Feeling happy and having found the answer to the question "Why am I here?" are definitely not the same mental condition. The most striking difference, perhaps, is that this feeling of happiness can be caused by some pill or powder you took.
Pills that reveal to you what the meaning of your life is, still haven't been invented. While happiness is mainly physically based on the production of hormones, which means that other primates probably know feelings of happiness too,
understanding the meaning of your life is a more mental thing. The mind is involved. And that mind produces several answers, where there is a remarkable difference between East and West.
According to Buddhism, "true happiness" is achieved when all desires are overcome and one reaches nirvana. In Hinduism, on the other hand, happiness is achieved when the division between the soul or the deeper self, Atman, and the pure consciousness, Brahman, is abolished, or when the soul and consciousness become one.
In Confucianism, happiness consists of a balance between the lesser physical self and the greater moral self, and to achieve this requires wisdom and an insight into the virtues.
In Taoism, according to Lao Zi (sixth century BCE), perfect happiness is achieved when we manage to bring our lives into harmony with the mystical notion of the Tao, the 'Way' so that one becomes one with the rites of the All.
Despite the diversity between these Eastern philosophies, we also find a certain unity: happiness lies in creating a balance between two concepts that are presented as opposites:
desire and its absence, soul and consciousness, the physical and the moral, life and the Way. It is always about the relationship between the individual and the world in which he lives.
A completely different concept of happiness can be found in the monotheistic religions, which have come to dominate the West. Happiness here is characterized by an almighty God.
Within Judaism, happiness is seen as an essential part of worshipping God. In Psalm 100, for example, it is called upon to worship God with joy and joyful songs.
This view of happiness as a religious commandment that arises from the worship of God can also be found in Christianity and Islam. The Christian concept of happiness is strongly influenced by Greek philosophy, as theologian Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) emphasizes.
According to him, happiness is the achievement of a beatific vision of God's being in the next life. This means that happiness is not only to be found in this life but that it can only be fully realized in the hereafter.
In Islam, achieving perfect happiness in the hereafter is also seen as the goal of earthly life. The philosopher and theologian al-Ghazali (1058-1111) wrote a detailed manual called "Alchemy of Happiness",
in which he explains how we can achieve happiness after death through life on earth. This includes, among other things, adhering to religious precepts and following the teachings of the Qur'an. Even then, people were writing self-help books.
A few points to mention: the kind of happiness discussed here is not produced by a pill or powder, but by a special lifestyle. The pursuit of this special happiness can become the meaning of life for people.
The East focuses on the self in this world, while the West tries to find it outside the self and this world. I have no explanation for these different orientations.
Thank you for your attention...the floor is yours...
Main Sources:
MacMillan The Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2nd edition
TABLE OF CONTENT -----------------------------------------------------------------
1 - 100 Philosophers 9 May 2009 Start of
2 - 25+ Women Philosophers 10 May 2009 this blog
3 - 25 Adventures in Thinking 10 May 2009
4 - Modern Theories of Ethics 29 Oct 2009
5 - The Ideal State 24 Febr 2010 / 234
6 - The Mystery of the Brain 3 Sept 2010 / 266
7 - The Utopia of the Free Market 16 Febr 2012 / 383
8. - The Aftermath of Neo-liberalism 5 Sept 2012 / 413
9. - The Art Not to Be an Egoist 6 Nov 2012 / 426
10 - Non-Western Philosophy 29 May 2013 / 477
11 - Why Science is Right 2 Sept 2014 / 534
12 - A Philosopher looks at Atheism 1 Jan 2015 / 557
13 - EVIL, a philosophical investigation 17 Apr 2015 / 580
14 - Existentialism and Free Will 2 Sept 2015 / 586
15 - Spinoza 2 Sept 2016 / 615
16 - The Meaning of Life 13 Febr 2017 / 637
17 - In Search of my Self 6 Sept 2017 / 670
18 - The 20th Century Revisited 3 Apr 2018 / 706
19 - The Pessimist 11 Jan 2020 / 819
20 - The Optimist 9 Febr 2020 / 824
21 - Awakening from a Neoliberal Dream 8 Oct 2020 / 872
22 - A World Full of Patterns 1 Apr 2021 / 912
23 - The Concept of Freedom 8 Jan 2022 / 965
24 - Materialism 7 Sept 2022 / 1011
25 - Historical Materialism 5 Oct 2023 / 1088
26 - The Bonobo and the Atheist 9 Jan 2024 / 1102
27 - Artificial Intelligence 9 Feb 2024 / 1108
28 - Why Am I Here 6 Sept 2024 / 1139
The Discussion
[13:33] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): Thank you Herman
[13:33] herman Bergson: By the way....
[13:33] herman Bergson: This makes me think...
[13:34] herman Bergson: When I walk through my neighborhood I see a lot of Buddha statues...in gardens, in windows, small , big...
[13:34] herman Bergson: Is there a relation between secularisation and the focus on the self?
[13:35] herman Bergson: To put it in another way....
[13:35] herman Bergson: The West has been thinking vertically through the ages....The East has been thinking horizontal, I'd say
[13:36] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): Those Buddha statues are very piecefull, they remind you to stay calm in every situation
[13:36] herman Bergson: And with the Buddha statues, maybe people here express their horizontal thinking now...
[13:36] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): i have one too:)
[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yes they are a symbol of piece for me aso
[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): alco
[13:37] herman Bergson: Now I realize....I have one too here on my desk...the laughing Buddha...was a gift :-)
[13:37] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): ツ
[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i also have one somewhere
[13:37] herman Bergson: somewhere.. ㋡
[13:38] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): i have a young buddha, a little monk
[13:38] herman Bergson: I always thought my buddha was crying....
