How much money does it take to be happy?

Friday, July 6, 2007
A lot it seems these days. You've got to have a lot of it, and no stopping please! So what if you, already have 2 cars for the 2 and a half(kid) members of your family, own your own house, your kid goes to the swanky neighbuorhood school, and your salary nearly doubles every six month?
You are not able to go abroad every year, you don't yet own a Mercedes, and your house has only three rooms for God's sake! How can your family of 2 and a half make do with only three rooms and two cars? It doesn't matter if there are millions of kids out there who sleep in the open, and don't have two meals a day, and never ever learn to read and write. But chances are they might be almost as happy as you are. A full stomach a day gives them the same high as your overseas trip.
Isn't this obscene? How can anyone, who has food on his table, a decent place to call home, access to health-care , and the knowlege that things would stay that way, come what may, not be happy. Why do we as a nation not care about our fellow countrymen, who are not so fortunate? How is it that the much reviled Australian cricketers, like Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting, come every year to India to work with the poor, whereas the Indian cricketers, some of whom are wealthier, are never seen doing anything of this sort.
Can all of us Indians resolve to be happy while striving to do well in life and also show kindness to others not as fortunate as us.
3:04:51 PM
Posted By Vipin Labroo Comments (2) Musings
Comments
NailingTheCoffin Friday, July 6, 2007 4:20:53 PM
You hit bull's eye.Perhaps our cricketers will emulate Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting, when they decide to call it a day with regard to their (politicised) game of cricket, and wish to enter active politics, which these days is like a stupid combination of 20x20, ODI and test match, all-in-one!
K.Venugopal Friday, July 6, 2007 6:22:13 PM
Dear Vipin, The whole problem of unhappiness in man, rich or poor materially, is the sense of lack. Those who are not educated by the spiritual masters continue to foster the illusion that money would solve their problems. It never has. We have to first make our restless mind restful. Then we would be able to solve all problems ourselves. We would stop wailing that our problems arise from unfair social arrangements.