Hmmm I don't know. You seem to be advocating to strive for happiness - your actions will bring it about. But I would say that it is more about an attitude that doesn't depend on circumstances. It is about not striving. That is the way to being happy. It has been said that a life of service to others brings happiness ie let go of your ego. Stop thinking everything is about you. Get on with whatever comes your way. Let go - and be happy!
The problem with saying it doesn't depend on circumstance is that there is always circumstance. Optimists will see the circumstance as positive. Pessimists will see it as negative. A Happyist will see it for what it is and be happy for it. In a way we're talking about the same thing.
And yes, I am advocating to strive for happiness. I believe kindness and service to others is an active pursuit. And a worthwhile one at that because happiness flows through those actions.
Walking that path is an action. And that action reverberates. Your action of responding to this post has had an impact on me, as my response has had an impact on you. Removing the self from the equation reduces individual involvement to zero. That only happens when we're gone. I agree that the self has no significance on the chaos of the world, but, once something happens to you, your reaction (or inaction) has consequence. The question becomes: what is the consequence of your existence? Is not an act of kindness an action? Happiness is not only the path, but the act of walking upon it.
Hmmm I don't know. You seem to be advocating to strive for happiness - your actions will bring it about. But I would say that it is more about an attitude that doesn't depend on circumstances. It is about not striving. That is the way to being happy. It has been said that a life of service to others brings happiness ie let go of your ego. Stop thinking everything is about you. Get on with whatever comes your way. Let go - and be happy!
The problem with saying it doesn't depend on circumstance is that there is always circumstance. Optimists will see the circumstance as positive. Pessimists will see it as negative. A Happyist will see it for what it is and be happy for it. In a way we're talking about the same thing.
And yes, I am advocating to strive for happiness. I believe kindness and service to others is an active pursuit. And a worthwhile one at that because happiness flows through those actions.
There is no path to happiness. Happiness IS the path.
Walking that path is an action. And that action reverberates. Your action of responding to this post has had an impact on me, as my response has had an impact on you. Removing the self from the equation reduces individual involvement to zero. That only happens when we're gone. I agree that the self has no significance on the chaos of the world, but, once something happens to you, your reaction (or inaction) has consequence. The question becomes: what is the consequence of your existence? Is not an act of kindness an action? Happiness is not only the path, but the act of walking upon it.