This post has been selected as a BlogAdda’s Spicy Saturday Pick. For a sneak-peek at the review on BlogAdda, click here!
Please do go through the comments section after reading the post. You may find something much more interesting than what I have tried to explain. And don’t forget to enlighten us about what you think about the topic in question. I am doing a sort of public opinion research!!
Once upon a time there was a fisherman. He was a poor man. He used to live in a hut near the sea. He always wore the same lungi and the same vest. People used to look at him with a queer mixture of disgust and sorrow. They did not hate him but they did not love him either. And he was also oblivious to them. His average day was very simple. He would get up with the first light of the sun and go to the sea with his boat. He would then catch fish till noon and after a simple lunch comprising fish and rice, he would take a tight nap. The evening would be passed in some more of fishing and he would be off to bed before the last ray of sun left the earth. He had no particular desire. He was satisfied with whatever he had. He had never read the Franklin’s rule, which says that “Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall not be disappointed”, either. In fact he had never read anything in his life. He was ignorant. He lived for himself, with himself and never cared to progress in life: materialistically as well as spiritually. He never tried to see beyond what his eyes could descry. In fact he lived an animal’s life. He never had any tensions and used to drag on with his life with the same monotone… carefree but sans any use for others. He was never sad because he was a contented soul. But he was not happy either; he did not know what happiness meant. As he had never dared to explore the other face of it….
In the sea near his humble hut was a magnificent ship. It was owned by a wealthy man. He had two other ships in two other ports of the state. He was famous. He had a lot of ‘friends’ because he had a lot of money and he had a lot of money which he had earned with a lot of hard work. When he was very young he had dreamt that he would be a rich man one day. And today, he was a well respectable businessman of the town, with five bungalows and numerous cars. He had finally achieved what he had always desired. He knew it very well…the Butler’s Law of Progress, which says that “All progress is based on a universal innate desire on the part of every organism to live beyond its income.” And so he was never satisfied. Even if he wanted to… He would start making blueprints of his next hotel even before the current one got completed. This way he gave thousands of jobless people some means of earning. This way he contributed a lot to the society, the nation and the world in general….
But there was something that worried him incessantly. He had people around him who called him their friends but he also possessed the necessary experience and intuition to know and understand that they were with him only because of his money and power. He had already had a divorce because he never cared to give enough time to his wife. His son was a spoiled brat who never heeded a slight emotion towards his father’s problems. He was unable to enjoy sugar because he was diabetic. He was unable to enjoy salt because he was hypertensive. All that he earned would go to the medicines he was forced to take every other hour. Even then he was consistently forced to smile in front of others. To show them that he was strong. He was well adept at it. It was an art well practiced in his growing years. In fact a kind of mask of a charming smile had got stuck on his face… Which used to suffocate him incessantly …In the interviews he would say that one should always be honest; one should always speak the truth and should work for the greater good. He was a role model for many aspiring youngsters. His meteoric rise from slums to riches was then a part of the folklore. But he himself knew what he had lost in that tremendous gain of name and fame. His inner self would perpetually torment him for the numerous lies he had spoken, for the acts of debauchery he had committed during his so called ascent. Even for a better cause of the greater good, he always felt, deep inside, that he was never worth a penny of what he was being showered with. Success comes at a price and that price, perhaps, was his happiness…
In the town near the sea was his office. In the office were hundreds of small cabins. In one of those hundreds of small cabins, sat one middle aged man. He was neither rich nor poor. He would come to office everyday early in the morning, work throughout the day, with frequent breaks of discussions on love, politics, religion and marriage and then be off to his home by 6 pm. He would then watch TV, talk with his wife for some time, read a book or a magazine or would do some other stuff he always did whenever he felt like doing something different. This middle-class man was neither as rich as his boss nor as peaceful as the fisherman. He had wife and sons and daughters and lived ‘happily’… Or as he thought…Or rather…as he forced himself to think.
Man is a clever animal. He can make himself think in a certain way and create a virtual world around him. But even then he knows that he is fooling himself and this knowledge of faking one’s own self badgers him continuously.
