I’ve often thought about what it is that makes people happy—what one has
to do in order to achieve happiness.
First and foremost is good health. If you do not enjoy good health, you
can never be happy. Any ailment, however trivial, will deduct something
from your happiness.
Second, a healthy bank balance. It need not run into crores, but it
should be enough to provide for comforts, and there should be something
to spare for recreation— eating out, going to the movies, travel and
holidays in the hills or by the sea. Shortage of money can be
demoralizing. Living on credit or borrowing is demeaning and lowers one
in one’s own eyes.
Third, your own home. Rented places can never give you the comfort or
security of a home that is yours for keeps. If it has garden space, all
the better. Plant your own trees and flowers, see them grow and blossom,
and cultivate a sense of kinship with them.
Fourth, an understanding companion, be it your spouse or a friend. If
you have too many misunderstandings, it robs you of your peace of mind.
It is better to be divorced than to be quarrelling all the time.
Fifth, stop envying those who have done better than you in life—risen
higher, made more money, or earned more fame. Envy can be corroding;
avoid comparing yourself with others.
Sixth, do not allow people to descend on you for gup-shup. By the time
you get rid of them, you will feel exhausted and poisoned by their
gossip-mongering.
Seventh, cultivate a hobby or two that will fulfill you—gardening,
reading, writing, painting, playing or listening to music. Going to
clubs or parties to get free drinks, or to meet celebrities, is a
criminal waste of time. It’s important to concentrate on something that
keeps you occupied meaningfully.
Eighth, every morning and evening devote 15 minutes to introspection. In
the mornings, 10 minutes should be spent in keeping the mind absolutely
still, and five listing the things you have to do that day. In the
evenings, five minutes should be set aside to keep the mind still and 10
to go over the tasks you had intended to do.
Ninth, don’t lose your temper. Try not to be short-tempered, or
vengeful. Even when a friend has been rude, just move on.
Above all, when the time comes to go, one should go like a man without
any regret or grievance against anyone. Iqbal said it beautifully in a
couplet in Persian: “You ask me about the signs of a man of faith? When
death comes to him, he has a smile on his lips.”
*
*
*
I don’t fear death. What I dread is the day I go blind or am
incapacitated because of old age—that’s what I fear—I’d rather die than
live in that condition. I’m a burden enough on my daughter Mala and
don’t want to be an extra burden on her.
All that I hope for is that when death comes to me, it comes swiftly,
without much pain, like fading away in sound slumber. Till then I’ll
keep working and living each day as it comes.
- Khushwant Singh
I really moved by reading this hope to cultivate at least one thing in my life
thank you Khushwant Saab
KVS
to do in order to achieve happiness.
First and foremost is good health. If you do not enjoy good health, you
can never be happy. Any ailment, however trivial, will deduct something
from your happiness.
Second, a healthy bank balance. It need not run into crores, but it
should be enough to provide for comforts, and there should be something
to spare for recreation— eating out, going to the movies, travel and
holidays in the hills or by the sea. Shortage of money can be
demoralizing. Living on credit or borrowing is demeaning and lowers one
in one’s own eyes.
Third, your own home. Rented places can never give you the comfort or
security of a home that is yours for keeps. If it has garden space, all
the better. Plant your own trees and flowers, see them grow and blossom,
and cultivate a sense of kinship with them.
Fourth, an understanding companion, be it your spouse or a friend. If
you have too many misunderstandings, it robs you of your peace of mind.
It is better to be divorced than to be quarrelling all the time.
Fifth, stop envying those who have done better than you in life—risen
higher, made more money, or earned more fame. Envy can be corroding;
avoid comparing yourself with others.
Sixth, do not allow people to descend on you for gup-shup. By the time
you get rid of them, you will feel exhausted and poisoned by their
gossip-mongering.
Seventh, cultivate a hobby or two that will fulfill you—gardening,
reading, writing, painting, playing or listening to music. Going to
clubs or parties to get free drinks, or to meet celebrities, is a
criminal waste of time. It’s important to concentrate on something that
keeps you occupied meaningfully.
Eighth, every morning and evening devote 15 minutes to introspection. In
the mornings, 10 minutes should be spent in keeping the mind absolutely
still, and five listing the things you have to do that day. In the
evenings, five minutes should be set aside to keep the mind still and 10
to go over the tasks you had intended to do.
Ninth, don’t lose your temper. Try not to be short-tempered, or
vengeful. Even when a friend has been rude, just move on.
Above all, when the time comes to go, one should go like a man without
any regret or grievance against anyone. Iqbal said it beautifully in a
couplet in Persian: “You ask me about the signs of a man of faith? When
death comes to him, he has a smile on his lips.”
*
*
*
I don’t fear death. What I dread is the day I go blind or am
incapacitated because of old age—that’s what I fear—I’d rather die than
live in that condition. I’m a burden enough on my daughter Mala and
don’t want to be an extra burden on her.
All that I hope for is that when death comes to me, it comes swiftly,
without much pain, like fading away in sound slumber. Till then I’ll
keep working and living each day as it comes.
- Khushwant Singh
I really moved by reading this hope to cultivate at least one thing in my life
thank you Khushwant Saab
KVS
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