The Key to Happiness

Over the weekend, I managed to watch what I felt was one of the most powerfully captivating, real-life stories ever told. 'Into the Wild', a 2007 film based on the adventures of the young Christopher McCandless whom, fed up with the ills of society denounces his family and all material wealth and journeys into the beautiful but harsh conditions of Alaska in search of the true meaning to man's existence. Unfortunately, Christopher's life met a tragic end shortly after he came to the self-realization that true happiness can only be experienced when shared.

Watching the film brought me to ponder upon what happiness meant to us individually. Some think it can be found in material wealth, social rank and power, the temporary highs of which are decreasing in popularity in this new age of awareness. Nevertheless, neither is the answer found sitting in a cave, meditating. Such was the living proof of my Saddhu friend  whom I had met in Uttarkashi. I later found out that he decided to reunite with his family after more than two decades living the spiritual life of an ascetic holy man.

"Happiness is only real when shared.", Christopher Johnson McCandless writes shakily with his last ounce of energy.

My Saddhu friend approximately 1 week before deciding to return home.

In fact the message cannot be more obviously put across that the quest for ultimate happiness  lies in the continuous flow of love discovered through internal inquiry and externalized through the compassionate act of giving, sharing and forgiving.

"Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive." - The Dalai Lama