Two complex dimensions of happiness: material and spiritual – Part 1 of 2

BY ERROL A. GIBBS

Observe the journey of life with its undulating states of “happy” moments overshadowed by “unhappy” or vice versa. Like a rolling wave, each rise and fall is a mixture of seven complex human responses. These are our (1) visual perceptions, (2) thoughts, (3) emotions, (4) decisions, (5) actions, (6) consequences, and (7) reactions. It is often only in retrospect that we become clear-eyed about the two states of “material” and “spiritual” happiness.

Human beings are born with the intellectual capacity to elevate our lives to a state of happiness in both realms. The choice is not one or the other. Billions of people live in states of undulating happiness and unhappiness daily demonstrating that it is unclear where the choice begins. Human beings are not benefitting from the bountiful blessings bestowed upon us by our Creator, who gave fellow beings the keys to a mutually happy existence.

“The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts. When you arise in the morning, think of what a privilege it is to be alive, to think, to enjoy, and to love.” ― Marcus Aurelius (121 AD–180 AD)

“We frequently pass so near to happiness without seeing, without regarding it, or if we do see and regard it, yet without recognizing it.” ― Alexandre Dumas (1802–1870)

To teenagers, high-school graduation and prom night sit at the apex of their happiness pyramid. To youths, a new car or college or university graduation sits at the top of their list of the things that they desire to make them happy. To young adults, it may be engagement or marriage, the birth of a baby, or the purchase of a new home. To middle-aged adults, happiness may be the acquisition of a retirement residence. Yet, for others, the search may be much more complicated.

Evidently, for each generation, the search for happiness and cues to unravel the mysteries of the complexity of his or her happiness journey is different. Yet, the human family is one unified whole with a frequent need for universal love, hope, “joy,” peace, patience, compassion, forgiveness, gentleness, kindness, and happiness. These human attributes have a reciprocal nature that undergirds happiness. Without such explicit recognition, the search for happiness could become an exercise in futility.

Travel around the world, and you will experience complex human behavior, as far apart as the East is from the West, in the pursuit of happiness. In some traditional Eastern cultures, a “pledged bride” (where parents decide for their son), marital happiness may not be any more or less fulfilling than an “autonomous bride” (who decides for herself). RELAXNEWS provides some insights thus: Happiness Not Valued Equally Across Cultures AFP/Relaxnews. 03/18/2014, 10:56am EDT | Updated March 18, 2014:

“In Western cultures, happiness is an essential goal of people’s lives, and appearing unhappy is often cause for great concern. Yet in certain non-western cultures, happiness is not considered an important emotion. Ideas of harmony and conformity often clash with the “pursuit” of happiness and personal goals. Studies have found East Asians are more likely than Westerners to view public expressions of happiness as “inappropriate.” The Japanese, for example, are less likely to “savor” positive emotions than Americans.”

The desire for happiness permeates Western lifestyles, underpinned by an obsessive need to acquire material possessions, and bask in the social status it assumes. Despite the material abundance of Western nations in the twenty-first century, happiness is merely a temporary state in the lives of many, underpinned by a series of short-lived events such as anniversaries, birthdays, and weddings.

Human progress lies in the physical mastery of the material world that yields great comforts, significant life improvements, and substantial benefits, yet, happiness eludes many. Something innate within the human spirit cries out for something deeper and meaningful. More importantly, more lasting and more profound than material things to attain and sustain human beings in a state of happiness. This higher pursuit of happiness transcends (“joy”). It is a more sustained state of “optimum” happiness.

Human beings have stealthily focused on physical and material progress, primarily at the expense of equally significant spiritual growth that bolsters “optimal” happiness. The human genius engineered better living through “Artificial Intelligence” (AI), from the microwave oven to jet propulsion engines. Great architecture overwhelms the landscape with extravagant building designs. Postmodern life is a virtual cavalcade of fashionable clothes, exotic homes and automobiles, arts, sports, culture, and entertainment.

More importantly, human genius has labored to find cures for human illnesses. Pharmacologically, medicines have all but eradicated and brought under control such diseases as smallpox, the bubonic plague, yellow fever, and even polio (poliomyelitis). Despite these remarkable medical achievements, human beings have not found a cure for the aberration of the mind that promotes greed, hoarding of strategic resources, war, genocide, slavery, apartheid, and things that bring unhappiness to the human family.

Where and how should the “search to unravel” these complex challenges of the postmodern age begin? Perhaps a better understanding of human spiritual needs may provide some important answers.