Suffering and Happiness

The one feature that sets life on Earth apart from a paradise is suffering. It poses a problem for humanity and calls for a solution. This problem relates to human desires, the satisfaction of which is often difficult and uncertain, if not impossible, and always transient, in need of renewal; it is doomed to end sooner or later in death.

One extreme way of solving this problem is to kill these desires by detaching oneself from their objects, while providing the body with minimum care, or to simply kill oneself. This detachment consists in regarding these objects as illusory or vain. It proceeds from a defeatism or a mysticism. In cases where life offers possibilities of fulfillment in the accomplishment of pleasurable activities and honorable duties, this detachment is premature or suspicious. Like suicide in such cases, it may indicate a morbid disposition, marked by laziness and cowardliness.

The opposite of this extreme way is the foundation of modern civilization. It implies a stubborn attachment to the objects of one's desires, such as good health, pleasure, mutual love, and success. It also implies a stubborn effort to satisfy these desires.

Now, this effort cannot be effective without a knowledge of the world, humanity included, or the workings thereof. It generates and ultimately meets the need for science, in the broadest sense of the word, and technology, which is the art of making the laws of nature serve human interests.

Furthermore, it produces a feeling of dignity, notwithstanding the errors and the failures that are indicative of fallibility. This feeling belongs to people who go to great lengths to achieve their earthly purpose ? in a word, people who abide by this principle: Strive to thrive. It is unique to a courageous life, ever struggling against difficulties and changing, never boring. In comparison, a life of peaceful idleness or an afterlife of restful bliss (by definition as desireless, effortless, painless, and changeless as a mineral) is deadly: a consummate tedium.

Had our ancestors collectively preferred to renounce worldly happiness rather than to pursue it, because this pursuit is inseparable from suffering, humanity would be ancient history preserved in dirt. It would be a fossil for no one to see ? no one except various critters that, unlike humans, would not have lost their will to live for good or ill and could be dubbed, for that reason, superior animals.

This advocacy of a courageous life, however, ought to be qualified. In the unlikely event that one should be utterly incapacitated by an illness or an injury and overwhelmed with distress, without the slightest prospect of future recovery and contentment, the renunciation of one's goals and perhaps even of one's existence would be a reasonable option. It indeed appears that a stubborn attachment to the objects of one's desires and a stubborn effort to satisfy these desires would be painfully useless and hence more foolish than brave if this satisfaction is not in any way possible.

Similarly, there are times when the bravest warriors have to admit defeat and rely on their honor to peacefully leave this world through their bleeding wounds. Supposing their final exit is excruciatingly prolonged, a fellow warrior may be right to expedite it at their request, since a sure but lingering and agonizing death seems terribly absurd.

Bio: Laurent Grenier's writing career spans over twenty years. During this time he has broadened and deepened his worldview, by dint of much reflection and study, and in the end has crafted "A Reason for Living," his best work to date.

Official web site: http://laurentgrenier.com/ARFL.html

---

7 Unique Ways To Make Someone Smile

Do you want to put a smile on someone's face?... Read More

Ways to Bring Play into Your Life

1. roll around in the grass, and don't brush the... Read More

Flowers Truly Reach Your Soul

Flowers are a simple, sincere and unobtrusive way to lift... Read More

Why Laughter Is Good For You

How Laughter Can Reduce Stress and Improve Your HealthA merry... Read More

Discover the 10 Golden Rules on How To Conquer Your Fear

We all want happiness and peace of mind. In the... Read More

What is Happiness and How to Achieve It?

True happiness is such a rare commodity that the whole... Read More

Joy Is Sexy

Joy is sexy because in embracing our joy, we embrace... Read More

Gratitude For Dummies

Yes, it might feel great to win the lottery. Money,... Read More

Happiness-Marriage-Love-Divorce-Suicide-Peace Within-college

Too many of us seem to think that there should... Read More

Quick Steps On Being Happier

Want to be happier?Edward W. Smith, motivational speaker, author and... Read More

Change 1 Thing Per Month - Making it Great One Step at a Time

So you're stuck in a rut, bored with how your... Read More

Many Blessings

"Reflect on your present blessings of which every man has... Read More

Creating Better Relationships

The most important achievements you can ever have in this... Read More

Relationships and the Law of Attraction

This question and answer article was done by Gizelle River,... Read More

Achievement and Happiness the 80/20 Way

If there was ever a principle that was responsible for... Read More

Common Scents For Emotional Well Being

Aromatics which include essential oils, perfume, centred candles and incense,... Read More

What NOT To Do To Feel Good About Yourself - 10 Tips

From the moment we wake in the morning our heads... Read More

How To Dance With Life

Fortunate, indeed, is the man who takes exactly the right... Read More

Self-Worthiness

Worthiness-word origin. Worth and worship both come from Old English... Read More

Getting In Touch With Your Inner Feelings

Every disease or ailment, whether it be cancer, diabetes, arthritis,... Read More

How To Be Outrageously Happy

You can be as happy as you want whenever you... Read More

Finding Purpose and Meaning in Life

A friend once said to me, "There is no meaning... Read More

Have You Ever Tasted The Fruit Of Pure Happiness?

Have you ever been really happy? Have you ever tasted... Read More

Love and Laughter ? Celebrating the Gift of Life

Only you can call me into aliveness. Each time... Read More

Happiness

What is happiness? If we mean by it a state... Read More

Happiness. Its Between Our Ears!

Happiness is something we all seek, yet few of us... Read More

Having Fun with Life

It was just a few degrees shy of swimming weather... Read More

How To Experience A Richer, Deeper, And Fuller Life

When we choose to move beyond the boundaries of the... Read More

The Elusive Butterfly of Happiness

Are You Chasing the Elusive Butterfly of Happiness?For many people... Read More

Do You Love Yourelf?

Learning to love yourself isn't easy - especially if you... Read More

How To Make Your Own Happiness

Happiness comes to a person when it is caused by... Read More

The Gift is in the Giving

I have to be honest. I made the woman cashier... Read More

10 Steps to Happily Ever After

Do you know what all happy and healthy marriages have... Read More