Is the right to happiness a human right?

Excerpts from Sri Chinmoy's book - The Garland of Nation-Souls


Happiness is
The heart's great contribution
To life.

~ Sri Chinmoy

Is the right to happiness a human right? First of all, we have to know what happiness is. Happiness is something that feeds our heart, inspires our mind, energises our vital and illumines our body.

When the heart is happy, it embraces the whole world. When the mind is happy, it accepts the world as its very own. When the vital is happy, it offers its very existence to the world. And when the body is happy, it serves the world the way the world wants to be served.

In the domain of teeming fear, happiness bitterly cries. In the sea of brooding doubt, happiness instantly dies. In the domain of lifeless hope, happiness is theoretical and fruitless. In the sea of selfless love, happiness is practical and fruitful.

An aspiring man spreads happiness wherever he goes. An unaspiring man strangles happiness wherever he roams. The life of happiness is aspiration. The soul of happiness is realisation. The goal of happiness is perfection.

Is the right to happiness a human right? Without the least possible hesitation I venture to answer this question in the affirmative. Each man has a soul. Each man has a goal. His soul silently tells him that his perennial Source is all happiness. His goal lovingly tells him that in his constant God manifestation is his own happiness.

Happiness is in God. Happiness is of God. Happiness is for God. A life of dedication knows that happiness is in God. A life of transformation knows that happiness is of God. A life of liberation knows that happiness is for God. ~ Sri Chinmoy


Next: Self-giving and happiness