| Just close your eyes for a moment and try to imagine | | | | only derive so much happiness from their physical |
| what kind of feeling this phrase elicits. Allow yourself to | | | | environment and that there is something more that |
| float away on a dream of it, to explore your hopes | | | | humans need in order to obtain lasting happiness. |
| and wishes that come with this open-ended phrase. | | | | The quest for happiness keeps us occupied; we all |
| Perhaps right now you feel very happy or sad or | | | | want it, we know that it will fulfill us, and we know that |
| somewhere in between, but when it comes to | | | | we need to do something in order to get it. However, |
| tomorrow and beyond, it is very hard to grasp this | | | | we will have a hard time finding a structured approach |
| notion of a promising future, and yet it is something we | | | | to reach this happiness for “…ever after,” |
| all desire without really knowing what it is and if it is | | | | which is a very carefully chosen expression and gives |
| actually something we can achieve. | | | | us a sensation of eternity, as opposed to something |
| No one wants to live an unhappy life forever after, nor | | | | that stops at the end of our physical lives. |
| do we like to see or read stories of such unhappiness. | | | | So, how do we rise above our situation that is limited |
| The goal of achieving happiness is something that | | | | by our genetics, the society we live in, and the esoteric |
| makes life worthwhile, that motivates us to move | | | | pleasures that are offered to us? We may reach a |
| forward, and gives us a sense of purpose. | | | | certain level of happiness for a limited time, but is there |
| Like in many stories, we know that happiness is | | | | a way to reach the “ever after” of happiness? |
| something that can only be obtained after we have | | | | The ancient wisdom of Kabbalah can give us an |
| gone through some initial struggles, and along with | | | | interesting perspective on this classic phrase. The fact |
| these struggles, many times we will have to make | | | | is that on an individual level we will not find an answer |
| some sacrifices. This is a commonly accepted fact | | | | on how to reach this everlasting feeling of happiness |
| of life: happiness needs to be earned; it has a price, | | | | since our happiness depends on that of others, as |
| and this price is different for each and every one of | | | | stated so beautifully in writings by Baal HaSulam, the |
| us. Only when we have overcome these struggles | | | | great 20th Century Kabbalist. |
| and paid our price, will we enter this promising second | | | | “Unity of the society is the source of happiness |
| part of our lives, the “ever after.” | | | | and well being, whereas separation between people is |
| So what is happiness? And what is forever after? | | | | the source of all miseries. All fortunes and well being |
| If you have your own definition of happiness, and you | | | | depend only on the drawing together and unification of |
| feel content with it, just search a little on the Internet | | | | the global community.” |
| and you will find out that it is a disputable concept and | | | | Global events, such as the financial crisis of the last |
| that it also depends heavily on who defines it. A | | | | few months have shown us how the world is |
| philosopher would tell us something completely | | | | interconnected and that people all over the world must |
| different than a psychologist, a scientist, a religious | | | | join together in unity to survive, by understanding and |
| person, a biologist, or a politician. | | | | living the concept of “love thy neighbour as |
| Going from an individual level to a global level, we have | | | | thyself.” It is through the interconnection with |
| rated our world according to certain happiness | | | | others that we will find the happiness which all humans |
| indexes, such as the Happy Planet Index, which show | | | | seek. We have learned that we will need to put effort |
| us that there are indeed countries that seem to be | | | | into making the words of Baal HaSulam a reality and a |
| happy while others feel “less” happy to even | | | | goal in order to reach this unity, but then, once we |
| unhappy. The index also shows us that happiness will | | | | have accomplished this goal ...we will live a happy life in |
| stagnate at a certain level, meaning that people can | | | | unity for ever after. |