Happiness

Happiness has been defined by John Stuart Mill as the state of absence of opposition. Manu gives the definition in more forcible terms:—

Sarvam paravaam duƒkham
Sarvam âtmavaam sukham
Idam jñâyo samâsena
LakshaŠam sukhaduƒkhayoƒ

“Every kind of subjugation to another is pain and subjugation to one’s self is happiness: in brief, this is to be known as the characteristic marks of the two.”

The only way therefore, in which happiness might be attained, is by merging one’s nature in great Mother Nature, and following the direction in which she herself is moving: this again, can only be accomplished by assimilating man’s individual conduct with the triumphant force of Nature, the other force being always overcome with terrific catastrophes. The effort to assimilate the individual with the universal law is popularly known as the practice of morality.

Online resources

Articles and pamphlets

• The Search for Happiness by Annie Besant