As we progress through life, we encounter various challenges and responsibilities that require our attention and effort. From childhood onwards, we strive to address these issues, such as pursuing education, finding employment, managing loans, and securing a place to live. Life is filled with numerous gaps that need to be filled, leading us to exist in what can be called the “struggle zone.”
Constantly grappling with challenges can be exhausting, both mentally and physically. Therefore, amidst this ongoing struggle, we naturally seek moments of happiness and respite. This leads us to oscillate between what can be referred to as the “pleasure house” and the “problem-solving house.”
We often find ourselves in a perpetual cycle of moving between these two houses. We seek happiness and relief from the struggle by entering the pleasure house, but eventually, we must return to the problem-solving house to address the ongoing challenges and responsibilities that life presents.
The overall fall out of this lifestyle is: insecurity and fear
The fear factor in happiness
More than physical suffering, it is the mental anxiety and insecurities that intensify as we grow older. The more we have, the more we need, to ensure that we sustain our temporary possessions and fleeting position in this fragile world. A poor man worries about his next meal, while the powerful and wealthy are plagued by the fear of enemies. History is rife with infamous tales of individuals like Stalin, Mao, and Mussolini, who ruthlessly exterminated their closest aides out of fear that they would usurp their positions or gain popularity among the masses. In Vedic history, we find stories of Indra, the king of higher planets, who was constantly anxious about losing his throne and would go to great lengths to eliminate any potential competitors. Consequently, true happiness remains elusive for both the impoverished and the affluent.
The reality of pleasure experiences in this world falls far short of what is depicted in the advertisements and disappointingly falls below our own expectations. Besides, the fleeting moments of pleasure often makes us attached to our experience and fearful of losing it.
This fear impels us to struggle more, and when the struggle gets painful, we seek solace in sense gratification. Paradoxically, the more we indulge in such gratification, the stronger our attachments become, ultimately leading to even greater struggles. As a result, we find ourselves trapped in an unending cycle of suffering, constantly seeking temporary relief through sensory pleasures.
It is fear that fundamentally motivates human beings who are driven by a desire to enjoy.
To be continued…
