Whether a person is religious or not, aspiration to happiness is common to all. If one follows the laws of cause and effect, he will find that although no action is inherently immoral or abhorrent, some actions must be avoided as they bring suffering upon self and others. Similarly, some other actions must be undertaken as they engender well being.

Most men believe that achieving good grades, wealth, material possessions like a grand house, a fast car and items of luxury, a beautiful wife and successful children comprise the key to happiness. However, material development of one’s persona is no guarantee to happiness. In fact, if it falls in wrong hands, material wealth, much like technological marvels, eat up our time of life, which is the most precious possession of all, instead of helping us save on it. On the other hand, if one learns how to build and nurture happiness inside him, he has accomplished the purpose. Because, happiness is nothing more than a state of mind.

If we look inside ourselves honestly, we will find that there are five main emotions that are detrimental to happiness and trigger suffering. These are hatred, obsessive desire or attachment, confusion, pride and jealousy. However, there are direct antidotes to each of these emotions. To fight hatred, one must inculcate loving kindness and patience, to battle obsessive desire, he must learn to have a non-grasping nature, to eliminate confusion, he must reflect more upon the cause and effect of the scheme of things, to reduce pride, he must nurture humility and to obliterate jealousy, he must learn to rejoice in others’ happiness.

Happiness is an art and it must be learned as one learns counting and the alphabet. Few know how to master their emotions right from birth. Some have a predisposition or talent for it like everything else and others don’t but everyone can learn it and it must be learned.

On the occasion of Lhosar which is the Tibetan New Year, we must check on our motivation to be here and reaffirm and reinforce our altruistic wishes and aims while renewing our Bodhisattva vows.

My message to all on this auspicious occasion is: learn to live happily within your means. Accept who you are and be happy. Do not crave for material gain as you will never have enough.

(As told to Sucheta Dasgupta)