Too many questions when you don't want to break your moments of happiness! So can I linger longer in these moments. Later when I am in a less intoxicated state can we discus about it? But that may happen any moment so hang on for a bit. I will be with you now! So what is it that you wanted to talk about? Happiness? Funny subject! Ok! Lets begin. 

What's my level of happiness, you asked! I think even a beautiful sunrise can make me happy. But like you said it is temporary. The sun will become hotter by the day and I will loose my happiness. Then there will be sunset, where again I will feel happy but soon I will be engulfed by darkness of sorrow. So I cannot say I will be happy looking at the sunrise. Maybe looking at my daughter growing in age. But again she will grow up too soon and go away leaving behind a pall of gloom. You asked if things could give that. Maybe they can or can't. Given the circumstances, I felt very nice when I bought my first set of shades. But then I lost their charm when I saw my friend owning the same glasses. I chucked them then and there. Why did she have to go and buy the same type as mine, I never could understand. 

Listen I don't know anything dude. God also cannot give me happiness. On the contrary I don't believe in any god or whatever. I believe in nature. So if nature wants to give me whatever it wishes to, it will. I won't dispute that. 

When my boyfriend ditched me, I became distraught and felt my world has come to an end. I even contemplated ending my life and I am ashamed of it now. I was so stupid then. But now I wonder what the hell made me think that way for that creep? So what you say is true. Others can influence me very much.

Forget it, I don't know anyone who can give me happiness or anything at all. So you tell me. I am willing to listen. Shoot!

Happiness is nothing but a part of your feelings in your own being which makes you joyful. But it goes away because we believe the things outside gives us joy, happiness, sorrow or sadness. The thing or person outside can influence our feelings because we allow them to. But if we numb our senses and then look at objects outside then they will not make us victims of conclusions. We should stop being judgmental. Why do we allow objects outside to color our mind. The happiness you seek is never outside of you. You can choose to remain happy if you want to. It's your choice. 

Remember what has to be will be and knowing it can make you see the truth. The truth lies within you. You can choose to be happy if you wish to. It's in your hands alone. You can be happy or sad if you wish to be. So prefer to be happy. See this whole universe as good alone. Know that whatever happens in your life is for the better. If not for you then you become an example for others. So seek happiness inside of you. You are always happy. It's a frame of the mind. 

Remember mind is an imaginary creature, same way you think of god in your world. So why is it affecting you? Stop this self torture and become happy instantly. Every situation passes away so trust that even that little sadness will turn into happiness and joy. Believe in your own power of being happy! Seek it inside of you. 

I am actually happy, with my job, the money that I earn, my family and my home too. I don't have any reason to be unhappy. If I was unhappy, I would be telling you how less I get paid, how my wife and kids treat me, my bosses and my subordinates cribs, my in laws and my parents discomfort and so on. But I ain't telling you that! I take my annual holidays to exotic locations and I also spend enough time on my hobbies. I love to shoot photographs and play tennis. You should see my backhand now. Look at my collection of albums. Oh, I only post a few on the Internet. See, I am not seeking publicity or acclaim from anyone. It's my hobby so I just do it. 

My kids go to the best educational institutions and my eldest is studying for her Masters abroad. My youngest is doing her o levels and she is brilliant. I have provided for their future and I do have enough savings too. 

Now you ask me about my sex life! It's going fine. I don't have any complaint. We know each other well. After all we have been married for a very long time. She is doing fine. My wife has her world to look at. She attends her classes and she seems quite satisfied with life. Why don't you ask her, if you don't believe me? 

We are believers of course! We take our annual pilgrimages too. Last time we visited Jerusalem and took a tonne of photographs. Can I show you my albums? I posted a few of them on Facebook and there were so many likes for them. Ask any of my friends too. They will tell you I have nothing to complain about. I am very much satisfied man and I feel contented. Anything else, you want to know about? Can I leave now? Btw, why are you doing this survey? I have the latest gizmos too. iPhone to iMac. My daughter loves Samsung though! 

