Happiness

[PowerWizard]

But, as I said, you cannot let goals interfere with actually living life. Its better to make your goals a part of your life, rather than make your life a part of your goals.

A wise statement.



I think the inherent difference between Western and non-Western civilizations is how they view life: as a never-ending endeavour to reach certain goals and be a 'complete' man, wanting and gaining more and more in an accelerating tempo, or to live in perfect harmony with the self and the world. The first one presumes goal-oriented action, which is only bound by the laws and morality, in so far as it can be ascertained, that it contributes to individual and social growth. Whereas the second one presumes self-conscious action, or "sacred action" (called by Buddhism), in which the actor only focuses on the solemnity of action, not the goal or outcome. I think it is a sensible compromise to mix these two actions in the pursuit of happiness.