[13:38] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): many different religion members also accept the Buddhist way of life leads to happiness
[13:38] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ok
[13:38] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): there are zillions of buddhas
[13:39] herman Bergson: but it seeks it is called the laughing buddha
[13:39] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yes
[13:39] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yes
[13:39] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): ツ
[13:39] herman Bergson: Maybe people find some meaning in buddhist thought?
[13:40] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): Buddhism is not a religion
[13:40] herman Bergson: no no....
[13:40] herman Bergson: neither Taoism or Confucianism
[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): indeed there is no god, Buddha is the "god"
[13:41] herman Bergson: Hinuism is a polytheistic religion
[13:41] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yes
[13:41] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): wonder how many gods they have in total
[13:42] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): look at the ceiling Bejiita
[13:42] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): a few indeed
[13:42] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:42] herman Bergson: And those aren't even the Hinduist ones, Beertje
[13:42] herman Bergson: That would fill the whole sky of this sim, I guess
[13:43] Second Life: Gemma Cleanslate gave you Reliable Fact Checking .
[13:43] herman Bergson: Thank you Gemma ㋡
[13:43] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): did all get the fact check?
[13:43] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yw
[13:43] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yes
[13:44] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): goood
[13:44] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i like the last one
[13:44] herman Bergson: great list
[13:44] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): NPR also has one
[13:44] herman Bergson: I hope that millions of Americans have such a notecard, Gemma ㋡
[13:44] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): did a complete review of the speach the other nite
[13:44] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): lots do
[13:45] druth Vlodovic is online.
[13:45] herman Bergson: I heard he told at least 13 lies
[13:45] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): https://www.npr.org/2025/03/04/g-s1-50488/trump-congress-joint-address-fact-check
[13:45] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): add that one too
[13:45] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): and called a democratic woman..Pocahontas...
[13:46] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:46] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:46] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): moe than 13
[13:46] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): do he do anything but lying ?
[13:46] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): not much
[13:46] herman Bergson: I have only 10 fingers...added three toes tho inthe count
[13:46] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): ツ
[13:46] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): oh there were more
[13:46] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): its totally insane!
[13:46] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i could not listen or watch it
[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): read the transcript the next day
[13:47] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): as sai i knew it would be bad but not THIS bad
[13:47] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): people applaudes to him:((
[13:47] herman Bergson: What I loved was his complaining about that the dems didnt applaud or stand up for him
[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): only the republcans
[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): right
[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): they held up paddles
[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): with messages
[13:47] herman Bergson: yes, I loved that
[13:48] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): 1 democrat was thrown out of the room
[13:48] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): one rep was escorted out
[13:48] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): he was censured '
[13:48] herman Bergson: oh was it a Rep?
[13:48] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yes
[13:48] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): Rep Green of Texas
[13:48] herman Bergson: yes, Green...don't know what he did wrong unfortunately
[13:48] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): better throw Musk out
[13:49] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yes, made me feel sick when i saw and heard them cheering on his totally attack against LGBT and colored people
[13:49] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and many reps stood with him on the floor while and sang we shall overcome
[13:49] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): pure hate and evil
[13:49] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): groan
[13:49] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): he stood and pointed his cane at Trump and yelled
[13:49] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i will find the words
[13:49] herman Bergson: what did they want to overcome??? TRump???
[13:50] herman Bergson: Yes,,,he had an expensive cane!
[13:50] Bree Birke is online.
[13:50] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): that is the song of the Freedom movement of Blacks
[13:51] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce8v369gdjdo
[13:52] herman Bergson: Just google on "What said Green to Trump?"
[13:52] herman Bergson: Number of hits
[13:52] herman Bergson: gonna read them .. I want to know :-)
[13:53] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): Democrat Al Green censured ...Green is a democrat
[13:53] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): oh Green shouted You do not have a mandate!!!!!!!!
[13:53] herman Bergson: And then I'll return to the peace of mind as offered by Buddha
[13:53] theo Velde is online.
[13:53] herman Bergson: spoiler!
[13:53] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): You do nto have a Mandate!!!!
[13:53] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): which he does not
[13:53] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): lol
[13:54] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): only 1% more people voted for him
[13:54] herman Bergson: oh...By the Way....
[13:54] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well
[13:54] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): NOT a mandate as he says every day
[13:54] herman Bergson: Next week I am on vacation :-)))
[13:54] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yay
[13:54] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): oki
[13:54] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): :))
[13:54] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:54] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:54] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): where ?????????
[13:54] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): going to the island i guess
[13:54] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yay
[13:54] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:54] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yay
[13:54] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): shier
[13:54] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): hhope so
[13:55] herman Bergson: Then we have time to figure out what 1 PM SL time is.
[13:55] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): 21
[13:55] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): told you ONE HOUR earlier
[13:55] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): for me
[13:55] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): one hour earlier
[13:55] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but still
[13:55] herman Bergson: geez..again a spoiler...:-)
[13:55] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): come at 12alt
[13:55] theo Velde is offline.
[13:55] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): slt
[13:55] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): forget real time
[13:55] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): 12 slt
[13:56] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well ride through this
[13:56] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): always think slt when in slt
[13:56] herman Bergson: Let me wish you a nice weekend and vacation :-)
[13:56] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ♥ Thank Youuuuuuuuuu!! ♥
[13:56] herman Bergson: Class dismissed....
[13:56] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): hope it is the island
[13:56] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hugs Gemma
