The Pursuit of Happiness

"The most fortunate of us frequently meet with calamities which may greatly affect us, and to fortify our minds against the attacks of these misfortunes should be one of the principal studies and endeavors of our lives."

— Thomas Jefferson

The US Declaration of Independence asserted that man has an inalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Such a radical idea had just about never been heard before. Thomas Jefferson went out on a limb to try to instill these basic spiritual values into the United States at its conception, to help alleviate some of the most basic causes of suffering and oppression.

Now, this raises a couple of questions, for the thinking person. First, what is it about this world that would deny us these most basic rights? And, second, exactly what is the thinking of all those who cannot even conceive of such basic rights for mankind?

As Jefferson realized, this world we live in is often not there to help us as much as it is to oppress us and perpetuate suffering. How many of us are prepared by our studies and endeavors to deal with life's problems? How many have resigned themselves to the faint hope that those in positions of power and authority will solve their problems for them? Even those seeking to minimize their suffering often wind up being further exploited. In fact, the "system" is set up to perpetuate suffering.

The noble spiritual aspirations of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, unfortunately, remain unfulfilled. Jefferson had to, in many ways, fight the society and predominant — wrong — thinking of his times.

As you may come to realize, your own society and its predominantly wrong thinking are not on your side, today, either. In fact, your society and its thinking set you up for problems and then provide false solutions. This corruption continues to erode the spiritual values and higher inspirations we once had as a nation, that once held such great promise. read more ...

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