Modern urbanites are busy every day, working, studying, communicating, having dinner parties, catching buses, squeezing the subway... for survival, for wealth, and for the pursuit of happiness.
What is happiness? At first glance, this question seems too simple. Most people are happy to have wealth, some are happy to sleep in, some are happy to shop, some are happy to have a successful career, parents are happy because their children have a good job... What exactly is happiness? If we break the casserole and ask the question, few people can explain this question clearly. Happiness is invisible and has no form. It is a feeling in our hearts.
Wealth is two words that modern people cannot avoid. For it, I go out early and come back late, wearing the stars and the moon; for it, I travel all over the world, forgetting to eat and sleep; for it, I work all day long... The pursuit of happiness is human instinct, but treating the pursuit of wealth as happiness deviates from this instinct.
Proper money is necessary, it allows us to have adequate food and clothing and live a worry-free life. But once you pursue wealth too much, you will eventually be kidnapped by wealth and become its slave. Expanded desire will bring pain to people, and its depth and breadth far exceed the happiness it brings to people.
Wealth was originally used to meet daily needs, but once people get lost in wealth, they will mistakenly regard the pursuit of wealth as life, forgetting the true role of wealth and whether they really need it. A small house can satisfy one's living needs, but once the desire expands, one will get out of control, and one will pursue a bigger house, and then pursue a villa after having a big house. Similarly, if you have a bicycle, you will want a motorcycle, if you have a motorcycle, you will want a car, or even a luxury car. At this time, you have been unknowingly kidnapped by wealth and desire. You are busy with it all day long, but you are very tired. Think less about why.
After possessing a large amount of wealth, people have to face another problem, that is, how to ensure the safety of wealth. Natural disasters, thieves, and the rise and fall of stocks, futures, and foreign exchange transactions threaten your hard-earned wealth. I have to think about the safety of my wealth all the time. Because of this, I can't sleep well and can't live comfortably, let alone be happy. People who have a lot of wealth must not only consider the safety of their wealth, but also the personal safety of themselves and their families. They have to hire private bodyguards, and their originally peaceful life has turned into a state of fear. Because of the issue of wealth division, family members may also have disagreements or even turn against each other.
The blessings of a person's life are limited, and the amount of wealth consumed is determined. The remaining wealth is managed for others, and the wealth cannot be taken away when he dies. There is a "Good Song" in "A Dream of Red Mansions", one of which is "Everyone knows that gods are good, but gold and silver cannot be forgotten. In the end, I only regret that there is not much, and when it is too much, my eyes will close." This is a response to this phenomenon. A true portrayal of.
Wealth cannot give us happiness, so where is the happiness? Happiness lies in our ordinary daily lives. If one wants to be happy, one should be content with less, cherish blessings, and be willing to help others. People who are content with less desires and cherish blessings are not only happy inside, but also live longer and have no or fewer diseases. On the contrary, if you do not hesitate to waste your blessings, live a luxurious life, your blessings will be consumed in advance, your life span will be shortened, and this is the reason why people will die when their wealth is exhausted. If you consume too much blessings, you will suffer from various diseases for the rest of your life, such as coronary heart disease, diabetes, etc., which are modern diseases of wealth and affluence.
When we hit others with our fists, our own hands will also hurt. Whatever sound we shout out, the valley will return the sound, just like the action force and reaction force in physics. This is the law of the universe. cause and effect. Therefore, if you are willing to help others and make others happy, you will be happy yourself. Buddhism talks about the non-difference between self and others. A monk said, "The meaning of life is written on the smiling faces of all living beings." "Helping others is helping yourself, and achieving others is achieving yourself." We all have this feeling. When we bring happiness to our relatives or people with whom we are close, we will also be very happy. Likewise, if we make those around us happy, how can we not be happy ourselves? A greeting when we meet, a care when we are sick, a request when leaving, a compliment when our career is successful, a comfort when we are frustrated... Easy to pay, generous rewards.
What is the relationship between happiness and wealth? There is no necessary connection between them. The handling of wealth requires wisdom, and once handled improperly, it will become a source of pain. The greedy pursuit of wealth can also lead to fights between people and even wars between countries.
What is happiness? Happiness is contentment with less desire, cherishing blessings, altruism, a compassionate heart, and actions that promote harmony and give back to society.