There was a time when he was young and new. He also wanted to do great things. But there were too many responsibilities on him. Sisters to marry, an ailing mother, a father who never approved of his ideas. And then a wife, a house, electricity bill, telephone bill, rations card, children’s higher education, their birthday parties, their marriages. Throughout his life he had been too much preoccupied to ever have given a thought on happiness or on its absence. Actually, he had always been taught that way by his parents. He was taught to believe that marrying a woman, having kids, earning for them, striving for their happiness would make him happy. He did what the world told him to do and eventually ended up doing nothing. He would look at the fisherman and think about living a more independent life. He would look at his boss and think about living a more prosperous life. His own life had been a series of mundane events; events which depended on the events proceeding them. First career, then marriage, children, their education, their career, their marriage and then retirement. Yes retirement… he had planned it years ago. He would write a novel when he retired, he would open up a restaurant, he would play with his grandchildren etc. It is not that he never wanted to be happy. It is just that his happiness depended on future which when arrived would turn into present…
The man had two sons and a daughter. The daughter was eldest of them and had been married years ago. The youngest son was still a minor. His other son was in his late teens. Now as it occurs, he was confused. A full ocean of life was in front of him. It was clear that his aim in life was to be ‘happy’. But he did not know what happiness meant. Was it living an ignorant life and caring about nothing in the world? Was it aiming for stars and then doing anything to reach them? Or was it living a bull’s life and fulfilling his responsibilities one by one? Or was it an ideal sum of three?
A rough analysis:
It is very easy to make out that most of the people in this world want to aim for all the three options but it is a matter of experience that they have to choose only one of them at some point of life or the other. In other words it can be termed as compromise. Only a handful of people manage to grasp all the three pleasures of life. Most of them, by the look of it, succeed in one but fail in the other. The author’s question is simple: which way to choose….. or to put it simply, what to do?
A Note: I have a few awards to share and one tag to do. I will definitely complete them in the next post.
COMMENTS
TOTAL 99
RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 2 weeks ago · 0 replies · +1 points
u are an interesting man..murali…even I don’t like to think myself in that position….
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 2 weeks ago · 0 replies · +1 points
Welcome to my blog Gopinath
everyone wants to be happy….but the question is what makes him/her happy…
mm….
yes listening to your heart is an excellent or perhaps the option available…
thanks buddy….
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Murali @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 2 weeks ago · 1 reply · 0 points
Everyone unto his own cravings. Each one of us ha their own idea of happyness, some never-ending, some never fulfilling, some never even tying and someone never able to understanding this pursuit!
I dread to be the last one, even in my dreams! your father-of-2-children character seems to be of the third kind (d’uh!)
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 2 weeks ago · 0 replies · +1 points
Welcome to my blog Gopinath
everyone wants to be happy….but the question is what makes him/her happy…
mm….
yes listening to your heart is an excellent or perhaps the option available…
thanks buddy….
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Gopinath Mavinkurve @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 2 weeks ago · 1 reply · 0 points
Thought provoking post indeed! A well told story with a question we all are faced with! Being happy may mean different things to different people. One has to find happiness in what one has and does not in clamouring after what he cannot have or what he cannot do. Strive towards your goals once you have listened to your heart, i suppose!
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 2 weeks ago · 0 replies · +1 points
Thank you survivor……
i liked the pic of your profile:p
he he……
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The Survivor @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 2 weeks ago · 1 reply · 0 points
A thought provoking post!!
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 0 replies · +1 points
welcome to my blog Amreekandesi…
true we all have our definitions of happiness but is it not that most of us are always confused to find that definition?
btw I saw ur blog and its nice will soon be on a voyage through it……..
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amreekandesi @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 1 reply · 0 points
Came here via BlogAdda. Interesting post!
I suppose we all have our definitions of happiness, and invariably it will come at a cost. Most often a compromise between professional success and a contented family life.
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 0 replies · +1 points
dhanyawaad sirji….
I know very much why it was a ‘late’ comment……….
but u didn’t share with us what u think..I appreciate your ideas and suggestions…
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 0 replies · +1 points
that is what I wanted… your candid opinion….your perception.
I agree with you when you say: If you ‘want’ to be happy, nothing can make you….its us that make us happy and nothing else…..
that is true…but don’t you think that is simple to put but too much difficult to manifest…and too much idealistic too…
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Ravi @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 1 reply · 0 points
come on fodu a nice once again, sorry for late comment !! but i guess you know it !!