I am sure, you haven't come across another person like me? See, there aren't any happy people in this world. Everyone runs after something or the other always. I always keep myself abreast by reading the latest books of Paulo Coelho, Deepak Chopra, Rhonda Byrne, Dalai Lama and some great spiritual literature also. I find my happiness in that too. I also practice meditation and do yoga. Not regularly but I compensate that by going to the gym regularly. About death? Someday we all have to die? Isn't it? So why do I need to bother about it? I am fine with death. I really don't sweat about what I don't know much about. My political views are also known. I believe we should all vote for the right kind of government and honest leaders. And about all these rape cases! I think these guys need to get a tough jail sentence. Who am I to judge? There is a judicial system which I believe in so why worry about it? Btw, I just want to add that last week I bought a latest Toyota. Now you tell me do I look like I want anything at all in life? I am fully satisfied with what I have! 

I have no complaints with life!!!

Now you ask me why I read self help books and go to places of worship? Isn't that stupid! I go there for no specific reason. I have nothing to ask God. But then actually I don't know why I go there. Maybe I am seeking something. I don't know. Books I read for academic interest. But again if you ask me why? I have no answers! Maybe we are all seeking something in life. We don't know. You ask me, why I attended that weekend retreat conducted by these Buddhist guys. Oh! I like what they teach. It's very calming and I get to meet other like minded people there. We all get together and serve the society too. We have this monthly camps where we give back something to the society. I love working with those deprived children. It's so heartening to see them happy with what we do. I saw Slumdog and I was very much taken in. It's so sad to see all those deprived children so I go and do my bit for the society. 

What else can I say! I am happy! 

I hope you got what you wanted from my interview. Just let me know when you are going to publish it. I will keep my eye on the journal then. Thanks for coming in and considering me worthy enough for your interview. I don't see what's so special about me that you wanted to meet me about. I am a simple human being with simple tastes and not many achievements. 

Take care. Bye bye! 

But does it ever happen to us for long? Even Godzilla couldn't enjoy the city for long, neither did The Hulk stay away from his original avatar! 

You get out of getting marooned to another pit full of snakes sooner than you think. Your smile is temporary and plasticky and soon it will turn into a frown. So what makes us believe that we have got into a permanent happiness? Even the idea of relationships which deteriorate with time. Sometime just in a jiffy.  So to toy with the idea that there is some permanence in this world is utter foolishness on our part. 

Lets accept it first that there is very little joy or happiness in this creation. Now we move to the next level. The sages seem to appear happy or joyful. Look at Buddha or Jesus, Krsna or Mahavira! Do they seem to have happiness or joy in their lives. I am sure you have read about them. Tell me when did they have happiness? Even at the time of their death, they were hounded and tortured. Made extremely miserable and forced to experience pain. So what makes you think these great people or divine beings were devoid of unhappiness or pain? They experienced it just the way you do. But then what is it that makes the difference between them and you? There is! That's why we learn about them and not about you! 

So then what is different? They look so human, have every human trait and go through same human pain and miseries. 

They have knowledge and understanding that there is no permanency in this universe, no extended happiness, no never ending joy or laughter. They accept it! Next they believe that there is nothing outside of them to make them happy or fill them with joy or happiness. The goodness is all inside of us and not outside. This is knowledge. If you believe you are full of yourself then why would want to seek it outside of you? So don't think anyone or anything can give you that happiness you seek. 

Next these great souls do not bother about the two extremities of life. Which is sweet or bitter, joy and sadness, hurt or healthy, fit or unfit, truth or falsehood, black or white. These are two sides of the same coin. They both disturb you, pulling you on either side of extremes! 

These divine beings seek neither of these. They have equanimity of every aspect. They do not sway on either side. They are centered and focused on themselves. 

The words "Aham Brahmasmi" mean I am that divine. So why seek someone outside of us? 

You are that divine. Full of your own divinity. So don't sway either way. You be good to yourself and be filled or fulfilled. 

The path to happiness doesn't exist but the path to bliss does. Bliss is not happiness but equanimity of mind. No swaying or movement. Just being within yourself. All by yourself. You can be only blissful. 

So now look at Buddha or Christ and you will understand what I said. They are bliss incarnate and full of themselves. That's permanence!