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Sukha and Ananda (सुखानन्दश्च) (view source)
Revision as of 17:39, 26 March 2023
, 17:39, 26 March 2023Added content
== परिचयः ॥ Introduction ==
== परिचयः ॥ Introduction ==
The mystery of happiness has preoccupied philosophers, psychologists and the whole human race. Fundamentally, everyone is compelled to identify happiness, worldly or transcendent in nature, as a 'virtue' because it is something everyone wants it in a positive way. The pursuit of happiness has been the axiomatic reference of all human endeavors across cultures and timelines. The need to seek 'happiness' and be 'happy' through all one's actions is universally acknowledged as the main motivating force in the lives of people.<ref name=":0">Banavathy, V.K., Choudry, A. Understanding Happiness: A Vedantic Perspective. ''Psychol Stud'' 59, 141–152 (2014). <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.1007/s12646-013-0230-x</nowiki></ref>
The mystery of happiness has preoccupied philosophers, psychologists and the whole human race. Fundamentally, everyone is compelled to identify happiness, worldly or transcendent in nature, as a 'virtue' because it is something everyone wants in a positive way. The pursuit of happiness has been the axiomatic reference of all human endeavors across cultures and timelines. The need to seek 'happiness' and be 'happy' through all one's actions is universally acknowledged as the main motivating force in the lives of people.<ref name=":0">Banavathy, V.K., Choudry, A. Understanding Happiness: A Vedantic Perspective. ''Psychol Stud'' 59, 141–152 (2014). <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.1007/s12646-013-0230-x</nowiki></ref>
Currently, the study of well-being ([[Svasthya (स्वास्थ्यम्)|Svasthya]]) and happiness (ananda, sukha) has acquired central focus in the discipline of psychology and more so in positive psychology as a subject.<ref name=":4" />
Currently, the study of well-being ([[Svasthya (स्वास्थ्यम्)|Svasthya]]) and happiness (ananda, sukha) has acquired central focus in the discipline of psychology and more so in positive psychology as a subject.<ref name=":4" />
The '''eudaimonic perspective''' of happiness is defined as the highest good that one seeks and one ought to seek as the end in itself and not as a means to any other end. It results from a life based on virtuousness and contemplation. Psychological well-being (PWB) is the counterpart of SWB in the eudaimonic tradition.<ref name=":0" />
The '''eudaimonic perspective''' of happiness is defined as the highest good that one seeks and one ought to seek as the end in itself and not as a means to any other end. It results from a life based on virtuousness and contemplation. Psychological well-being (PWB) is the counterpart of SWB in the eudaimonic tradition.<ref name=":0" />
In Indian traditions we quite often hear about सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः। let all be happy and लोकाः समस्ताः सुखिनो भवन्तु। lokāḥ samastāḥ sukhino bhavantu॥ let all the beings in all worlds be happy. Here the reference is to सुखम् in the sense of happiness.<ref name=":5">Choudry, A, and Banavathy, V.K. Understanding Happiness: the Concept of sukha as 'Excellent Space'. ''Psychol Stud'' 60, 356–367 (2015). <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.1007/s12646-015-0319-5</nowiki></ref> Within Indian society itself we have both material and spiritual worldviews espoused in ancient times leading to different perspectives, hedonic, collective and transcendental.<ref name=":4" />
In Indian traditions we quite often hear about the chants - सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः। let all be happy and लोकाः समस्ताः सुखिनो भवन्तु। lokāḥ samastāḥ sukhino bhavantu॥ let all the beings in all worlds be happy. Here the reference is to सुखम् in the sense of happiness.<ref name=":5">Choudry, A, and Banavathy, V.K. Understanding Happiness: the Concept of sukha as 'Excellent Space'. ''Psychol Stud'' 60, 356–367 (2015). <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.1007/s12646-015-0319-5</nowiki></ref> Within Indian society itself we have both material and spiritual worldviews espoused in ancient times leading to different perspectives, hedonic, collective and transcendental.<ref name=":4" />
== Etymology ==
== Etymology ==
In common language the terms sukha and Ānanda are used synonymously. However, it must be noted that sukha belongs to a set of concepts where dualities exist i.e. dukha (pain, sorrow, suffering etc.) stands in contrast to sukha, whereas Ānanda is beyond sukha as it transcends both sukha and dukha. As such there is no term that stands in anti-thesis to the experience of Ānanda.<ref name=":0" />
In common language the terms sukha and Ānanda are used synonymously. However, it must be noted that sukha belongs to a set of concepts where dualities exist i.e. dukha (pain, sorrow, suffering etc.) stands in contrast to sukha, whereas Ānanda is beyond sukha as it transcends both sukha and dukha. As such there is no term that stands in anti-thesis to the experience of Ānanda.<ref name=":0" />
Happiness, on the other hand, is a mental or emotional state of well-being characterized by positive or pleasant emotions.
=== Three kinds of Sukha ===
The Bhagavadgita defines happiness as of three kinds. The Gītā defines it as ‘something which the individual rejoices having attained with effort and which also marks the absence of unhappiness.<ref name=":0" /><blockquote>सुखं त्विदानीं त्रिविधं शृणु मे भरतर्षभ । अभ्यासाद्रमते यत्र दुःखान्तं च निगच्छति ॥ १८-३६॥ (Bhag. Gita. 18.36) sukhaṃ tvidānīṃ trividhaṃ śṛṇu me bharatarṣabha abhyāsādramate yatra duḥkhāntaṃ ca nigacchati
यत्तदग्रे विषमिव परिणामेऽमृतोपमम् । तत्सुखं सात्त्विकं प्रोक्तमात्मबुद्धिप्रसादजम् ॥ १८-३७॥ (Bhag. Gita. 18.37) yattadagre viṣamiva pariṇāme’mṛtopamam
tatsukhaṃ sāttvikaṃ proktamātmabuddhiprasādajam
विषयेन्द्रियसंयोगाद्यत्तदग्रेऽमृतोपमम् । परिणामे विषमिव तत्सुखं राजसं स्मृतम् ॥ १८-३८॥ (Bhag. Gita. 18.38) viṣayendriyasaṃyogādyattadagre’mṛtopamam pariṇāme viṣamiva tatsukhaṃ rājasaṃ smṛtam
यदग्रे चानुबन्धे च सुखं मोहनमात्मनः । निद्रालस्यप्रमादोत्थं तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् ॥ १८-३९॥ (Bhag. Gita. 18.39) yadagre cānubandhe ca sukhaṃ mohanamātmanaḥm nidrālasyapramādotthaṃ tattāmasamudāhṛtam</blockquote>Gita classifies sukha into three kinds<ref name=":0" />
* '''Sātvika (noble)''': Sātvika sukha consists of such happiness which appears to be effortful (while pursuing it) but eventually tastes like nectar, i.e. very pleasant. Such happiness arises as a result of intelligent and creative efforts with a right knowledge of oneself. (Bhag. Gita. 18.37)
* '''Rājasika (dynamic)''': Rājasika sukha is the resultant of the contact of the sense organs and the objects which appears to be pleasurable initially but unpleasant at the end, i.e. after the experience as it leaves a person with a sense of wanting. (Bhag. Gita. 18.38)
* '''Tāmasika (lethargic)''': Tāmasika sukha, is the happiness that is delusionary in nature from beginning to the end that may arise from sleep, laziness, ignorance, illusion etc. (Bhag. Gita. 18.39)
== Several features of Happiness ==
== Several features of Happiness ==