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Guria @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 1 reply · 0 points
Honestly Rahul, I didn’t comment intentionally… my perception is different from most because I am not in a search for happiness because I already got it! I am happy!
I believe happiness is a state of mind. If you want to be happy nothing can make you otherwise, if don’t want to be happy. nothing and no one in the world can make you happy! It’s in the attitude, in your faith and in self.
Think about it!
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 0 replies · +1 points
thank you very much Ma’am…:p
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Shilpa Garg @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 1 reply · 0 points
Congratulations for Blogadda’s Spicy Saturday Pick!! 🙂
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 0 replies · +1 points
as an afterthought though:D
you did not give us your take on the above topic..
I insist that you do…:)
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 0 replies · +1 points
you want to say that don’t just hammer the iron when its hot…
first heat it and then hammer!!
right??
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 0 replies · +1 points
thank you very much sreya….
I will check it out…
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 0 replies · +1 points
and it somehow proves my earlier theory that success and happiness are seldom found at the same place!!
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 0 replies · +1 points
I think I got what you want to say…You mean to emphasize that even if there is a factor of LUCK, we have something in our hands and should make best use of it…
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Shilpa Garg @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 1 reply · 0 points
That’s a very interesting, stimulating and inspiring post!!
According to Charles R. Swindoll, The pursuit of happiness is a matter of choice…it is a positive attitude we chose to express. It is not a gift delivered to our door each morning, nor does it come through the window. And it is certain that our circumstances are not the things that make us joyful. If we wait for them to get just right, we will never laugh again.
Wonderful post! Keep expressing!! 🙂
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Guria @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 2 replies · 0 points
Heyy Rahul I thought I’ll drop a line!!!
Do you know you got chosen as a http://blog.blogadda.com/2009/09/19/best-indian-b…
Heyy Congrats!!! :~))
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rimz @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 1 reply · 0 points
I suppressed my urge to enjoy sleep quiet a few times(really few..:P)____Fountain lies in the mountains,__Fire in the hill,__Like love in the heart man in the zeal…:)
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rimz @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 1 reply · 0 points
Ya…. d maze’s level of difficulty may vary vary from person to person , n i too do agree wid ur “luck is a tool of God to be partial with some”(infact i just loved d line).
But ol d time all the things definitely dsnt rest on d luck… If d fisherman had d zeal for doing something he mst hve done smethings, bt actually he had no interest in doin anything.The rich businessman was ambitiousfor making money…..for he thot he would achieve joy dat ways.
N d ordinary man wanted his joy thru the joy of his near n dear ones…
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 0 replies · +1 points
thanks Chriz..
I am happy that a blogger of such repertoire has appreciated my work….
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 0 replies · +1 points
yes Abhishek you are too right…we seldom make decisions that are truly and completely ours..most of the time its like following a herd…
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 0 replies · +1 points
Thanks KG, for visiting and sharing with what you feel even after so busy a schedule….
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Abhishek Moharana @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 1 reply · 0 points
very nice post Rahul…..
what i feel that we have allowed ourselves to be too influenced by others….
why did we come to IIT?….only because everybody else said it was very good……did we judge for ourselves?….no
the bible says that thou shall not covet….but we go through life wanting what the next guy is having……
you’ve captured the sentiment spot on…..
keep goin…
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kasabiangirl @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 1 reply · 0 points
Quite an insightful post Rahul and using that story was a nice way to express your feelings 🙂
and I would like to let you know that I never stopped visiting your blog…never 😀
I was awfully busy to post comments but I was reading 🙂
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 0 replies · +1 points
“Life is about everything and nothing in particular ! “
abstract…but true..
and yes, you have given the most convincing….elaborate yet succinct answer to my question…
I am happy:p
and thankfulxD
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 0 replies · +1 points
Thanks Pramoda for sharing with us what you think about this very subjective topic….
and yes, the priorities of happiness keeps on changing.:)
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Sourav @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 1 reply · 0 points
We are such stuff
As dreams are made on, and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep… I’m sure you have read ‘Tempest’ !
Love gives meaning to our lives – as do friendship, or art or faith in God. These are factors of true happiness, of inner peace, of feelings of harmony, allowing meaning to our existence.
