THE WAY TO WONDERLAND

Ever imagined that you could travel into Wonderland within seconds and return to this "damn basic" place called Earth within the next few seconds? Some of you must be trying to figure out what I actually mean by this. The Wonderland is your state of mind where your happiness knows no bounds and you're in a state of sheer ecstasy. Whereas,Earth is the Reality where things are practical and in most cases disappointing. Honestly,we stay on Earth more than in Wonderland,that is, we face reality more often than we take a trip to the land of happiness. Hence, I say happiness is a bad habit. Staying happy is a bad habit because the day you're pulled back to this Earth you cannot ever escape back to Wonderland.

I am sure that all of you are thinking that I am some kind of a pessimist or loner. But mind you, I am not. I try too; looking at the brighter side of things but somehow I am never able to see it completely. It maybe because I am unfortunate or haven't come across the perfect events in life. Still,I would like to debate on the happiness of the "alleged happy people".
So what gives you people happiness? Jewellery,money,clothes,friends? Or smile,mental peace,zero worries,fresh air?
Most of you are going to choose the first option out of an impulse,I know. But give it a second thought;that whether having lots of money and worrying about making more is better than having no money,no worries and waking up with a smile every morning? We human beings have adopted a "materialistic happiness" and have lost our rationality to such extent that we are unable to see that we are already happy and that these "superficial objects" namely wealth and tangible goods juxtaposed, are suppressing it.

Many of you are thinking that I am a fool because money is everything today and no money is equivalent to no life. But think about people in the primeval times. They ate a meal cooked on three stones,they looked after their families,had shelters, and above all had happiness. Think about the Jarwaa tribes in Andaman,the last time I visited their area I saw their eyes shining bright with happiness and their lips having the brightest smiles. My argument here is to make you believe that the more you have the less happy you are. I firmly adhere to the Buddhist saying that our wants are the sole cause of our suffering. I am not asking anyone to give up your wealth or items of pleasure, all I am asking for is to allay your materialistic approach and try to settle for less at times. It does more good than harm as you become equipped to both manage with little as well as to efficiently channelise the excess.

Having less in life actually allows you to have a prolonged trip in the Wonderland whereas having more at times even doesn't allow you to board the flight to Wonderland. People actually need to be more acquainted with the difference between pleasure and happiness. For example: Biriyani gives you supposed happiness and fills your hungry stomach. But a bowl of boiled rice too cures your hunger. Biriyani is your want and boiled rice is your need. Both serve the same purpose just one gives more "pleasure" than the other. Therefore, our want serves pleasure and not happiness. The day when we learn to differentiate between want and need, pleasure and happiness; we shall all get boarding passes for the flight to Wonderland.

This fancy dogma of happiness based of materialism is created by us. The kind of monetary happiness we believe in; is basically to please the society by living up to their definition of an "elite status". The life given to us is not meant for pleasing the society and their members. Therefore, we can find happiness in the most tiny objects for pleasing our ownselves. Happiness lies within us, we will surely find it the day we learn to allay our demands and wants.

A minimalistic approach can convert your bad habit,namely happiness into the best habit.The proper reasoning to understand that pleasure or luxury is not synonymous to happiness is the wonderdust we need; to reach Wonderland. Let us all try to create this wonderdust and reach the Wonderland that awaits us.