h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hello to you all.

I need you to tell me, in no more than 250 words:

1. What could be done to make you happy? This cannot involve money or much expense, only time and effort.

2. How would you unite the world and/or make as many people as happy as possible? Same rules apply (unless you can get round them of course).

All responses welcome.
Thankyou.

1) A world where everyone was blissfully happy make me happy. On a more realistic practical basis, not being at work right now and being out socially with friends would be a good start.

2) I don't think the world could ever be united in happiness. People who think this is possible end up becoming dictators forcing their idea of happiness onto others. So on the many people as possible front I'd have to go with involvement in the worlds biggest ever 'live aid' type event. Music unites people and makes them happy. Any funds raised can then be used to help those less privileged making them happier.

Prof

1) A hug. Some drugs would be nice too.

2) Lots and lots of hugs and smiles and cuddles and wombles and huggles.

Nothing can really be done to 'make' me happy. I either choose to be, or chose not to be. Happiness is not an external force that can be taken from or given to me by someone else. I practice finding the positive, beneficial aspects to all the surprises that sometimes whap me upside the head on a daily basis. I'm very pleased that I'm becoming increasingly skilled at opting for happiness rather than wallowing in self pity and anger, and that I'm getting speedier at it.

I'd unite the world by helping other people discover how to empower themselves through accepting personal responsibility for their own lives, and through dialogue that brings about the realization that true happiness isn't possible if it comes about at the cost of someone else's happiness.

Oh yes, we should make everyone Buddhist, then they'd all be happy

Oh, that gave me a giggle to think of 'making' everyone be Buddhist.

But don't Buddhists believe that life is suffering?

Some Buddhists believe that. There are different sects of Buddhism, and while they're all based in the same ideas they don't all take the same approach. The form of Buddhism I practice is founded in the belief that life is full of challenges and is never easy, but that enlightenment is possible for every individual and it comes through learning to transform suffering into a fuel for greater happiness. Once you've developed a 'faith' through seeing how it really does work in your life, you actually start to welcome the bumpy bits as tool towards personal growth. It's also not about denying the validity of any aspect of life, but rather making the choices (creating and changing karma through awareness of cause and effect) that'll create the kind of future you want for yourself. SGI Buddhism is basically about working to achieve world peace through individual happiness.