But there is the other side. There is the cruelty of life, the pain, the evil, not to talk of death. They are the hidden tigers, ambushed and ready to attack the imprudent !
Life is about everything and nothing in particular !
You provoked the sensible part of my brain, yet again 😛
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pramoda @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 1 reply · 0 points
HAI …
Very long read, yet very sweet…i liked it ….
Yeah … Happiness is just a thought and state of our mind and heart..its up to us to choose which way can satisfy ur senses, so that u stay happily … it varies form person to person…and u know, for 100 yrs of human life, the priorities of the happiness resources keep on changing ..
It depends on our mental maturity, and etc …so no definition as such …ANd for u qsn…WHich way to choose,,? I’m not sure about the generalization here..but for me, i stay happy when i work well, when i spend time with my dear ones, when i help people …etc .. and mostlyy when i share my openions in my blog ..:) …
Thanks for the lovely post…keep expressing ..:)
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 0 replies · +1 points
No no not a problem….
it was a funny dream actually in which I thought that nobody likes me anymore…
but u have given me a great idea..I am really thinking of posting it here…
thanx:D:p
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Shas @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 1 reply · 0 points
No need to thank its my pleasure.
Maybe you can write about that dream in your next post……would love to read about it.
What was so bad about that dream? Sorry if am being too inquisitive.
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 2 replies · +1 points
thank you for reading it Shas……
I read ur reply..and yes, I appreciate your idea of not commenting before fully reading the post..
the message was actually the result of some bad dream…..I woke up and became too much skeptic:D
thanks again…
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Shas @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 3 replies · 0 points
The best that i have read so far. Quite philosophical.
Sorry for not being able to comment earlier. I was a bit busy n too lazy to read a long post. Do read my reply to your dilemma on my cbox.
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 0 replies · +1 points
that is the point no?
sometimes its difficult for us to know where our happiness lies..
am i right?
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Paritosh @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 1 reply · 0 points
Hmmmm… the pursuit of happiness is a very complex desire. It can’t be captured in a story or two. Every one has his own definition of happiness. You may find happiness in family, someone else may find happiness in money. Heck, Uncle Scrooge is the happiest when swims in his bin full-a-money.
Happiness is a very subjective goal and no one can put a finger onto what comprises absolute happiness.
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 0 replies · +1 points
I am very happy that you were candid in relaying what you feel…..
but honestly speaking I couldn’t understand “writing style is totally unlike yours,” what made u feel like this…:x
on another note….agar bura nahi karunga to pata kaise chalega ki kab achha kiya 😀
😉
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Karthik @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 1 reply · 0 points
Hey Rahul, did you write this? Or just sharing this story? Don’t get me wrong. I got this feeling because the writing style is totally unlike yours, which is splendid and which I’ve been accustomed to. If in fact you have written this, I’m a trifle disappointed with the way of narration. Hope you don’t mind me being honest.
And when it comes to the story, obviously it was wonderful. It is certainly a matter to be introspected. It reminds me of a quote I read somewhere sometime ago.
“Don’t think ‘I should be happy,’ be NOW happy.” – Sorry, don’t know who said this.
Have a nice day!
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 0 replies · +1 points
aho bhagy hamare..jo aap yahan padhaare..
I am very happy that u came here and called it good…
I am very regular to cgronicwriter..
thank you….
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chriz @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 2 replies · 0 points
thoight kicker of a post…
i wan all the pleasures too ,not at the cost of risking my mental peace though..
you write well.. kudos.. keep writing at a regular phase
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 0 replies · +1 points
I shall do it bro….
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VeNkY @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 1 reply · 0 points
sure you can, actually this is the philosophy of buddha
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 0 replies · +1 points
I am very happy, Venki to find such a critic of a friend. Now I realize, yes, you are right, the post should have been a little bit shorter. I will take care from the future….
and you are right in asserting that happiness is subjective….I like your example of sitar’s string very well…
can I use it in this post….I want to put it in my post…I will give your reference surely..should I??
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VeNkY @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 1 reply · 0 points
To be critical of the post i can say u could have shortened it a bit avoiding some unnecessary details. The idea of the post pretty good, buddy.
You see, Happiness is very subjective it differs from one person to person, quest for happiness is a never ending saga as human wants are insatiable.
