In search of happiness
‘You are born free but remain in chain thereafter.’
Since he read this life, Sagar was annoyed with the social system human beings created. He would imagine a free and independent life. His indoctrination was that real happiness in life is attainable only one is free. For Sagar happiness matters a lot – whether it is for work, play, wander, sleep or rest. To live the fullest life is to live happily. Most religious philosophies talk about happiness yet they have little to offer when it comes into action.
His whole office day passes in hectic – have to report to the manager, get ready to the service to the customer, who most often are crazy. He has to prepare reports and submit that are not always approved. He finds it difficult in preparing documents of what he has done and inadequate English skills dictate him. The bosses never do their work on time but Sagar receives warnings when he follows his bosses.
There are no adequate facilities and equipment in office to do all work. He has never received any promotion or skill development opportunities. Opportunities are shared among the top management and their relatives. Juniors have to sweat for cents. There’s no happiness in office.
Sagar plays football. These days the games are not played fair. Players always look for opportunities to hurt the opposition. Often disputes are expected during games, as a result of such behaviour. The referees are not always fair. Even the process of selecting candidates for team is unfair – nepotism and favouritism are everywhere.
Sagar is more frustrated with complexity of life. The civilization is increasingly adding complexity and he can rarely imagine the life after 50 years on earth. 50 years ago, the life was calm, simple, peaceful and unruffled. Over the five decades, time has changed the life so swiftly that it’s hard to imagine life after 10 years.
Frustrated Sagar sought happiness in solace. He wondered through bushes, serene forests, gardens and river banks. He observed animals are fighting for survival. Large area of forest cover has been cleared every year for the benefits of human being and this has invited disaster to wildlife thus increasing human-wildlife conflict. Human beings have turned too cruel to animals.
Sagar also observed conflict in between animals for their livelihood. One has to feed on other to live.
Even while fast asleep, dreams are disturbing. Gusting rivers, torrents rainfall, storm, murder, death, screams, fearful creatures all attack him. Sleep is not sound.
There are no places to take rest or experience peace. The TV, radio, family chatter keep disturbing Sagar. The unwanted scenes and news on TV and radio are torture to his mind. Newspapers carry same problems. Wife and children talk constantly. Sagar has to attend gardening – vegetables and flowers have been overgrown by weeds. Weekends are too hectic than office days.
Sagar has no place to find happiness. He wonders if Buddha really received happiness on abandoning family life. He thinks not since he returned to the same society of which he was frustrated. He failed to eliminate the causes of unhappiness. Amidst these complexities, human being is in search of happiness.
First published by Writers of Bhutan