In the ancient land of Jivavarta, there lived a monk named Rudhata. Whenever Rudhata saw unhappy people around him, he would get upset.
"Why can't these people be happy?" he would exclaim. "Anyone can be happy if they want to."
His guru, the sage Sarvadni, noticed this but kept quiet. This went on for a while.
Then, one day, Sarvadni called Rudhata and asked, "Do you know how to cook?"
"Of course I know how to cook," said Rudhata proudly. "I have learned to cook several dishes in my travels across Jivavarta."
"Excellent," said Sarvadni. "Then will you cook a meal for me?"
"It will be an honor," Rudhata answered. "I will cook a delicious dish I learned sometime back in Adrika. I am sure you will like it."
Next day, Rudhata went to the monastery's kitchen -- but to his surprise, the kitchen was completely empty. There were no cooking ingredients, no utensils, and no wood for the fire.
"Forgive us," the monks in the kitchen said, "but Guru Sarvadni told us to remove everything."
Puzzled, Rudhata went looking for Sarvadni.
"My guru," he asked Sarvadni, "how am I supposed to cook? There are no ingredients, no wood, no utensils?"
Sarvadni looked at Rudhata, and smiled.
"So what?" he asked. "You said you know how to cook."
"Yes," said Rudhata, "but one can't cook without all these things."
"Why not?" asked Sarvadni.
"Because one needs ingredients to cook," Rudhata replied. His impatience was apparent in his voice.
"Then how come you want people to be happy," Sarvadni asked, "without having the basic things they need?"
"I don't understand." said Rudhata.
"In certain ways, happiness and cooking are alike," explained Sarvadni. "You can't cook just because you want to -- you need ingredients. The same is with happiness. People can't be happy just because they want to be happy -- they need basic necessities such as food, shelter, cloth, good health."
Rudhata pondered for a moment.
"What you are saying is true, my guru," he said. "These basic necessities are needed for people to be happy. But are they enough? I think people can have all these necessities, and more, and still be unhappy."
"Intriguing thought," said Sarvadni. "Why wouldn't people be happy if they have all the necessities?"
"I know why," said Rudhata, excited at having solved the puzzle. "See, ingredients matter only if one knows how to cook. If one doesn't know how to cook, having all the ingredients does not matter. The same is true with happiness. One needs to be at peace with one's own life, and learn to enjoy whatever one has. No amount of material things can make us happy otherwise."
Sarvadni smiled, and nodded in agreement.
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Reflection: Are there moments you’ve expected others to be happy without understanding their hidden struggles?
Saying of Jivavarta
One cannot cook from an empty pantry, but neither can a full pantry make a cook. Likewise, a full house does not make a happy soul.
Rudhata’s Fallacy
(n.) Psychological, ethical, and philosophical concept
The mistaken belief that happiness is solely a matter of personal choice, overlooking the external conditions necessary for human flourishing. It assumes that people can simply choose joy regardless of whether their basic needs—such as food, shelter, health, and security—are met, reducing a complex human experience to an act of will.
The Sarvadni Paradox
(n.) Ethical and philosophical principle
The principle that genuine well-being requires both external necessities and inner peace. Material provisions provide the conditions for life, while contentment and peace of mind enable a person to truly enjoy them. Neither alone is sufficient for lasting happiness.
The Two Layers of Joy
External Foundations (The Ingredients): Food, shelter, health, security
Internal Readiness (The Skill): Peace of mind, contentment, gratitude
My kitchen is full of ingredients, now going to learn "how to cook?"
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ReplyDeleteBeautiful Parable!
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