I say this to a lot of my frnds, A sitar’s strings rigid or very loose there wont be music, you have to find the middle ground. It is not either way but somewhere in the middle, only experience can teach you that.
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 0 replies · +1 points
“with a very good soul” this touched my heart…..I am inundated with feelings….but its all your best wishes…..and blessings….
I thank you very much…
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 0 replies · +1 points
thank you very much…I am happy that you liked the story…
but I am interested to know…..you didn’t ask for the success of the rich man??
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Avada Kedavra @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 1 reply · 0 points
Hey that was a very thought provoking post.. you narrated the story so well that I was glued till the end.. So true.. which one of the three to choose? I guess little bit of Fisherman’s freedom and a little bit of the middle aged man’s family life should do.. It’s easier said than done.. I know 🙂 Nice post
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 0 replies · +1 points
best post…?
I never thought it would be though, I thought I was just typing out some crap from my heart..
thanks once again…
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 0 replies · +1 points
“with a very good soul” this touched my heart…..I am inundated with feelings….but its all your best wishes…..and blessings….
I thank you very much…
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 0 replies · +1 points
Danke..
(I love this word)
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Ekam @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 1 reply · 0 points
This indeed is your best post till now. I loved it .
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Ekam @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 1 reply · 0 points
Isn’t it very common for us also that we want to be happy but we don’t really know what is ‘being happy’ ?
The story was very thought provoking. You are a very good writer with a very good soul. Your writings reflect this… keep writing … God bless you 🙂
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Anshul @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 1 reply · 0 points
you can keep all the hats!!
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 0 replies · +1 points
thank you very much Anshul….
can I keep the hat?? :))
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Anshul @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 1 reply · 0 points
Probably the best. Reflects the life of each and every individual on this planet.
Hats off to you man!
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 0 replies · +1 points
Thank you Benny…its all your good wishes and encouragement….I am just trying to copy some of you lot…
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Benny @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 1 reply · 0 points
hey that was a stunning post.. lots of thoughts put in..the good thing abt ur blog is U make the readers think rather than just read! The best think any blogger can do! N u r on d way to glory as a very gud blogger!This one was really gud Rahul.. keep writing such “thought-provoking” atricles..cheers 🙂
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 0 replies · +1 points
Thank you very much for your nice encouragement,….
I am happy that you read my blog…
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Tanay @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 1 reply · 0 points
GADAR post hai yaar….simple but thought provoking….i’m ur new style…..esp loved ‘It is just that his happiness depended on future which when arrived would turn into present…’
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 0 replies · +1 points
@all
I loooooove…… it when people say its THOUGHT PROVOKING…
its really a nice feeling to feel….
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 0 replies · +1 points
thank you very much…
I am happy that you think so!!
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 0 replies · +1 points
“no one can claim to have reached the ultimate happiness ..” Yep.. your point duly noted…
thank you very much….
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shankar @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 1 reply · 0 points
A very nice post..really good and thought provoking…. nice one bro..
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Lakshmi Rajan @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 1 reply · 0 points
Hmmmm nice thought provoking post.. Man is a clever animal ( that is what he assumes to be) in the course of the attempted clever acts he ends up fooling himself … Happiness is relative and no one can claim to have reached the ultimate happiness …
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 0 replies · +1 points
Danke….that really cheers me up….
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adesi @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 1 reply · +1 points
you are great with these inspirational tales.
i love reading them 🙂
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 0 replies · +1 points
I am happy that shared what you think…it was important since I called you a teacher…
and I am also happy that don’t mind me calling you a teacher…
cheers!!
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Durga Nandan @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 1 reply · 0 points
I think life is all about enjoying what you have be it a star or sun.
It is all about you vision and wants.
Finally, when you are in death bed, you should feel you lived. 🙂
And no, I didnt mind me being called so. Just that I was surprised. Some call me a Brainchild and now you a teacher. 🙂 So found a bit of a humor in it. That is all..
No, dont change it. 🙂 It is ok.
Cheerz!
DN
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 2 replies · +1 points
I will change if you don’t like it….
btw you didn’t answer any of my questions…
am I angry with my teacher??
