Path to Happiness

Posted by rayray on August 17th, 2010

Recently I have been pondering whether or not the endeavours I am hungry to journey upon and the achievements I am ambitious to attain, are really what I am meant to do or what will make me happy.

I am of Persian decent and our culture and religion is heavily embedded in introspection and self exploration. Meditation is one vehicle to investigate the self, as practiced by many a wise man before me. Some meditation styles suggest that humans store negative energy in our bodies and need to release that energy through meditation. Only then can we achieve true happiness.

Western discourse prescribes a different course of action to arrive at the outcome of happiness. Traditionally speaking, a modernity paradigm is transfixed on consumerism and ease of function. Contemporary western culture also relies on a ‘medicalised’ and ‘expert theory’, often relying on specialists, clinicians and other people to tell you what’s wrong with you. The latest in medical research on personal happiness focuses on neuro-plasticity or neuro pathways which are like beaten tracks in your brain due to over thinking in the same way. For example, the positive person stays positive because their brain is programmed to think in such a way – while their environment interplays in these thought processes, the brain will instinctively return to a ‘rosie coloured’ thought.

I am interested in the disparity between ancient and modern philosophies on the topic as well as the eastern and western remedies for unhappiness. While I can see that modern practices are going through the process of change incorporating eastern practices such as yoga and meditation, in contemporary daily western culture and life. My local fitness first offers a range of these classes and they are all facilitated by a fit young Australian as opposed to a decaying Indian with a history of mountainous cave self exploration. It is unrealistic to expect to be able to live a life free of material yearning while living in a metropolitan city. Personally, I feel it is also as unrealistic to expect to be able to live in such a metropolitan without some level of self knowledge and emotional intelligence. Maybe the solution is an amalgamation of both the old and new or east and west? The next question is how do we balance the two on with consideration to work/ leisure life…

What is more important, status, monetary wealth or hapiness? Second Edition

Posted by rayray on May 1st, 2009

Yes yes I know the topic has been covered before on this site! BUT BUT BUT I just read an article that made me rethink the whole issue…

Read the rest of this entry »

On Being Rich!

Posted by rayray on March 3rd, 2009

After a little incident involving a failed handbrake and my car smashing into a Saab, I have once again been considering the merit and comfort factor in being a rich bastard.

Read the rest of this entry »

Humans and Conceptions

Posted by rayray on October 12th, 2008

I was just talking with my best friend around all the concepts that we create and abide by. I found it interesting to hear his thoughts on the subject and it got me thinking a little about all of societies implications. Read the rest of this entry »

The Balancing Act

Posted by rayray on April 24th, 2008

Ever since I was a kid I have pertained to the theory that everything in a persons life reaches a balance as long as that person has a clear and rational perspective on life. If you have one bad thing on a scale of 1 to 10, then you will have an equally positive thing to balance the scale out. The trick is seeing the positives and negatives.

Read the rest of this entry »

Who determines life and death?

Posted by rayray on February 5th, 2008

If a person is virtually a vegetable and can have no impact to society or any ones life, should they continue living? That is to say should their family continue allowing them to live and use the resources of the world. Is hanging onto their existence simply being afraid of death? Of losing a loved one? Read the rest of this entry »

What Is An Investment?

Posted by nugget on January 28th, 2008

Today I was having a talk with my good friend and co-writer of this site about my future. He brought up a subject which I have recently had deep thought about (as I do with many subjects unfortunately), and that was about making investments. Investment, which to me, is the simple the act of investing. The problem is there is a misconception of what that actually entails.

Read the rest of this entry »

Everything for a Purpose?

Posted by rayray on November 7th, 2007

The lengthy debate roars on, whether or not the occurrences of our life happen for some valid or unknown reason, or weather they are simply unconnected, random and without meaning.

Read the rest of this entry »


Copyright © 2007 Thoughted. All rights reserved.