE hormones, there are recommended foods.

•      EYM: Exercise, Yoga, and Meditation

•      Sleep: Adequate, restful sleep

•      Music, Laughter (Children laugh 200 to 300 times a day; adults only 20 or less!), Sunshine (totally free).

•      Social Bonding: Not the time you spend on social media, nor the number of followers you have on Facebook or Instagram. Have a few good friends. Engage in group activities.

•      Practice Positive Psychology – Maintain a Gratitude Journal; Charity is beneficial for the giver, too! Handling adversity with fortitude and resilience.

Gita Wisdom for Happiness

Bhagavad-Gita, Sri Krishna’s sermon to Arjuna, enunciates the duties according to dharma, and provides guidance for right thought and right action for attaining salvation; but it also gives many tips for sensible living.

At Kurukshetra, the battle-formations are ready, and the great Dharmayuddha, the war to uphold dharma, is about to begin. But, Arjuna, the peerless warrior and leader of the Pandava army, is not ready; he is sad, depressed, confused, and dis-oriented, torn with doubts about the right path of action. To fight and kill brothers, relatives, and revered elders, or to give up arms and get killed? He asks: If we kill our adversaries, and win the war, would we enjoy the kingdom with our hands stained in blood?

O Krishna, my limbs tremble, mouth is dry, body shivers, Gandiva is unsteady and slipping down, skin is on fire, legs wobble, mind is confused and dis-oriented; everything appears inauspicious to me. I’ve decided not to fight, says Arjuna, and falls silent. Arjuna’s symptoms make a text-book case of a sudden, crippling anxiety-attack!

Sri Krishna’s sermon would resolve Arjuna’s doubts, dissipate his confusion and anxiety, and pull him out of depression. He’d be made ready for war, a metaphor for engaging with the challenges of life.

Of Krishna’s detailed counsel, several provide secular guidance for sensible living. Here are a few examples from Chapter 2:

सुखदुःखे समे कृत्वा लाभालाभौ जयाजयौ ।

ततो युद्धाय युज्यस्व नैवं पापमवाप्स्यसि ॥ २-३८॥

Yuddha may be understood as a metaphor for the formidable challenges of life.

कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन ।

मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि ॥ २-४७॥

An individual’s best efforts cannot guarantee the desired outcome. Too many variables are at play, several of which are beyond the control of the individual.

योगस्थः कुरु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा धनञ्जय ।

सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योः समो भूत्वा समत्वं योग उच्यते ॥ २-४८॥

In an uncertain world, maintaining equanimity and equipose is essential.

दुःखेष्वनुद्विग्नमनाः सुखेषु विगतस्पृहः ।

वीतरागभयक्रोधः स्थितधीर्मुनिरुच्यते ॥ २-५६॥

Do not be distressed by unhappiness, nor be overwhelmed with happiness. Balance is All!

यः सर्वत्रानभिस्नेहस्तत्तत्प्राप्य शुभाशुभम् ।

नाभिनन्दति न द्वेष्टि तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता ॥ २-५७॥

Neither exult over a good turn of events, nor grieve for momentary setback.

Postscript

Comments by an esteemed reader

“You have written a comprehensive piece on happiness, one of the most abstract and undefinable feelings. The prescriptions listed in your blog to feel happy are too much to carry out. That is the precise reason why people live their lives and experience happiness and sorrow as they come and rarely follow the regime outlined here.

Happiness like sweetness is a very personal experience, impossible to share. Gurus and scriptures say that fulfilment of desire is not true happiness for new desires would soon crop up. But the truth as we live daily is that desire and its fulfilment, fully or even partially, are the two triggers that propel us to continue living. All that we call progress and has ameliorated our lives has come out of this pursuit; doesn’t matter if it gave the pursuers any happiness.”

My response:

I broadly agree with my esteemed reader, and my response pertains only to his observation: ‘The prescriptions listed in your blog to feel happy are too much to carry out.’

But why are these suggestions for a healthy lifestyle ‘too much’? Why do we take our body for granted, take liberties with it, and mindlessly abuse it? Why do we dump into it food that we know very well as harmful; why do we deprive it of adequate sleep when we know ‘sleep-debt’ is never recovered; why do we sit for hours in front of the idiot box and skip even minimum exercise?

I am reminded of Shiva’s gentle reminder to Parvati, who was performing extraordinarily harsh ascetic austerity, that our first and foremost obligation is to the body - our only instrument for fulfilment of all worldly duties and responsibilities.

Even for believers in rebirth, there is only one life and one body for certain, and the rest are in the domain of faith and speculation. That’s why, every human has a fundamental duty to sustain and nourish her body.

शरीरमाद्यं खलु धर्मसाधनम् (Kumarasambhavam, Canto 5, Verse-33; Kalidasa)

A Quote

"If you want to be happy for a year, get married; if you want to be happy for a decade, get a pet. If you want to be happy for life, make a garden." - Martha

The World’s Happiest Man

The ‘World’s Happiest Man’ Shares His Three Rules for Life – The New York Times

Aug. 11, 2023

By David Marchese

(https://www.matthieuricard.org/en/articles/the-worlds-happiest-man-shares-his-three-rules-for-life-the-new-york-times/)

Excerpts from the article:

Excerpts:

Matthieu Ricard is an ordained Buddhist monk and an internationally best- selling author of books about altruism, animal rights, happiness and wisdom. His humanitarian efforts led to his homeland’s awarding him the French National Order of Merit. (Ricard’s primary residence is a Nepalese monastery.) He was the Dalai Lama’s French interpreter and holds a Ph.D in cellular genetics. In the early 2000s, researchers at the University of Wisconsin found that Ricard’s brain produced gamma waves — which have been linked to learning, attention and memory — at such pronounced levels that the media named him “the world’s happiest man.”

World’s Happiest Man

“For a while now, people have been calling you the world’s happiest man. Do you feel that happy?

It’s a big joke. We cannot know the level of happiness through neuroscience. It’s a good title for journalists to use, but I cannot get rid of it. Maybe on my tomb, it will say, “Here lies the happiest person in the world.” Anyway, I enjoy every moment of life, but of course there are moments of extreme sadness — especially when you see so much suffering. But this should kindle your compassion, and if it kindles your compassion, you go to a stronger, healthier, more meaningful way of being. That’s what I call happiness. It’s not as if all the time you jump for joy. Happiness is more like your baseline. It’s where you come to after the ups and downs, the joy and sorrows. We perceive even more intensely — bad taste, seeing someone suffer — but we keep this sense of the depth. That’s what meditation brings.”

Secrets of Happiness

“… once I was on the India Today Conclave. 1 They said, “Can you give us the three secrets of happiness?” I said: “First, there’s no secret. Second, there’s not just three points. Third, it takes a whole life, but it is the most worthy thing you can do.” I’m happy to feel I am on the right track. I cannot imagine feeling hate or wanting someone to suffer.”

Dalai Lama’s advice

What’s the wisest thing the Dalai Lama ever said to you?

I remember I came out of this one-year retreat to take care of my father. 7 At the same time I was interpreting for the Dalai Lama in Brussels. So I told him: “I’m going back to the retreat. What is your advice?” He said, “In the beginning, meditate on compassion; in the middle, meditate on compassion; in the end, meditate on compassion.”

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