Recently I've watched Andrei Tarkovsky’s film ‘Nostalgia”. One of the characters in the move asked the question:

“Is there anything beyond happiness” ?.

I am wondering if Dalai Lama or some of you wise people is capable of answering this question.

Excellent posting Athos, what a very good question.

In my experiences happiness is different from joy, which is different to satisfaction, and enlightenment, and fulfilment.

Happiness is pretty good by my counts.

athos wrote on Nov 20^th, 2008 at 9:24pm:

Recently I've watched Andei Tarkovsky’s film ‘Nostalgia”. One of the characters in the move asked the question: “Is there anything beyond happiness” ?. I am wondering if Dalai Lama or some of you wise people is capable of answering this question.

"Depends which way you go" (c) - wise person

"Depends which way you don't go" (c) - Dalai Lama

"Ruble" (c) - Andrey Rublyov

"Mirror" (c) - Strange woman at the tea table

"Donatas Banionis" (c) - Kris Kelvin

"Roadside Picnic " (c) - Strugatsky brothers

Since we all haven't watched it Athos don't you think context might be a nice thing to add?

- and here was I thinking that a happy Russian was somewhat in the nature of a jocular funeral director or a Muslim nudist.

Isn't pathos and the celebration of misery an integral part of the Russian national psyche?


wrote on Nov 21^st, 2286 at 3:46am:

Romeo. Why then, O brawling love! O loving hate! O anything of nothing first create, A heavy lightness, serious vanity, Misshapen chaos of well-seeming forms, Feather of lead...

Grendel wrote on Nov 21^st, 2008 at 7:00am:

Since we all haven't watched it Athos don't you think context might be a nice thing to add?

It was his last film made in Italy. The atmosphere in the move was very slow (similar like some Jim Jarmusch’s films) and many people can find this sort of films for them boring particularly if they like watching Hollywood action.
This sort of films, which I consider as real art, requires you to be fully involved mentally and emotionally and come up with your own conclusions.
Unlike Hollywood and Mc Donald they don’t offer sweet Coke and ready made context they just give you ingredients and you have to cook it yourself, but the meal could be delicious. Sometimes you can’t find answers yourself then you have to shear it with others as I am doing now.

Context Athos... what about the context?

muso wrote on Nov 21^st, 2008 at 9:58am:

- and here was I thinking that a happy Russian was somewhat in the nature of a jocular funeral director or a Muslim nudist. Isn't pathos and the celebration of misery an integral part of the Russian national psyche? wrote on Nov 21st, 2286 at 3:46am: Romeo. Why then, O brawling love! O loving hate! O anything of nothing first create, A heavy lightness, serious vanity, Misshapen chaos of well-seeming forms, Feather of lead...

Well it does not have much to do with Russian’s psyche, I would say it is universal question that can be asked by anyone.
It would be interesting to hear what Islam offers as an answer on that question.

Grendel wrote on Nov 21^st, 2008 at 10:40am:

Context Athos... what about the context?

Irrelevant, Grendel, irrelevant.

There is nothing beyond sustainable happiness that we can share.

I contrast that with hedonism, which is shortsighted and short lived happiness, sometimes at the cost of others'.

sigh...   ::)

Happiness dear Athos is very likely to be induced by different things for different people and as such what makes one person happy might have the reverse effect on another...

Happiness is a feeling and emotional state...  how do you judge or even start to understand the question without parameters.
I still don't get what you are really asking.
I doubt that you do.

Andrey Rublyev was better film and it was made in Russia, about Russia with Russian actors. So it had plenty more Russian psyche, whatever it is, in it.

Beyond happiness and suffering in it was Religious Art.

Quote:

"Is there anything beyond happiness"?

I assume we are speaking of worldly happiness?





Yes.

Absolutely.

The experience of bliss, joy, ecstasy, love, peace.
....[many people alive today have experienced this, out of the body, or in a vision, being in the presence of.....]

To be redeemed from this world, that is what i [happily] wait for.

To return home, when this short journey is over.

[Yadda, doing a 'Yadda'.
....there is something in the drinking water here.]

:)





1 Corinthians 2:9
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.


Isaiah 64:4
For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.

Grendel wrote on Nov 21^st, 2008 at 12:01pm:

sigh...   ::) Happiness dear Athos is very likely to be induced by different things for different people and as such what makes one person happy might have the reverse effect on another... Happiness is a feeling and emotional state...  how do you judge or even start to understand the question without parameters. I still don't get what you are really asking. I doubt that you do.

Again The Pome twins are talking, nothing without them.

Grendel wrote on Nov 21^st, 2008 at 12:01pm:

Happiness is a feeling and emotional state...  how do you judge or even start to understand the question without parameters. I still don't get what you are really asking. I doubt that you do.

Good point.