I was having a discussion about happiness and contentment with a friend (who also happens to be into philosophy) and he gave this startling statement, "Contentment is the same as death." It left me in a mild shock, but before I even fully absorb it he added, "That doesn't mean contentment is bad; as such death is also not a bad state."
So, what do I think now?
Yes. Contentment is like death. Though neither contentment nor death is bad, but it is not what life is.
Death is not bad in that it is just the end of our experiences in the conscious body-mind form. When we die our consciousness switches off and our body would change forms. We dissolve and go back into the earth. Nothing is unusual, or good or bad about death.
But when we are talking about life, we are essentially talking about our experiences as a conscious being. And all our human experiences broadly comprise of happiness and suffering. Contentment is not really an experience, but the lack of it.
I have defined contentment as a state of neutrality (indifference) wherein one is feeling neither suffering nor happiness. In a way, contentment is very important to achieve, for it is the only state consistent with the reality of the existence. Even when we are in the human form, our higher reality is the indifferent reality of the existence, where our experiences as a human being are meaningless. And since Nature has not designed our consciousness to be in a peaceful state, we can't feel perfect peace unless we embrace the reality of the existence in our worldview. That means, unless one is able to attune oneself to the reality, and thus be in the state of contentment, one is likely to have a puzzled and unfulfilled, if not miserable, life. That's why contentment is important.
But then the question is: is it necessary to remain in "contentment mode" always? That would be always being aware of the higher reality beyond our human existence, and giving that reality more importance than our immediate human experiences. It means ignoring what we need and what we crave as humans.
Since there's nothing good or bad in the absolute sense, it is a personal choice how one wants to live. But the thing is, if one is totally going to ignore one's human existence, with all one's human cravings, then what is the point of existing as a human being?
I think a healthy way to live is to acknowledge one's human needs (physical as well as emotional), while also developing awareness of the higher reality and know one's place in the indifferent universe/existence. This awareness is developed through intellectual endeavor, which will in turn enable one to feel connected with the whole and remain contented when one has to. While at the same time responding positively to the human needs will give one a sense of living. Happiness and suffering both are a part of being human, but by developing awareness and thus keeping contentment handy one can enjoy life while keeping suffering very low.
Perfect happiness is when one is experiencing happiness, and contentment is also handy, so that one isn't deeply affected by the suffering. That, I think, is a good way to live.
So, what do I think now?
Yes. Contentment is like death. Though neither contentment nor death is bad, but it is not what life is.
Death is not bad in that it is just the end of our experiences in the conscious body-mind form. When we die our consciousness switches off and our body would change forms. We dissolve and go back into the earth. Nothing is unusual, or good or bad about death.
But when we are talking about life, we are essentially talking about our experiences as a conscious being. And all our human experiences broadly comprise of happiness and suffering. Contentment is not really an experience, but the lack of it.
I have defined contentment as a state of neutrality (indifference) wherein one is feeling neither suffering nor happiness. In a way, contentment is very important to achieve, for it is the only state consistent with the reality of the existence. Even when we are in the human form, our higher reality is the indifferent reality of the existence, where our experiences as a human being are meaningless. And since Nature has not designed our consciousness to be in a peaceful state, we can't feel perfect peace unless we embrace the reality of the existence in our worldview. That means, unless one is able to attune oneself to the reality, and thus be in the state of contentment, one is likely to have a puzzled and unfulfilled, if not miserable, life. That's why contentment is important.
But then the question is: is it necessary to remain in "contentment mode" always? That would be always being aware of the higher reality beyond our human existence, and giving that reality more importance than our immediate human experiences. It means ignoring what we need and what we crave as humans.
Since there's nothing good or bad in the absolute sense, it is a personal choice how one wants to live. But the thing is, if one is totally going to ignore one's human existence, with all one's human cravings, then what is the point of existing as a human being?
What Is a Healthy Way to Live?
I think a healthy way to live is to acknowledge one's human needs (physical as well as emotional), while also developing awareness of the higher reality and know one's place in the indifferent universe/existence. This awareness is developed through intellectual endeavor, which will in turn enable one to feel connected with the whole and remain contented when one has to. While at the same time responding positively to the human needs will give one a sense of living. Happiness and suffering both are a part of being human, but by developing awareness and thus keeping contentment handy one can enjoy life while keeping suffering very low.
Perfect happiness is when one is experiencing happiness, and contentment is also handy, so that one isn't deeply affected by the suffering. That, I think, is a good way to live.
if the effect of suffering reduces in the state of contentedness, so would the effect of happiness.. you will be less happy in the moments of happiness because u will know its short lived and soon be followed by sadness
ReplyDeleteI think that can be worked out. When we are playing a "video game" we know that the world in there is not real, but we still can experience happiness quite well when we are playing well. When we lose the game, we do not get miserable, precisely because we know it is not real world in there. We just start over.
ReplyDeleteIn life also, we can be happy in happy moments without suffering deeply in sad moments. But all this is only possible with the awareness of THE reality. The video game example is just to illustrate the approach of an aware person.
Where to strike the balance is an individual choice. Too intense happiness is also harmful. Intoxication is intensely pleasurable, but it alienates the brain from normalcy. What feels good is not necessarily good. So it's fine if one can't enjoy intense happiness due to the knowledge. Still, after all, the individual alone can decide the point of balance -- for which, awareness is required anyway.
You sure about this min-body thing? About body taking some other form? What makes you sure about it? Have you experience contentment? Have you experienced death? Have you experienced them both? Have you experienced even one of them?
ReplyDeleteI once heard death described as "peaceful nonexistence." I kind of like that idea, but I'm not sure it really means anything. True, an inanimate object doesn't have suffering or pain, but it can't really have "peace" or "contentment." I think these are ideas the human mind applies to itself that don't really exist beyond it (in animals to some degree, maybe).
ReplyDeleteContentment is, I think, more a result than a feeling. It's what happens when you make good choices and take good care of your self. Content people will still suffer (old age, infirmity and death being inevitable), but like you said, not as deeply.
Anyway, an interesting idea and a good post.
Kitty
Your friend seemed to know what he was saying with conviction it seems.. Like you, I have found myself agreeing with it in the recent past. Beyond this where you've taken it- I'm all for questions, and find yours very legitimate. Beyond even this- I don't personally believe things end here, for me it is still a question, one with a silent, contented ongoing persuasion unlike an actively crazy search like in the past. But we all have our own experiential answers to reach, or this is where I'm at in life.
ReplyDeleteSharing your honest journey with everyone- like-minded or not, is quite a step Darshan.. I'm happy-in a satisfying way to having been placed here to have exchanged dialogue at this level.