Recently, I read an article published by our Teacher in Linkedin. In that, he had come up with a mathematical equation for Happiness based on the definition of Happiness by Schopenhauer.
Happiness = Number of Desires Fulfilled/Total Number of Desires
Upon careful analysis of this equation and thinking over the meaning of it, I tried to put together a graph. The diagram below represents that graph.
To explain in detail, when we are a baby, we have no desires, at least for the first few days, if not for weeks. During that period, we are said to be in divine state. Hence the reference to babies as divine. As we grow older, our desires begin to increase. As is the case with most babies, our parents strive hard and fulfil all our desires till we are about a year or so old. At this point, we reach a Perfect Human State. This is when we are extremely happy or 100% happy. Perfect human state. No disappointments and no miseries due to unfulfilled desires.
State 1 – Perfect Human State – Total Number of Desires = Number of desires fulfilled
As we grow older, day by day, our desires begin to increase and the percentage of desires fulfilled begin to reduce. Our happiness slowly degenerates and we can call this state Degenerative state
State 2 – Degenerative State – Total Number of Desires > Number of Desires fulfilled.
While our state of happiness is slowly degenerating, we still try to carry on with our lives, till we are overcome by miseries due to unfulfilled desires. Now we reach a low point in our life. Our life is miserable. In this state, the gap between the amount of desires we have and the actual number of desires increases considerably. Most of us get caught in this stage and have nowhere to look for solution to this problem. Most times, we are not even aware of the reason for our miserable state, leading a life in the state of ignorance and even dying in misery.
State 3 – Miserable State – Total Number of Desires >>> Number of Desires fulfilled
If by fortitude or by divine grace, we come realize the problem of misery and then try to find a solution, we lead a path to redemption. We slowly begin to catch hold of our lives and realize that the root cause of all our miseries is our desires and slowly begin to reduce our desires. This state is called the state of Redemption. This state can also be considered as traversal of Degenerative state in reverse
State 4 – Redemption State -- Total Number of Desires > Number of Desires fulfilled.
As we experience reduction in desires, the gap between the Total Number of Desires and the Number of Desires fulfilled gets reduced, finally, they reach a stage where the total number of desires and the number of desires fulfilled is equal.
Since for an adult human being with all his sensory faculties alive and kicking, remaining in a state where the desires still exist, even though they are reduced and fulfilled, is not a condition that can be retained for long.
So, the state has to finally go towards having only one desire "achieving a desireless state". When such stage is reached and such singular desire is fulfilled, then we again reach a state of Perfect Human Being
State 5 – Realized State – Total Number of Desires = 1 = Number of desires fulfilled.
What lies beyond this state? Even the awareness that we need to possesses desireless state should be removed. When such state is achieved, then there are no desires to be fulfilled and no desires are fulfilled. We finally reach the divine state that we once had when we were born.
State 6 – Divine State – Total Number of Desires = 0 = Number of desires fulfilled.
This is the state of true happiness - state in which we are not even aware that we are happy. We just are.
Sahaj Marg method of meditation is a powerful tool that is available to everyone to achieve this Divine State progressively.
To know more about it, please visit Sahaj Marg. Our current Master is Shri Kamlesh Patel. More information about him can be found here
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