Happiness in the world
we live in

 
 
The subject-matter happiness, which is doubtless the great aspiration of many people, is covered by several Spiritist books, mostly by the Codifier of the Spiritism.

Is it possible to be happy in the world we live in?

The theme is focused on the questions 920 to 922 of The Spirits’ Book, in which we find the following information:

• A person cannot enjoy complete happiness while on Earth because life is usually given to them either a trial or an expiation, but it depends on them themselves to mitigate their misfortunes and be as happy as possible while on Earth.
• The human beings, most of the times, are the artisans of their own unhappiness; however, if they would practice the law of God, they would spare themselves many misfortunes and enjoy a relative happiness as great as their existence on such a dense plane will allow.
• Earthly happiness is relative to the position of each person, and what suffices for the happiness of one would be misfortune for another. Nevertheless, there is a common standard of happiness of all: for material existence, it is the possession of all that is necessary; for the moral life, is a good conscience and faith in the future.

As the Spiritist teachings, our happiness in the future will be a result of our achievements and attitudes at the present time. It is not difficult to understand such an idea. “To each one according to his works”, taught Jesus, who also told us that if anyone kills with a sword, with a sword he must be killed. 

The destiny will be, thus, defined by the person itself, who will receive from the reincarnations exactly what has been cultivated.  

The understanding in regard to this subject is important because it can interfere directly in the conduct of the individuals.  

We shall see some examples. 

To the ones who think that happiness consists in the possession of a beautiful body, we suggest to take a look at those ones who have already reached the elderly age, many times suffering from diseases or organic limitations, announcing the imminent end of an existence. 

To the ones who believe that happiness resides on the possession of much money, we propose to visit rich individuals, in the end of their existences, would give anything to recover health and be able to enjoy what they imagined to be the happiness dreamed by many persons. 

In one of his most important works, Kardec wrote: “if Spiritism is to transform humankind – as has been averred – it can only do so by improving the masses, which will happen only gradually, little by little, as individuals themselves improve. (The Medium’s Book, chapter29, item 350). "There resides the principle, the true key to happiness of the human genre – added the Codifier in Posthumous Work – because then mankind will no longer consider jeopardize themselves reciprocally". 

Therefore, we can affirm that happiness while on Earth is possible, but it cannot be found among material things, objects, which someone can have or buy. Happiness can be found, either in the material plane or in the spiritual world, in what a person can be, given that a good, serene and pacific individual, with a good conscience and faith in the future, will be happy wherever it is; while a bad individual, disturbed, concerned and aggressive will be unhappy even if its house is the most beautiful and desired mansion. 

If we recall Pope John Paul II, he said once at St Peter’s square that Hell, like Heaven, is not a physical place, but a state of soul.