The Nature of Human Beings and Quests for Happiness

To seek happiness is a part of human nature, a spiritual/metaphysical trait. This cannot be removed from human nature nor satisfied any other way than spiritually. Attempts to restrict or eliminate this need have failed throughout human life. People have endured innumerable difficulties, used all their financial means, and exploited every method in order to find happiness, or in other words, to satisfy their spiritual need. This search sometimes sends them on long journeys to find fulfillment. “Lots of millionaires go to Sai Baba in India to find happiness,” says Coşkun Aral, a journalist who was present in the hall where Shri Mataji – the Hindu guru – held a meditation class for almost 5,000 people among whom were a number of famous artists, journalists, and business people.[2]

Since peace and happiness are feelings that demand fulfillment at all costs, they are easily exploited. Every philosophy that promises peace of mind attracts a great deal of attention. In other words, ideas like the concept of peace are abused in order to gain notoriety. For example, it has been claimed that meditation through breathing is a very effective method, saying that it brings about all the benefits of meditation, some of which are a more robust existence, a healthy life, a balanced nervous system, complete relaxation, peace, openness of mind, the ability to control feelings and thoughts, and improvement in concentration, physical strength, and spiritual balance.[3]

Yet, the promised objectives are almost impossible to achieve, when a closer look is cast upon them; the reason for the creation of a human being, their physical and spiritual makeup, environmental conditions, and genes all have great influence in our lives and they even work as if hand in hand against such objectives, sometimes even eliminating them altogether.

History shows that the prophets, who should have come first in the attainment of such objectives, always stressed the importance of the Hereafter over this world and they led lives of severe hardship, suffering, and poverty. It is also hard to claim that other people or groups have managed to reach the said objectives. Statements like “Aryans[4] have been in contact with the Universal Spirit without excluding nature and through practicing yoga techniques and conquering the emotions and mind,”[5] lack any objective observation or criteria. It is impossible to talk authoritatively about people or groups that lived thousands of years ago from which no historical records survive. It is possible to state that the claims made by, for example yoga, are pipe-dreams to a certain extent; it should always be taken into consideration that these methods may leave people in the middle of psychological troubles that follow a temporary period of peace – a period effected by over-confidence, submission, and mislaid faith.

The beliefs and practices that have been confirmed by scientific research and presupposed by all divine religions, in particular those of Islam, are sufficient to provide the peace and happiness achievable in this life. Under the very foundation of these religions lies a true belief in God; if we look at the movements mentioned above, we can see that they contain serious problems and shortcomings in relation to this fact. Some of these movements do not include a belief in God. Some attribute divinity to a human, whereas others dismiss God, attributing divinity to all creation. Those who talk about the Universal Spirit avoid explaining what they mean by it and what attributes and traits it has. When they attempt to sort out a philosophy, they describe an entity that in no way can be considered a god.

Thus, a correct belief in God and His Unity is at the core of the question. A firm establishment of the relation between God, human beings, and the universe will allow us to identify our expectations and understand how we should live. It would be useful to examine a few examples here. First, the life of human beings does not simply consist of this world and is ethereal compared to the Hereafter. This world is the site for work and preparation. Secondly, human soul, heart, all outer and inner senses are the spiritual power stations of mankind, and one can attain comfort only through remembering God.[6] One can also find peace through serving humanity, altruism, being just and relying on God.

This concept of the world and the Hereafter is complete in itself and depends on the principles of unity, prophethood, and the world that follows. Since the life that the alternative movements and philosophies aim at is not based on these principles, these movements can be seen to be barren, and it can be understood that they run a serious risk of leading people astray – even if they provide some temporary relief. The mass suicides and psychological ailments that have become prevalent confirm this fact. 

One further point needs to be mentioned here. People, who innately demand eternity, can only find satisfaction for their hearts and minds in the eternity of Paradise. It is probably because the said movements have correctly identified this fact that they covertly promise Paradise in this world. This is a denial of the Hereafter. Yet all of the divine religions and historical facts declare that the troubles and injustices of this world require a Hereafter, that people will only be perfect and complete there, and that they will live in total bliss forever. Only the eternal life in the Hereafter can satisfy humankind, who desire eternity. However, if we allow ourselves to think that we can lead such a life in this world, this will make all the paths that we can take to attain our goal legitimate; a weakness that is open to exploitation and abuse.

[2] Aktuel Dergisi, 07.06.2001.

[3] Hewitt, James, The Complete Yoga Book, Shocken Books Inc., 1990, 371.

[4] An Indo-European dialect-speaking people who migrated to northern India around 1500 BC.

[5] Manaf, Akif, Yoga, 

[6] Indeed, in remembering God do hearts find comfort. (Qur’an 13:28).