What is Happiness? | Sadhguru

Summary

The script delves into the concept of well-being and happiness, questioning when one truly feels well despite physical or medical conditions. It suggests that happiness is intrinsically linked to life's exuberance, contrasting it with depression's low energy. The speaker challenges the audience to reflect on their moments of joy and ponders why, despite unprecedented comfort and convenience, happiness seems elusive. The discourse also critiques the high cost of modern comforts on the planet's life, urging a reevaluation of our pursuit of happiness.

Takeaways

• 😀 Well-being is fundamentally about a certain level of joyfulness and exuberance in life.
• 🌟 Happiness is described as a state where one's life energies are more exuberant than usual.
• 🔍 Depression is characterized by a significant decrease and stagnation in life energies.
• 🤔 The script challenges the notion that physical health is the sole determinant of well-being, suggesting happiness can coexist with physical illness.
• 🧐 It questions the modern pursuit of happiness, noting that despite unprecedented material comforts, joy is not necessarily more prevalent.
• 🚀 The script suggests that the pursuit of happiness is a universal human endeavor, yet it is often elusive and transient.
• 🌱 It points out the irony that as adults, we often have fewer moments of joy than we did as children, implying a societal shift away from natural happiness.
• 🌐 The speaker reflects on the rapid technological advancements of the last century, questioning if they have truly contributed to our collective happiness.
• 🏆 Despite the modern comforts and conveniences that were once unattainable, the script argues that they have not necessarily made us happier.
• ♻️ The script highlights the environmental and societal costs of our pursuit of material comforts and questions the value if it does not lead to happiness.
• 🔥 It ends with a call to action, urging us to reconsider our priorities and the impact of our actions on the planet and our happiness.

Q & A

What does the term 'well-being' fundamentally signify according to the script?

Well-being fundamentally signifies a certain level of joyfulness and exuberance of life, even if one is physically ill or medically diagnosed as such.

How is happiness described in terms of life energies?

Happiness is described as a state where one's life energies are happening in a more exuberant way than they normally would.

What is the difference between happiness and depression as per the script?

Depression is characterized by low and stagnant life energies, whereas happiness is associated with life energies that are exuberant and lively.

Why is it suggested that everyone has experienced happiness?

It is suggested that everyone has experienced happiness because it is a natural state of being, and the problem lies in the inability to maintain it.

How does the script challenge the idea that modern comforts and conveniences lead to happiness?

The script challenges the idea by pointing out that despite unprecedented comforts and conveniences, people are not necessarily happier, questioning the cost and purpose of these advancements.

What is the irony mentioned in the script regarding the pursuit of happiness through material progress?

The irony is that despite the pursuit of happiness through material progress and the creation of comforts that previous generations couldn't imagine, people are not any happier, and the planet is being overexploited in the process.

How does the script contrast the joy experienced in childhood with that in adulthood?

The script contrasts childhood joy, which is abundant and spontaneous, with adult joy, which is often scarce and requires external factors, suggesting a reversal in the understanding of happiness.

What question does the script pose about the impact of human advancements on the planet?

The script asks if the pursuit of happiness through the exploitation of the planet, leading to environmental degradation, is worth it when the end result is not happiness.

Why does the script suggest that the equation of happiness has been reversed?

The script suggests that the equation of happiness has been reversed because as children, joy comes naturally, but as adults, external factors are sought to create happiness, indicating a shift from an internal to an external source.

What is the script's perspective on the role of science and technology in human happiness?

The script's perspective is that while science and technology have brought comfort and convenience, they have not necessarily increased happiness and have come at a significant cost to the planet and its inhabitants.

How does the script evaluate the trade-off between modern comforts and the well-being of the planet?

The script evaluates the trade-off as questionable, as the comforts and conveniences have been achieved at the expense of the planet's health and the well-being of all life forms, without a corresponding increase in human happiness.

Outlines

00:00

😀 Understanding Well-being and Happiness

The paragraph delves into the concept of well-being, questioning when one truly feels well. It suggests that even in the face of physical illness, happiness can make one feel well. The discussion pivots to the nature of happiness, describing it as a state of exuberance and high life energies, contrasting it with depression, which is characterized by low life energies. The speaker challenges the audience to reflect on their moments of joy and compares the happiness of childhood with adulthood, highlighting a societal shift where happiness becomes dependent on external factors. The paragraph concludes by questioning the pursuit of happiness through various life endeavors and the impact of modern advancements on our collective joy, suggesting that despite unprecedented comfort and convenience, happiness remains elusive.

Keywords

💡Well-being

Well-being refers to a state of happiness, health, and satisfaction with life. In the context of the video, it is described as a fundamental aspect of life that goes beyond physical health. The speaker suggests that even when physically ill, one can still experience well-being if they feel a sense of joy and exuberance. This concept is central to the video's theme, which explores the pursuit of happiness and its true meaning.

💡Joyfulness

Joyfulness is a feeling of great happiness or delight. The video script emphasizes that well-being is fundamentally about experiencing a certain level of joyfulness. The speaker contrasts this with depression, which is characterized by low life energies, suggesting that joyfulness is a sign of high life energies and a key component of being 'well'.

💡Happiness

Happiness, as discussed in the video, is a state of well-being and contentment. The speaker posits that happiness is not just a fleeting emotion but a more exuberant expression of life energies. It is something that everyone has experienced but struggles to maintain. The video challenges the audience to reflect on their happiness and the moments of joy they have known in the past 24 hours, highlighting the pursuit of happiness as a universal human endeavor.