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Durga Nandan @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 3 replies · 0 points
:O Teacher? HAHAHAHA 🙂
Do I really seem so? 😀
Anyways, cheers! 🙂
DN
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 0 replies · +1 points
I think the thing sorted itself out
I am getting what you want to say is that one should never go completely against his/her parents… and listen to them as well…
Thank you very much…..I think the ‘boy’ is convinced..and he would try to convince his parents rather than confronting them…
thanks again….
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Rohini @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 0 replies · 0 points
Hey.. I posted a bigggggg reply to your comment.. please don’t tell me blogger ate my comment.. It said you have to approve before posting it..
pls tell you you got my comment..
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Rohini @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 1 reply · 0 points
Oh yes. I know very well. I have been there.. in those very shoes. I had my heart set on psychology when I finished school (of course my first choice was MBBS, and I missed it by a whisker).. My parents and brother managed to talk me out of it.. I think of it sometimes.. and wonder how my life would have been.
Parents, in my experience, tend to think quite too practically. When we are in that phase, the decide the future phase, we weigh in all our dreams, ideals, hopes, emotions ambitions and soemtimes even peer pressure.. In this phase, not all the decisions we take or believe in are rational. To tell you honestly, there are some things I have done in my youth, defying my parents will,that I really regret now. Although the experience taught me many things, I could have lived my entire life without knowing that.
I believe there should be a compromise between children and parents. I wold have run away from home if I was forced to take engineering 😀 but my folks were dead against a BA. So we settled for my most passionate love – biology. My dad gave me a free rein when it came to MS. That only goes to show that they will give us enough leverage when they feel we have matured enough to decide on our own.
Back to your question of what should he do, I think he should do some research and get armed with facts. If he is passionate about it, then h should strive to convince his parents about the logic behind it. They need facts, they need data.Not only your zeal for it, they also need to know if its a lucrative career. At the end, everything is about earning your livelihood right? Parents are delicate beings you know, confronting them doesnt always work 😉
damn this comment is jus too big.. i hope you dont think I am hogging your comment section..
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 1 reply · +1 points
sorry I won’t do it again…
but u didn’t answer my question?
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Rohini @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 2 replies · 0 points
Again with the ma’m!!! Does that mean you want me to call you sir? Am i being too thick headed?
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 0 replies · +1 points
I am skeptical observer because I like it when someone calls me skeptical observer….
thank you very much…
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Siddhesh @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 1 reply · 0 points
quite thought provocative…now i see y u r a skeptical observer!!!
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 0 replies · +1 points
thank you Aditya if you feel so….
but you are too kind in your words…
I feel you are better than me!!
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Aditya @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 1 reply · 0 points
I have seen people philosophizing vaguely. I am one of them. But you weave a story-an interesting story around it to bring out your philosophy.. Thats the refreshing part of your writing. Simply thought provoking.
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 2 replies · +1 points
By the meaning that is prevalent in today’s world, success almost always requires that we shed our happiness for it. Even if they are just parts of life, they are not like eye or tongue.(this is what I think)
and at some point or the other there is a question in front of us which asks us to choose between two..
let’s take a usual example: How many times have you suppressed your urge to enjoy a nice sleep when u know there is an exam the other day? I know it is not very serious but at larger platforms, things get bigger..
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 2 replies · +1 points
as an afterthought…
so you want to say that in his youth, one should think about doing great things….Right??
but if he does not know which way to go and after some serious thought chooses a path for himself which his parents think does not guarantee security and deter him from choosing it,,,,what should he do?
I know u will understand who is asking this question..
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 2 replies · +1 points
“God has created a maze to reach d ultimate one”…I don’t agree with it somehow…not everyone gets equal opportunities and equal share of luck…what I mean to say that luck is a tool of God to be partial with some…even if there is a maze…it is not same for all of us..what do u think?
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Rimz @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 3 replies · +1 points
But, still happYness~~~ it may content d mind but many a times its not ‘jst’ enuf to “Live”(which is again a big concern…rite??!). We need money for livlihood, food to eat, apparel to wear, home fr shelter…..D fisherman had ol dis, he never had faced lyf without ol dis(its difrnt he nevr felt d urge fr bettr or more, according to ur story)….but yet he ‘needed’ d waterbodies for fishing, fishes to catch, and a roof to sleep under… Needs may differ, may b more or less,but it will alwys b dere, N happyness, dt not only depends on d person, it also depends on d circumstances, the environments in which d person grows up, d knowledge he gathers… Its apparent (may be, somehow) and obviously relative….
