While discussing his dissatisfaction with life, one of my friends raised crucial questions. Why is our other friend and probably several others happy with a similar lifestyle, while he felt unfulfilled from within? Despite having sufficient money, work security, and a stable relationship, why does it still feel that there is an unknown void? After spending years to achieve skills and attain a respectable position, why was he confused about what he was doing?
I answered, your current state has reached its full throttle and demands changing the gear.
Happiness is the goal of everyone’s life
Satisfaction is the true goal of life. No matter at what point in life one is, one is aiming to move towards fulfillment. Things that bring happiness change with the changing person, but the goal i.e. satisfaction remains the same. Some people pursue spiritual practices because they bring fulfillment and satisfaction, others pursue money for the same reason, yet others pursue sensual pleasures, some find satisfaction in philanthropic activities, and some in addiction, many get fulfilled by their family responsibilities, and many get happiness from leading a life of solitude.
If each of us is trying to meet the same goal, although the means are different, then what is the basis of establishing one as superior to the other? Good or Bad is just a hypothetical creation of your mind. It is based on conformity to what seems appropriate for you and depends on the stage of your internal state of existence. It is the law of nature for anyone to find belongingness around those similar to them. This gives rise to a group with common views, likings, and means of pursuing life satisfaction. The group then ignorantly decides their ways, rules, and means are better than the others. Every group thinks the same way including many of the spiritual groups.
Happiness is a reflection of the internal state of being
Happiness is a state of mind that emerges depending upon a preceding condition. Happiness doesn’t have an independent existence. The same external condition may bring varying levels of satisfaction amongst different individuals. If a person has been hungry for the last two days, simple rice pudding can bring him extreme happiness. However, if the same rice pudding is given to another well-fed person, it may not satisfy him. Arousal of satisfaction from any external event is subjective to a precondition of the internal state of being.
This internal state is primarily the condition of the mind, usually shaped by previous external events. A hungry person’s internal state has been shaped by the past events of struggle for food and that of a well-fed person is shaped by the consumption of varieties of tasty food. The internal state is in constant flux with the continuous feeding of more impressions. If you continue to give the same pudding to the hungry person, his state of mind gets reshaped and he may not derive the same satisfaction anymore.
A person, who is nothing but a function of their internal state, is thus constantly changing their base to deliver happiness, satisfaction, and fulfillment, as these are reactions to present external situations. The changing inner construct acts as a changing reflective surface to the incoming outer impressions and therefore derives a different sense of happiness in time and space.
Different stages in the life journey
Different persons starting from different bases are marching at various paces. This presents infinite possibilities of the state of existence. However, these possibilities can be grouped into some finite stages of life.
The earlier stages of human life are outbound-focused. These stages are marked by evolution where human tends to grow materially. Satisfaction is derived from objects outside of the self. This is the peculiar quality of the first few phases of life’s journey. A life needs to pass through these stages and derive its share of satisfaction from the outside material world. It is the nature’s design. It is ridiculous to say that people pursuing material growth are inferior to people pursuing spiritual growth. The existence of later stages of life holds no meaning without the experience of earlier stages. In a changing world, which is the reality, passing from one state to the next is the only possibility.
The later stages of human life are inbound-focused. These stages are marked by involution where human grows by turning their awareness inwards. Satisfaction is derived by realizing the nature of their self-existence. Fulfillment is in self-discovery and becoming conscious about the consciousness. This is the stage of spirituality. A completely different approach as opposed to material satisfaction. This is again by the design of nature. This stage would have no meaning without the preceding stages of life. But eventually, everyone has to shift to the later in this life or the other as that is the way to reach the ultimate freedom. Reaching the ultimate freedom is the purpose of this game called life. You can read more about this here.
Transition from one stage to the other
In this wonderful journey of life, everyone is at a different stage. It is like everyone is driving a car in a different gear. Someone may be in the first gear, some in the 4th. The 1st gear is equally important as the 5th gear, in the journey of life also each stage is equally important. For a smooth transition, each gear has to be realized to its full throttle and when the appropriate time comes, a shift is required. To argue whether the 5th gear is superior to the 3rd is meaningless since each gear has its purpose. A person deriving fulfillment from accumulating wealth ethically is in not superior or inferior to the one who derives satisfaction by doing charity. Both of them are at different stages and their current one is important in their life journey.
Each would continue to be in their present stage until the full throttle has been realized. When that happens satisfaction is no more derived from the same activities and one has to make a smooth transition to the next stage. It has to be done at the right moment as force-shifting before the complete realization of the current state wouldn’t result in an effective passage. It wouldn’t make sense and may lead to more confusion than solving our problems. If the material world and its varying objects are still giving you satisfaction from within, then it should be pursued without any guilt or need for transformation.
Also, over-throttling in one gear would result in a breakdown of the vehicle. Similarly, exploiting our sense organs to derive more and more satisfaction turns into suffering. Countless people fall into this trap of the thrill of material growth and don’t respect the need for change when the time comes. Their attachment to the existing modes of satisfaction makes the transition into the new gear a painful experience in life. Almost all of us are unaware and uneducated about this facet and continue to exploit our bodies and minds. When the need comes we have to change and shift to new modes of fulfilment through spirituality.
Spirituality is a mode of fulfillment at certain stage of life
The realms of spirituality may not be for everyone. Its essence holds value for those who need this new mode of fulfillment. Before that, it may not make any sense. You may believe in a higher power out of fear but the true faith and fundamentals of spirituality will come when you are ready. When that happens, it would be wise to welcome the change and transition into the next phase of life gracefully.
It supplies the necessary fuel for the next phase of growth. It would also demand changes in the habits and patterns of life that used to define you. It would bring along a new belief system, a new outlook toward life, new values, and new adventures. Upon successful transition, you will feel the bliss of your new existence.
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