HAPPINESS ( PSYCHOLOGY Vs UPANISHAD)

Happiness formula as per Sligment's positive pyschology.

H= P+E+M ( Pleasure+ Engagement+ Meaning)

H= Happiness ( " Kama" comparing to Upanishad)

P= Pleasure ( " Artha" comparing to Upanishad)

E= Engagement ( " Dharma" comparing to Upanishad)

M= Meaning

You may ask some one -friend, boss, family, children, college students-all want fun- raw feelings. The fun is coming under category" Pleasure". Pleasure can give your immense happiness. It is joy. But it is a hedonic feeling ( Sukha). As per Taithriya upanishad viz Bhriguvalli divides sukha  in to five types viz Annamaya, Pranamaya,Manomaya, Vijnanamaya, & Anandamaya- But all are burst of momentary pleasures. This means it will last for few seconds-short lived. Thanks to  sexual orgasim ,but for 10-60 seconds.Then we are drained out. It is habbit forming. It can lead to unhappiness. People require both hedonia and eudaimonia to flourish. But when ever you enjoy hedonic feelings ( Pleasure), just open your eyes and enjoy it , when the entity giving pleasure disappears close your eyes and forget it-dont worry about the past experience.

Pleasure is extra ordinarly powerful and it can can induce addiction. It can be compared to " Kama" in upanishad. But if we fall in to Kama , we will be like fish in the water! How far can fish see in the water? 100 feet maximum in pristine water conditions. If it is murkier water only few inches.Do you want to be fish ????

When we say pleasure it is not just fun, massage, sex, kissing or hugging. Enjoyment of eating food ( annamaya), watching mega serial (manomaya) , watching cricket show in TV all comes under "Pleasure" or " Kama" or simply Sukha.

If you go out and play cricket it is " Engagement". If you are watching Cricket in TV, it is a " pleasure". Eating food is " Pleasure". Cooking is " Engagement". Got the difference?.

If you involve in your studies, work, hobbies, it is all engagement.

Engagement gives you more happiness than from the pleasure and last longer than pleasure. It can be compared to " Artha" in upanishad.

As per positive psychology and vedanta texts more happiness can be derived from " meaning" . We can compare " m" with " Dharma" in upanishad. In " m" we are only concerned about gratification-not raw feelings. We experience a flow. This means, for example, Surgeons who performs brain surgery for 5-7 hours depending on the complexity----doesnot feel it time has passed. They are completely involved, absorbed and immersed in the surgery. For whom?? for the benefit of the patient ( mankind). It has a meaning to their action.

On the other hand, if you go on uploading your personal videos and photos in social media for 24x7, it is engagement but has no meaning. It is only for your happiness. Not benefitial to the mankind.

Upanishad takes one more componet and that is "Ananda" or " Brahmanada"- Eternal Happiness. It is the ultimate long lasting ( even ever lasting) happiness.But what type of happiness it is ??? A human brain cannot apprehend it because our brain is analytical brain ( it is just like showing your chrome book to a Dog). Eternal happiness can be defined as neither happiness or misery. Both are chains one iron, one gold. Behind both is the " Atman" who knows neither happiness or misery.

You will have to do away with some pleasure to practice " engagement"  and latter on you can attain happiness even with out the " pleasure" (Kama) Componet.

As per Buddhism, there is no happiness or unhappiness. According to buddhism pain is inevitable but happiness or unhappiness is our option with in our control. And they call it Budha's second arrow. Then what is first arrow? First arrow is uncontrollable sufferring. Diseases, circumstances you face time to time, We cannot predict how the other person will behave to us. It is not under our control. If you dash off 100 emails, you can 10% replies , from this 10 replies , one or two gives you order..We should not go to control the outer circumstances- fight with your customer for not giving you order-this will give you more and more suffering- your personal and corporate brand will be ruined. Buddha says we cannot control the first arrow. However the second arrow is our reaction to the first . The pain caused by the second arrow is with in our control and optional. How you react to the first arrow determines your unhappiness or happiness. For instance., if your parents have locked you in a room as punishment for 2 hours. You can either cry or watch mobile videos or mobile chat or you can take on your text books and do your engagement in your learning. This is your second arrow.

The Happiness is vast topic. If psychology can be compared to a match stick fire. Upanishad thoughts can be compared to fire of the sun. Vedic knowledge can raise a child from 0 to +4 to +8. Psychologists are pretty good at taking some one from -8 to -4 to 0 as a scale of well being. But they cannot take some one who is 0 to +8. Vedic thought is capable to do this...how?? It doesnot control or react your outside fire /circumstances. It just increases the fire inside you, and you becomes so inflammable, powerful ,compared to outside fire, So the outside circumstances no longer affects you,