Everyone wants happiness. We seek it out for others, for ourselves, and for the people we love. But can the world ever be completely happy? I always hoped that as we became more advanced and made progress in philosophy, science, technology and communication, there would be more and more peace, joy and happiness in the world. But a look at the world shows that this did not happen.
“I’m deceiving myself if I expect everyone to have good feelings about me. Should that affect me? No, but we know it does”
Compare the world of today with the world of a decade or two ago. There are still as many, if not more, conflicts—big and small. Wars are on, so terrorism and hunger, and now we are in the midst of a pandemic. Then how does one search for happiness? And can we ever find happiness in its entirety?
Besides, what is happiness? We can break it down into components: truth, justice, unity, and the harmony of all of them. The result should be peace – a deep peace that comes only when there is perfect harmony between all these elements. Is it really achievable?
This peace one seeks depends on our relationship—with God, with others, and with ourselves. I believe in a personal God; If I pray to God, hear his voice, and obey his commands, then he will give me more peace. If I have healthy relationships with others—both dear to me and those not so dear—and maintain justice in my relationships, I will be at peace with myself.
What is necessary for happiness is other-centered behavior. I could achieve more and more material things, but if my priority is materialism, then my desires will have no limits. Material things do not bring happiness. Love and other-centeredness do. We experience it.
Can one ever be completely happy? I do my best to be truthful, just, and other-centered. I’m deceiving myself if I expect everyone to have good feelings about me. Should this affect me? No, but we know it does.
There is no formula for complete happiness. It is not workable. Jesus Christ gave us eight blessed words: ‘Blessed are those who are low in heart; Blessed are those who mourn; Blessed are the meek; Blessed are those who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness; Blessed are the merciful; Blessed are the pure of heart; Blessed are the peacemakers; Blessed are those who are persecuted because of religion.’ Can anyone say that they are capable of putting it into practice? It is a goal we should strive for but will be attained only after death – when we enjoy eternal bliss.
Prayer gives us a feeling of peace. So meditate and contemplate. We feel that we are in the presence of God. Some sages have even experienced sensory feelings of the presence of God. But all this is temporary as one has to come back to earth.
Complete happiness is possible only with the union of God. Living on Earth, a person tries to be as happy as possible, overcome obstacles and work on relationships with others. Now, we have added another element to it: our relationship with nature. This will automatically result in a better relationship with oneself and eventually with God.
What is happiness and how to find it are questions that we will try to answer for the rest of our lives. After these reflections they will surely occupy my mind!
Oswald Cardinal Gracias is Archbishop of Bombay, and President, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India.
,