Fundamentally external

From childhood, parents make various efforts to keep their kids happy. They arrange birthday parties, give them mobile phones to calm them down, and buy them exciting things. Corporations take advantage of this and constantly introduce new products into the market to keep people buying. Unknowingly, we are sending a message to children that happiness comes from external sources only. This causes their minds naturally programmed to grab everything they see in supermarkets constantly, believing it will bring them more joy, unaware of the innate ability within them to experience everlasting happiness.

Whether knowingly or unknowingly, most elders have fallen into the trap of seeking happiness through external means. And now, we are passing this trap onto the next generation.

However, there are alternatives. You can find relaxation and happiness without relying on external activities. Just imagine being able to be happy no matter what’s happening in the outside world by tapping into your innate abilities. These abilities are accessible to everyone all the time. By doing so, you can reduce or eliminate the need for many external activities currently you are engaged, which will save you a lot of effort.

Similarly, imagine being able to feel a connection to something greater than yourself within you without adhering to any specific religion (you may learn from various religions during the process). That wisdom transcends religious boundaries and saving many efforts required in pilgrimages, arguing with other religions, and even wars.

According to the law of economics, having more of something brings us less satisfaction. Activities that currently make us happy won’t continue to do so in the future. We’ll always need to raise the bar, whether it’s by getting a bigger house, a better car, or seeking more extreme forms of pleasure. Even the dosages of medicine need to be increased. This cycle continues until nothing works anymore and everything eventually collapses. 

So why don’t we put efforts into gaining wisdom other than external?

Note: There is an abundance of wisdom documented by our ancestors that is available to all. However, the greatest disaster occurred when this wisdom was associated with religions, leading to the demise of its value. I have always struggled to understand why humans created religions. Instead, we could embrace the various perspectives of God and scriptures, all accessible to everyone.