Chapter XI

HAPPINESS

A Working Definition and an Example

Working Definition:

A consistent and reliable state of personal fulfillment.

An Explanation:

Every human being is born with an inherent uniqueness. Nature is designed this way because nature depends on the uniqueness of each individual to refine and advance its most important function: evolution of its species.

The purpose of evolution is anyone’s guess, but here it is speculated, through observation, that evolution results in higher and higher order function. This is clearly seen in the evolution of the mammalian brain, most clearly represented by the human brain.

Not only are humans able to think on a higher level, e.g., observation, analysis and creativity, but the present human brain is also capable of awareness, insight and prediction based on learning and accumulated evidence.

No other earthly creature seems to have actualized these talents to such a degree as humans.

A reading of the previous chapters of this document, particularly I through IV, readily explains how humans start out at birth displaying such potential capability, and then are inhibited by oppressively patterned conditioning in family and society.

The End Goal of Evolution:

Learning and evidence shows us that evolution is in the process of developing higher order thinking, especially in the human being regarding the capability of awareness and insight.

Such capability has produced, as shown in a clear evaluation of human history, an ever greater sense of care and responsibility for the welfare of humankind and, more recently, for the welfare of the environment. It doesn‘t take much observation, for example, to reveal that human consideration of the welfare of children, women, working people and racially and ethnically different human groups has been growing, at least since the “enlightenment” of the eighteenth century.

Perhaps evidence of progressive awareness is seen since the philosophical foundations of eastern and western religion and thought had been laid down through the several millennia B.C. Further demonstration of growing human awareness lies in the insight of Plato and Aristotle, through the philosophers and activists of the seventeenth through the twentieth centuries A.D., such as Descartes, Kant, Gandhi (national liberation), Thomas Paine and M.L. King (racial liberation), Margaret Sanger (female liberation). Today, liberation, human rights and environmental activist groups abound as never before.

In short, the movement of human evolution points to the acquisition of higher and higher morality, despite the lingering human patterns of oppression, selfishness and greed; such destructive patterns having their roots in survival fear. Once again, a thorough reading of the previous chapters will amplify these points.

Such movement can be said to point towards perfection in moral awareness and behavior.

In this writing the terms “moral” and “morality” should be taken to relate to the quality of care, regard and respect that humans show one another, and towards other living matter as well as the environment.

A Brief Primer on the Achievement of Happiness:

It is proposed here that the achievement of individual, and by expansion, of collective human happiness rests on three foundations:

One, the decision and activation of a serious and dedicated program of healing and reduction of conditioned patterned behavior and chronic, emotional distress (this entire document is a powerful guide for this).
Two, the decision to act on a high degree of moral behavior as defined above, and

Three, the courage to fulfill one’s individual uniqueness. By the force of nature, it is on uniqueness that progress is made in all things. It follows that fulfilling one’s uniqueness constitutes a powerful contribution to one’s satisfaction as well as to the whole of everything.

It is as if “everything” was a huge garden, and each one of us is given a piece of the garden to tend. When each one of us tends our piece of the garden in a high moral way and according to one’s unique talents and gifts, each one of us adds to the beauty, creativity, health and progress of the entire garden.

We don’t typically think of the matter in these terms, but intuitively, and in actuality, we know it is true. We live out these forces in daily, down to earth ways:

When we act in kind, respectful and considerate ways towards others we feel good. This good feeling is a reward in itself. The quality of such good feeling is richer and longer lasting than the “good” feeling we may get from any gain that results in dominating or hurting others.

As to fulfilling our individual talents and gifts let the following vignette do the talking:

The SCENE is in the work room (e.g. woodcarving, pottery, painting, music, writing, etc) of the SUBJECT. The INQUIRER enters the space:

INQUIRER
Hi.

SUBJECT
Hello.

INQUIRER
You work looks good.

SUBJECT
Thank you.

INQUIRER
May I ask you question?

SUBJECT
Sure, if it’s not too personal.

INQUIRER
Right, what makes you really happy?

SUBJECT
Hmmm...
(Thinking)
Well...
(Still thinking)
Let’s see, my relationships...well,
sometimes I get disappointed...being
successful? No, that comes and goes.
(Pause)
I guess, you know, doing this...
(Pointing at his handiwork)
It’s something I really love to do.
And you know, it never let’s me down.
I mean sure, sometimes I think I can
do it better. But just doing it, you
know, that’s what I love...that’s what
really makes me happy.

PAUSE

INQUIRER
Nice.

END