💡Life Energies

Life energies, in this context, represent the vitality and vigor that individuals possess. The speaker uses this term to describe the dynamic force within a person that can manifest as happiness or depression. High life energies are associated with happiness and well-being, while low life energies are linked to a state of depression. This concept is integral to understanding the speaker's perspective on what constitutes a fulfilling life.

💡Depression

Depression is a mental health condition characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest or pleasure in activities. In the video, depression is mentioned as a state where one's life energies are low and stagnant, contrasting with the exuberance of happiness. The speaker uses this term to illustrate the importance of maintaining a positive state of well-being.

💡Pursuit of Happiness

The pursuit of happiness is a fundamental theme in the video, suggesting that all human actions, from education to career choices, are ultimately aimed at achieving happiness. The speaker questions whether the modern comforts and conveniences, despite their benefits, have actually led to an increase in happiness, implying that there might be more to happiness than material success.

💡Comforts and Conveniences

Comforts and conveniences refer to the ease and pleasant conditions that modern life provides. The video script contrasts the unprecedented material comforts of the present with the happiness levels of previous generations, suggesting that these comforts have not necessarily resulted in increased happiness. This term is used to critique the focus on material progress at the expense of environmental and social well-being.

💡Science and Technology

Science and technology are highlighted in the video as the driving forces behind the changes in the world, particularly in terms of providing comforts and conveniences. The speaker acknowledges the advancements but also points out the potential costs, such as environmental degradation and the impact on other life forms, questioning whether these advancements have truly contributed to human happiness.

💡Ecstasy

Ecstasy, in the video, is used to describe an intense feeling of happiness or excitement. The speaker humorously suggests that if one is in a state of ecstasy, then the exploitation of the planet might be justified, but since we are not happy, the speaker questions the rationale behind our actions. This term is used to emphasize the disconnect between our environmental impact and our emotional states.

💡Bonfire of the Planet

The phrase 'bonfire of the planet' is a metaphor used by the speaker to describe the excessive consumption and exploitation of the Earth's resources. It implies that our actions are destructive and unsustainable, and the speaker uses this term to critique the current state of environmental degradation, linking it back to the theme of happiness and well-being.

Highlights

Well-being is fundamentally about a certain level of joyfulness and exuberance of life.

Happiness is described as a state where life energies are happening in a more exuberant way.

Depression is characterized by low and stagnant life energies.

Happiness is subjective and can only be truly understood by those who experience it.

Everyone has experienced happiness, but maintaining it is the challenge.

The number of moments of joy in a day is a measure of well-being.

Children naturally experience more moments of joy than adults.

Happiness should not be dependent on external factors to be achieved.

The pursuit of happiness is the underlying motivation for all human endeavors.

Science and technology have brought comfort and convenience but not necessarily happiness.

Modern comforts and conveniences have come at a cost to the planet and its inhabitants.

Despite unprecedented material comfort, the current generation is not necessarily the happiest.

The equation of happiness has been reversed, with external factors now seen as necessary for joy.

There is a need to reassess the pursuit of happiness in light of its environmental impact.

The speaker questions the value of environmental exploitation if it does not lead to happiness.

It's time to look at the true cost of our pursuit of happiness and its impact on well-being.

Transcripts

So, what is well-being? When do you really feel well in your life?

When do you truly feel well?

When you're very happy you're well. Even if you're physically ill, you're still well, isn't it ?

Even if you're medically diagnosed as ill,

you're very happy right now, you're feeling well, isn't it?

So fundamentally well-being means a certain level of joyfulness, certain exuberance of life.

What is happiness?

We can say happiness is this that but in terms of life,

your life energies are happening in a more exuberant way than it normally happens.

Depression means your life energies have become very low and stayed.

Happiness means your life energies are exuberant.

There are many ways of describing happiness,

but only those who are happy know what it means to be happy.

There is nobody who has not been happy.

Everybody's been happy but the problem is they're not able to maintain it. That's all, isn't it?

Everybody's been happy. In the last 24 hours, how many moments of joy have you known?

One, two, three - how many?

May be you can count on your fingers.

Many people have nothing to count.

(Laughs)

When you were five years of age, a child, how many moments of joy did you know in 24 hours?

Hmm?

Lots of them, isn't it ? Somebody had to make you unhappy.

Now somebody has to make you happy, isn't it?

The whole equation has gotten reversed somehow.

All this effort of life, everything that you did,

education, career, business, family, whatever you did,

everything was in pursuit of happiness, is it so?

Everything that humanity has done on this planet is in pursuit of happiness, is it so?

In the last hundred years, we have done too much on this planet.

With the use of science and technology, we have changed the very face of this planet.

Today, we have the kind of comforts and conveniences that no other generation could ever even imagine.

Yes? What royalty could not afford a hundred years ago,

today average citizens have, isn't it so?

Aren't most of you driving chariots with hundred, two hundred horses? (Laughter)

Yes? Even Kings could not afford this.

But are we any happier?

We are definitely the most comfortable generation ever on this planet. Is it so, physically?

But are we also the most joyful generation?

So it's not worked.

Science and technology has brought enormous amount of comfort and convenience to our lives.

Things that we could not imagine just 25 years ago are just a living reality today, isn't it?

But are we any more joyful? No.

And all these comforts and conveniences have not come easy.

They've come at a tremendous cost to every other life on this planet.

Yes? Every creature from plant to animal to everything including human beings,

have paid an enormous price to create these comforts and conveniences and

we are not even happy. What is the point?

We are literally making a bonfire of this planet.

If you are ecstatic, it's okay, burn the planet. It's alright.

We are not even happy. I think it's time to really look at it, isn't it?

Why are we burning it up, if you're not even happy?