How to Find Real Happiness

A BUDDHIST religious leader, the Dalai Lama, said: "I believe that the very purpose of our life is to seek happiness."  He then explained that he believe that happiness can be achieved by training, or disciplining, the mind and the heart.   "A mind," he said,  "is all the basic equipment we need to achieve complete happiness."  Belief in God is unnecessary, he maintains. (he is so very, very wrong)

In contrast, consider Jesus, who had strong faith in God and whose teachings have affected hundreds of millions of people over the centuries.  Jesus was interested in human  happiness.  He began his well-known Sermon on the Mount with nine beatitudes - nine expressions that begin:  "Happy are l. . ."  (Matthew 5:1-12) As one of his disciples later exhorted, we should "continue considering" things that are  'true, of serious concern, righteous, chaste, lovable, well spoken of, virtuous, and praiseworthy.' -Philippians 4:8.

Jesus knew that the true happiness involves relationships with others.  We humans are gregarious by nature, so we cannot be truly happy if we isolate ourselves or if we are constantly   in conflict with those around us. We can be happy only if we feel loved and if we love others.  Fundamental to such love, Jesus taught, is our relationship with God.  Here especially, Jesus' teaching departs from that of the Dalai Lama, for Jesus taught that humans cannot be truly happy independent of God.  Why is that so? -Matthew 4:4; 22:37-39.

Next time: How to Find Happiness - Think of Your Spiritual Needs

The Watchtower, 2001