Thread by @bhAratenduH

“Pursuit of Happiness” (besides “Life” and “Liberty”) is recognized by Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence as a “right” of every human given by divine.

In my view, that statement is not only in harmony with Dharma, it seems surprisingly influenced by Vedanta.

(1)

https://twitter.com/shrikanth_krish/status/1050557377282547713

Upanishadas like बृहदारण्यक and छांदोग्य hold elaborate explanation to describe that being happy, being free, and existing, is the very nature of Bramhan, and the very dharma of Atman:

सत्
चित्
आनन्द

Isn’t this in a concordance with Life, Liberty, Pursuit of Happiness?

(2)

Now of course, as is the fundamental dichotomy between the Western and the Hindu thought, while Upanishada explains these as the very svabhAva, the very nature or dharma, the Declaration is about claiming “rights”. Nothing illustrates that basic departure more acutely. (3)

Staying with Pursuit of Happiness, the next departure between the Declaration and Vedanta happens in the questions like “where to pursue that Happiness”?

In a way, Upanishada anticipated that departure. Aren’t these the questions that Indra and Virochana ask Prajapati? (4)

Prajapati shows them both the same path. Now while Virochana is indulging in the outwardly pursuit, Indra doesn’t find satisfaction in it. He returns, seeks further, not in the outward but inward.

This symbiotically is difference in Pursuit of Happiness for the West and India (5

Lastly, the other departure between the West and Hindu on Happiness is this. As the thought process in the quoted thread shows, West generally perceives Happiness as a zero-sum-game. It’s implied that if one is more happy, someone else must be less happy. Not so, the Hindu says।।