Its not possible anyways to isolate onething frm another~~ happiness n success , both r just parts of LIFE….
which one r uready to sacrifice~ eye or tongue??!!
aww…i wrote soo much..in 1 post it ws nt accomodated…did i say too much..?!
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Rimz @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 3 replies · +1 points
hmmmm…..In Pursuit(search) of happYness. All your posts are thoughtful and compels the reader to check their premises once more(even , somtimes by looking back, infront or closing eyes..!!)……
We ,Homo sapiens are d mst strong yet d most helpless creature of nature….We r in more trouble, the more we know. The more we hve d more we want( d fisherman species is rare, atleast I think so)…. We all grow up, study n settle down just in search of happiness…..God has created a maze to reach d ultimate one… most of get lost in the maze, a handful reaches d gold coast.
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 0 replies · +2 points
thank you Ramesh sir…
Is it really that simple? if it is so, its great….
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 6 replies · 0 points
Thanks Rohini Ma’am…..for such enlightening words…may be you are right…we should try to enjoy each of the three options…
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R. ramesh @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 1 reply · +1 points
brilliant post yar..enjoyed reading it..my pursuit of happiness ends with tolsty’s words: If you want to be happy, be.
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Rohini @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 7 replies · +1 points
Rahul.. Good read! A comeprehensive review of man and his quest for happiness.. I liked every sentence that you wrote in bold..
Why should we limit ourselves to only one of the three.. maybe there is a chance we will associate ourselves with each during different times of our life. When we are in school we are like that fisherman – all we want to do is study and study and earn marks. We don’t think of dropping out of school (ok, maybe soemtimes). LAter on, Youth makes us believe we can walk in the steps of the rich guy…. have big dreams.. “anything is possible” is on our lips.. But more often than not, we end up being the middle class guy who wants to live his life happily and keep everyone happy.
This is just a general outlook. If everyone were to only do this, we would never have great entrepreneurs, businessmen.. philosophers.. sceintists.. and what not.. nobody would want to do anything different.
Happiness I feeel, is a relative emotion. Different things make different people happy. Contentment on the other hand, I realise is quite difficult to reach. I agree with Singh on one point. If there were no discontent, life would sure be boring. But if there was never any satisfaction in a person’s life, he is a digruntled soul.
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 0 replies · +2 points
Thank you very much IP…
“i am loving ur blog”…that is something that will cheer me up for a long time..
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 0 replies · +2 points
thank you Thousif..
I am glad that you u liked it!
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IndianPunditi @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 1 reply · +1 points
Hey Rahul
Very thoughtful post .i am loving ur blog.
Cheers
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Thousif Raza @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 1 reply · +1 points
another nice attempt and another nice blog post, i loved the line man is clever animal, nice one ya, lets hope all of them get hold of those 3 pleasures, rather than a few some, here’s to hope
take care and keep writing………………….
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 0 replies · +2 points
I am doing one thing, if you don’t mind…
I really liked your views!!
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RSV @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 0 replies · +2 points
thank you Shruti….
“glued to the monitor”…hey I am happy..
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Shruti @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 1 reply · +1 points
Hey really thought provoking story!
You wrote is really well!!
I was glued to the monitor by reading this story!!
AWESOME!
Keep Smiling!
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Singh Amit @ The Skeptical Observer – In search of happYness… 3 weeks ago · 1 reply · 0 points
Very nice and thought provoking post…
loved the story… 🙂
If someone is not suffering with terrible outward misery or any catastrophe, I feel, he can be happy by changing his attitude towards life. For me, there is nothing like an absolute happiness because whatever happiness we get in our daily life, is some how based on unhappiness. Feeling of Acceptance and gratefulness for what we have got is the best way to derive pleasure from the life, in every condition. And I feel, there should be some discontent in life otherwise life will loose it’s charm. Boredom will prevail. Human being needs interest, excitement, exploration, satisfaction of their subtle ego. And fulfillment of these can give him happiness( I am not talking about spiritual happiness). At a mild level, these things are source of happiness but in excess, they become responsible for terrible and fatal disease.
Cheers!!