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Are We Naturally Happy?
Does happiness come from fulfilling desires?
Does it come from a healthy body and mind?
Can you hack it?
Does it come and go?
According to Advaita, an ancient Indian philosophical tradition, happiness is not a result of getting what we want, a state of the body and mind, or an attainment. Happiness, taught Advaita teacher Ramana Maharshi, is not gained by the fulfillment of desire.
It’s gained by the end of desire.
When a desire ends, the peace of our true nature as expansive conscious being is restored, even if only momentarily. Happiness is felt because the very nature of the self is happiness.
This seems super counter-intuitive.
Does it make any sense? Could happiness really be our “natural” state- that which exists before the overlay of thought and desire?
The happiness we think we gain from fulfilling a desire, according to Ramana Maharshi, actually results from the desire bring stilled- from the irritation of the desire passing, and our innate happiness returning.
This means, in effect, that our happiest moments in life result from their tricking us into letting go of desire.
