Submitted by Nicole Skelly on the 2020 winter session program in New Zealand sponsored by the Department of Communication…
In our discussions and readings this week, we talked about Eastern perspectives on the idea of happiness. Two specific philosophies that I enjoyed learning about were Hinduism and Buddhism. The idea of Hinduism revolves around the idea that all living things are this pure or divine spirit (filled with peace, joy, and wisdom) who are united with God. One important concept that the Hindus believe in is karma. Karma refers to the law that every action has an equal reaction. After learning more about the beliefs that come with the religion of Hinduism, I started to think about how I can apply these concepts to my own happiness; especially the idea of karma. If I truly want to achieve happiness, I should not do anything that is seen as “evil”; if an action makes me feel bad inside, then that should tell me to not take that action. Good actions lead to good reactions, and bad actions lead to bad reactions; and these reactions can occur right away or later in your future. Nobody wants to experience something that is unpleasant; so I believe that I should participate in activities that are righteous and that make me feel good in order for my happiness to increase.
The idea of Buddhism revolves around the goal of overcoming suffering. Buddhists believe that amplified desires lead to suffering; and in order to overcome this suffering, we must have a sense of contentment while we are engaging in experiences. They focus on the idea of being present in every moment we undergo; and that there is no need to overthink about other things that you could have been participating in. I will certainly incorporate this idea into my life in order to feel happier. Many people these days experience something called “FOMO” (fear of missing out); I know that I do. But what I realized from this discussion on Buddhism was that you cannot think about the things that you did not do, or the things that you “should have” done. All you can do is enjoy the moment you are in now, and find the positive elements that come with the decision that you made; and that’s what I have been doing here.
