Happiness Round the World and a Quote by Tocqueville

March 1, 2012

Sometime recently, I came across this interesting blog post on "Happiness Round the World" by Sam Mcnerney. Besides reference to a fascinating initiative to measure the "Happy Planet Index", the post quotes Tocqueville:

In America, I have seen the freest and best educated of men in circumstances the happiest to be found in the world; yet it seemed to me that a cloud habitually hung on their brow, and they seemed serious and almost sad even in their pleasure. The chief reason for this is that… [they] never stop thinking of the good things they have not got.

The blogger, after reminding us helpfully that Tocqueville wrote this back in 1835, goes on to state: "To be sure, improving the well-being of the citizens of the United States and of the world is much more than the tweaking of a few economic plans or paying more attention to positive psychology. We also need to shift our attitude and realize that happiness is not an expectation."(underline is mine).

Which brings to mind, Śrī Kṛṣṇa's declaration in 2-66:
नास्ति बुद्धिरयुक्तस्य न चायुक्तस्य भावना |
न चाभावयतः शान्तिरशान्तस्य कुतः सुखम् ||२-६६||
naasti buddhirayuktasya na chaayuktasya bhaavanaa .
na chaabhaavayataH shaantirashaantasya kutaH sukham.h .. 2-66
There is no knowledge (of the Self) to the unsteady; and to the unsteady no meditation; and to the unmeditative no peace; to theone without peace, how can there be happiness?

Let me hasten to add as someone with an American passport, today this declaration or Tocqueville's observation doesn't just apply to America.. it seems to be a bug that is contagious.

More on the Happy Planet Index in another post

Hari Om and Namaskaar until the next post

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