The Quality Of Happiness

The Quality Of Happiness.



Happiness is a relative feeling. The best feeling of Happiness is when you just really feel happy. You just cant describe how happy you are at that moment.


Many a time, happiness comes to us in various forms and the relative strength of that feeling is different each time you experience it. Like you are thirsty and you drink a good cool glass of water. You are happy that you are free from thirst. Similar experiences are felt by us on innumerable occasions. We are happy for one thing or the other, for some reason or the other, in our day to day lives.

But the quality of Happiness that a Child experiences is, by far, the purest. The child has no expectations and when happiness descends on the child, the child is genuinely happy.

You can make that out from the sheer shrillness of that childish giggle, and the whole hearted laughter they indulge in, while playing.

And you too, can feel that pure happiness, which the child experiences. If you are a keen observer of a child’s behaviour.

Recently I noticed one such pure happiness enjoyed and revealed by my grand daughter, Ananya, who is just 10 months old.

I took my daughter-in-law Neetha and grand daughter Ananya to the Bank one day. At the bank, Neetha got down to go into the Bank and left Ananya with me. I took Ananya into my arms and made her stand in my seat behind the Steering Wheel. She was holding the steering wheel with both hands and having a jolly good time. She was making various sounds, giggles and shrieks in her own characteristic style. Once in a while she would press the horn button or bend down and hold the gear stick and play with the gear stick knob.

Then, it may have been about 10 minutes or so, Neetha came out from the Bank and we started back. Ananya was sitting in her mother’s lap and enjoying the drive, back to home.

When we reached home, Neetha got down alongwith Ananya. I was to go else where, so I did not get down. Ananya looked at me sweetly and started waving a Bye Bye with her tiny hand. And in her eyes I could see not only a sense of gratitude for the ride I gave her but most importantly, her happiness born out of contentment. She enjoyed the ride. And she was happy. Unlike most babies of her age, she did not cry or make a fuss to get down from the car and let me go. She was happy. That’s all.

And that quality of contented happiness is very rare amongst even grown ups.
Perhaps that quality of Happiness, is what makes one really happy.

Friday,July 30,2010. Evening 6 : 40 PM. Parsa V Ramachander Rao.

The Moment of Contentment Dawned on me.

The Moment Of Contentment Dawned on me.


It was a magnificient experience. When we visited Tirumala recently,my daughter-in-law's parents arranged a Magnificient Darshanam of Lord Sri Venkateswara, in the Sanctum Sanctorum, through their contacts with the Temple Administration.

For a full ten to fifteen minutes we were permitted to stand in front of the Sacred Moola Viraat. Looking at the Lord's Divya Manohara Roopam, I could feel the Presence of the Omnipotent, Omnisciencient and Omnipresent, throughout my body,like a wave of Lightening Solace, passing through me.

A few hours later a feeling of Total Contentment Dawned on me.

Till then I had innumerable ideas in my head to build a New Concept School called The Finishing School,from Class 7 to Class 12, for the young children, who will flower into Citizens of India in the Decade 2010 to 2020. I even approached half a dozen Mighty Rich People to Sponsor the Project for me. As I had no such big Money to build a School of that Scale. None responded.

And I was a terribly disappointed man almost going into a desperate state of depression and self pity. That I am a good for nothing useless fellow.

I used to dream of building a Farm House which would be a farm house for my children and a Vanaprastha Asramam, for me and my wife, with a Tiny Vedic School in it just for 4 students of age 8 years. They would be in the School for 4 years and when they reach the age of 12 they would be discharged with an appropriate Completion Certificate.

That there would be only Fire Worship,in the Form of Nitya Agni Hotram in the premises, and hoped to conduct regular philosophical debates amongst Scholars.

Then I would dream of starting a Weekly magazine. The income from the magazine to cover the running expenses of the Vanaprastham.

Also was a dream to start in this Vanaprastham, a cottage industry to make pure, home made Pickles, Spices and eatables like snacks to finance the running of the Vanaprastham.

And when things were not materializing. I was getting frustrated because of my advancing age.

I am now 68, going on 69. And I believe in the Biblical Life Span of 3 score and 10 ( 70 ). So, I used to fear that I may kick the bucket any time after I am 70. As if I can decide my End. Which is a big Fallacy and false hope we Humans entertain.

Now, after my magnificient experience in the Tirumala Temple, I am freed of all such fears. It was Saturday,the 19th of June 2010,around 8 A M or so. As I stood before the Lord, that Contentment Dawned on me.

I am but an infinitesimal speck in His Creation.
I cannot wish for the Moon. I must deserve the Moon. Then He will never stop the Moon from coming to me.

He has always given to me what all I deserved. A Happy Family, an own house in a prime location in my City. Enough money to live a reasonably Luxurious Life.

Excellent Health. I enjoy my Morning Walks. How many people have all these Blessings ? I am the one amongst the very few Lucky ones. God's Unbounded Blessings were showered, and continue to be showered on me, most lavishly, at every important milestone of my life.

Now I should and now I can, confidently say that I am Contended fully.

Oh God Thank You. A big thank you. I shall forever remain eternally indebted to you.

I shall now happily enjoy what all I have. I shall not ask for any more. Protect me Oh God and give me a peaceful, painless Death, whenever you decide. It shall be Your Will that shall be done. Not mine.