Methods to Fulfil the Basic Human Aspirations: Happiness & Prosperity

Introduction
Every human being carries two timeless aspirations: happiness and prosperity. 

We work hard, chase goals, and collect experiences, but still often feel something is missing. 

Why? 

Because true fulfilment comes not from possessions alone, but from harmony and sufficiency.

Happiness = Harmony

Happiness is not just a fleeting moment of pleasure; it is the state of being in harmony. When our thoughts, feelings, and actions are aligned, we feel peaceful within. When we build relationships of trust and respect, we feel joyful with others.

• In Harmony → Happiness
  Example: Completing a task honestly brings peace of mind.

• In Disharmony → Unhappiness
  Example: Being forced to lie or cheat leaves us uneasy.

So, happiness is simply living in agreement with what we naturally accept as right.

Four Levels of Harmony

To ensure continuous happiness, we must nurture harmony at four interconnected levels:

1. Individual Level – alignment of thoughts, desires, and actions.

2. Family Level – relationships based on trust, love, and respect.

3. Society Level – justice, participation, and cooperation with others.

4. Nature Level – coexistence with the environment, using resources responsibly.

Only when harmony is ensured across all four levels can happiness become lasting instead of temporary.

                                           Source: Chat GPT-3.0

Prosperity = Feeling “Enough”

Prosperity is not measured by the size of your bank account or number of cars in your garage. It is the feeling of having more than enough to meet your needs. Two conditions make prosperity possible:

1. Right Assessment of Needs – knowing what we truly require and defining “enough.”

2. Availability of Resources – having or producing more than those needs.

                                                     Source: Chat GPT-3.0

Without clarity about what is enough, even billionaires can feel deprived. With clarity, even modest living can feel abundant.

                                                            Source: You Tube 

Key Takeaways

• Happiness comes from harmony – within yourself, in your family, in society, and with nature.

• Prosperity comes from sufficiency – rightly assessing needs and having resources to meet them.

• Together, they form the foundation of a fulfilling life.

Swades: The main character, Mohan, is a successful NASA scientist who seems to have it all. However, he is unhappy. The film shows him finding true happiness and a sense of "enoughness" not in his high-paying job in a foreign country, but by returning to his roots and working to improve his village. This is a great example of finding harmony at the societal and nature levels and redefining prosperity as something more than just personal gain.

Podcast:  Solve this  Happiness a) Having or producing more than our needs                                                 Prosperity b) Alignment of thoughts, desires, and actions Individual Level Family Level c) Trust, love, and respect Society Level d) Justice, participation, cooperation Nature Level e) Coexistence with environment Right Assessment of Needs f) State of harmony within and around us   Availability of Resources h) Feeling of having enough physical resource