Happiness in Human Nature (and a few flying dogs)

Chaired by the always lovable Corinne Grant, happiness psychiatrist Francois Lelord, poet Rodaan Al Galidi, Japanese film maker Eiji Han Shimizu and Balinese writer Ketut Yuliarsa shared their ideas of happiness in front of an eager full house.

 

Pak Ketut Yuliarsa defined happiness as a condition. Just like other human conditions (grief, illness, destitution) happiness needs to be looked after. Your happiness must be maintained, otherwise it'll get sick. And just like other conditions, people need different prescriptions to find their cure. Some of us require time alone, others time with family, some like the city, others the country; people need to figure out the prescription their happiness requires to be healthy. Each and every one of us is personally responsible for our own condition of happiness.

 

Film maker Eiji Han Shimizu travelled the world in search of the meaning of happiness. He defines it to be: unselfishness, compassion, a sense of calm and contentment. A simple life is a happy life; Eiji left a hedonistic Tokyo lifestyle for a simple Bali existence. There are two levels of happiness, according to Eiji, baseline happiness, which can be achieved through meditation and yoga, simplifying your life, family, care, love and there's the peaking and dipping kind of happiness, one that's stimulated by a great coffee, food, sex, laughter etc..and both are equally important.

 

The panel's doctor easily captured the crowd's attention and that of miss Grant. Francois talked about being engrossed in activities with a goal and not depending on environment; meaning that whatever happens to you, you can still feel happy because you're in control of your state of mind. But, following in the same grain as Pak Ketut, Francois stressed the importance of finding the mix of happiness that works for you.

 

For Rodaan Al Galidi, who spent years of his life in refugee camps, perspective is important in the quest for ones happiness. Corinne read one of Rodaan's poems, a poem set at a funeral, people feeling sad, death, grief, but Rodaan's poem closes with a description of the family dog, a dog "flying in the heaven of his life", biting the ocean, barking, wagging his tail. Buy a dog, he said, it'll make you happy. 

 

Is it bad to be sad sometimes? No, not at all. We fear being sad, but should we? Sadness makes us appreciate happiness, and if all else fails, Eiji suggests... laughing yoga. Yes people, we all know it... laughter makes us happy. And in the words of the poet: "laugh is the house of the happiness."

 

Collective happiness is effective, religion - believing in something, a sense of community, good relationships, sharing meaningful activities, giving as opposed to taking...these are all things that make us happy, so go on people, stop all that consuming and money making...it doesn't make us happy...get out there...smile, laugh, love, share...buy a dog and fly in the heaven of your life. 

 

By Clare Price