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And
you shall be happy in all that the Lord your G-d has
given you (Deut. 26:11)
The
best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy
is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet,
alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only
then does one feel that all is as it should be and
that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple
beauty of nature. ---
Anne Frank
Many
people have a wrong idea of what constitutes true
happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification,
but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.
--- Hellen Keller
Money
can't buy you happiness, but it does bring you a more
pleasant form of misery.
---- Spike Milligan
******************
King
Solomon said in his famous book Ecclesiastes, “I praise
happiness,” and yet he also concluded “What does happiness
accomplish?”
Is
happiness praiseworthy or worthless?
The
Talmud explains that King Solomon was referring to
two types of happiness. The happiness derived from
doing a mitzvah – fulfilling G-d's command
-- is praiseworthy. However when happiness comes from
some other source—it is worthless.
We
read in the book of Psalms “man is born a wild ass.”
However, Torah teaches that all our natural innate
inclinations have a divine purpose. Our task is to
transform our wild drives into uniquely human powers
by properly nurturing and directing them towards achieving
the ideals for which they were created. Otherwise
rather than bringing blessing to a person and the
world, these drives destroy him.
A
person may look at these drives in their primitive
and gross form and conclude that they must be uprooted.
But that approach will never succeed. Others may decide
that since these drives are intrinsic to human nature
then they should simply be allowed free reign and
expression. This attitude is irresponsible and dangerous.
Torah teaches us to harness the power of these drives
and elevate them towards their higher intended purpose.
Urges,
inclinations and tendencies are translated in Hebrew
as “netiot”. This same word also means young saplings.
Therefore the successful fruition of these young saplings—man's
primitive urges-- is that they be planted in the right
ground to bear delicious and nourishing fruits. This
is one of the goals of a life of Torah and Commandments
-- to direct and harness mankind's wild animalistic
drives and use them to accomplish divine ideals befitting
the greatness of a human being created in the image
of G-d.
It
is basic human nature to want to be happy. However,
the urge for happiness in its primitive form can be
satisfied through lusts and cravings. We feel good
when we eat a steak, drink wine, win the game, indulge
in sex, etc..
But
transient pleasures do not fulfill our soul. Ultimately
the life of lust leaves our inner-self empty and depressed.
Of course this does not mean we should give up our
hopes for happiness. We just have to realize that
deep and lasting happiness comes from serving G-d
to make manifest in this world divine ideals and values.
When we do good ---we feel good. The Torah claims
that only good and meaningful acts access for us mature
and real happiness. This is the type of happiness
that King Solomon praises.
When
we satisfy our lusts then our egos and bodies are
fulfilled but not our souls. But even so, lust has
a short life because as soon as a lust is fulfilled
it dies. It is only the pleasures of the soul that
last forever. This is what the prophet Habakkuk teaches
us, “I will rejoice in G-d.”
In other words, when I make G-d the context of my
life and my frame of reference then I am happy.
The
Talmud teaches that the presence of G-d, referred
to as the Shechina , does not inspirit a
person when they are lazy, sad, wildly laughing, flippant,
chattering or idly talking. The Shechina inspirits
us only when we are happy serving G-d purpose -doing
a mitzvah.
At
such times a person experiences the divine magnificent
of her soul—the eternal godliness of her true “I am-ness”
because she sees herself as part of the divine universal
soul, that is manifest in all of creation, giving
it life and directing it towards it ultimate purpose.
This is the meaning of the verse in the Psalms, “G-d
You make me happy in all that You do.”
In
other words, we feel truly happy when we experience
what we are doing as the doings of G-d, that G-d is
actually working through us and we are divine instruments.
The artist feels ecstasy when he no longer feels that
he is the painter but rather the paintbrush in the
hand of the one and only true Artist. The philosopher
Nietzsche once said, “Unless you feel that an infinite
whole is working through you your life has no meaning.”
Torah would add that you would also never experience
true happiness.
We
are inspirited with the Shechina and achieve
true happiness when we perceive ourselves as participating
in the universal spirit and power of G-d. There is
profound joy in experiencing ourselves as G-d's tools
bringing divine love and goodness to the world. This
is the real meaning of serving G-d.
Therefore
when you are, so to speak, plugged into G-d and experience
I contact with the Ultimate I you feel energized by
the divine spirit that is inhere in all of creation.
You feel vibrant, alive and happy-- not sluggish,
lazy and sad. When the Shechina inspirits
you your actions are directed and not flippant. You
speak articulate words, filled with content--- not
excessive chatter and idle talk.
But
if you are not plugged in then you have to fake it
until you make it. Jump out of bed even though you
don't feel like it. Meditate and contemplate the awesome
spirit of life that is not yours but G-d's. Envision
yourself as part of the great divine light that is
manifest in this miraculous universe. Do good and
you will feel good.
It
is not enough to get busy and active. You have to
get directed and be effective. Sure you could feel
happy if you put on some funk music and start to boogie
but that will not plug your soul into the Shechina
. It won't deliver the real happiness that lasts.
Yes, you could go see a hysterically funny comedy
and laugh your guts out. But no movie runs forever.
You could go play some basketball, work up a good
sweat. But even if you win the game you can still
feel like a loser. Engage a friend in a meaningful
conversation, do a mitzvah, share words of wisdom
from the Torah.
The
Torah teaches, “Vitality and joy are in His place.”
When you realize that G-d is the all-embracing context
of your life and act in concert then you will be filled
with vitality and joy.
Rabbi
David Aaron
Author of Endless Light, Seeing G-d, The Secret Life
of G-d, Inviting G-d In, Living a Joyous Life, and
The G-d Powered Life |
