1

SEEKING HAPPINESS: A COMPARISON OF

HINDUS, BUDDHIST, ISLAMIC & CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVES
ON THE PURSUIT OF WELL-BEING

DR. MANOJ KUMAR PANDEY

GUEST FACULTY, DEPT. OF PSYCHOLOGY,
UNIVERSITY OF ALLAHABAD- A CENTRAL UNIVERSITY
 Background of the Study 2
 A variety of evidence supports happiness as an important goal for many people.
 At least two reasons can account for why people want to pursue this goal. First, culturally-
transmitted ideas (e.g., beliefs) and artifacts (e.g., films, books) tend to espouse the
pursuit of happiness, particularly in Western culture.
 Findings also suggest that engaging with cultural artifacts that promote happiness causes
people to pursue happiness to a greater degree, thus offering evidence for a causal link
between cultural artifacts and values for happiness.
 Specifically, in an experimental study, young children (ages 4–5 years) who read
storybooks portraying characters who felt very positive (versus calm) were more likely to
subsequently want to engage in activities that promote even greater levels of happiness
(Tsai, Louie, Chen, & Uchida, 2007).
 It also turns out that people who have religious or spiritual beliefs are happier than those
who don't, no matter what their beliefs. Religious beliefs, she says, “give people a sense of
meaning.” It also gives them a social network. ... Happy people are more helpful, more
productive and more loyal.
 Background of the Study 3
 The study addressed the paradoxical or ironic nature of the processes involved in
seeking happiness from different cultural lenses.
 These paradoxes enhance our understanding of the complexity of happiness
and its interaction with other values in good lives, that is, lives which are happy as
well as morally decent, meaningful, and fulfilling.
 A number of paradoxical aspects of the pursuit of happiness were investigated in
light of the theoretical and practical perspectives of Hindus, Buddhist, Islamic,
and Christian mythology.
 The study were conducted on foreign students studying in University of
Allahabad. They were basically belongs to Kenya, Afghanistan, Vietnam,
Cambodia, and India.
 This is an exploratory study (qualitative in nature), exploring the different aspects
of happiness: (a) Meanings, (b) Actions for seeking happiness in respect to their
cultural lenses and (c) the Determinates of the well-being.
Methodology 4
 The study was conducted on Indian and foreign students studying in University of
Allahabad and living in a Hostel of University. They were basically belongs to
Kenya, Afghanistan, Vietnam, Cambodia, and India. This is an exploratory study
(qualitative in nature).
 Around 40 Students (10 respondent from Each Religious Group: HINDUS, BUDDHIST,
Muslim & CHRISTIAN) were approached to participate in this study.
 In-depth interviews were conducted to get the comparative ideas about the
notion of Happiness. They were either students of Bachelor Degree, Post Graduate
and Ph.D. Degree. All the participants were Male Students.
 Criteria for Sample Selection: Respondents are purposefully approached by the
researcher and asked to participate in this study.
 The students who didn’t stay in India for at least six months were excluded from the
research.
 Analysis of the Data: Thematic Content Analysis were done to present a
comparative pictures of the study objectives.
 5

Result
 Thematic Analysis of Interviews Presenting a Comparative
Pictures on the basis of Different Religious Group of Students on
 Meaning of Happiness
 Action to Seek Happiness
 Determinants of Well-Being or Happiness
Table: 1: Meanings of Happiness among different Religious Students 6
Religion Meaning of Happiness %
Hindu Availability of Materialist things
Receiving Love, Acceptance, and Respects from others
53
65
Fulfilling the Responsibilities 60
Satisfaction from life or Self Satisfaction 53
Living with Family 42
Buddhist Enlightenment
Understanding of the Root causes of Suffering
53
50
Buddha’s Teachings of wisdom and compassion known as Dharma 64
Physical and Emotional Feelings (Vedana) correspond or attach to an object 43
Mental discipline 45
Mental Peace 60
Muslim Peace of Mind
Nobody hurt due to my own act
46
54
Helping others that give Feeling of Solace 50
Availability of Materialist things 39
Living with Family 47
Build a Support Group 60
Christian Blessing from God
Attachment to the God
58
49
Helping others 52
Accomplishment of Responsibility 43
Love ourself and other 68
Table: 2: Actions for seeking happiness by different religious Students 7
Religion Actions to Seek Happiness %
Hindu Talking to parents and love ones
Helping others to overcome their problem
46
28
Study 40
Meditation or Yoga 52
Good Sleep 75
Exercise 63
Buddhist Meditation and Yoga
Self-Study
61
46
Reading Buddha’s teachings 54
Try to applied Buddha Philosophy of life 70
Chanting 53
Engagement in daily Responsibilities & Duties 39
Muslim Hard Work
Roja
45
25
Doing Namaaj, Jakat, and Kalma (Faith in one God) 62
Visiting Our religious place Hajj 43
Family Support 65
Family or friend Get-together 53
Christian Worship of God
Regular Church Visits
67
48
Weekly Get-together with friends 54
Helping others 46
Spreading the knowledge of Christianity to Mankind 34
Table: 3: Determinants of Well-Being among different religious students 8

Religion Determinants of Well-Being or Happiness %

Hindu Self- Discipline
Well-Wisher
45
32
Discharge of Responsibilities 67
Life Style: Yoga, Meditation, Exercise 83
Love 62
Believe in God 51
Buddhist Meditation and Yoga
Self-Discipline
63
48
Grace of Lord Buddha 67
Self-Conscience 54
Living in a Non-Materialistic World 69
Muslim Helping Needful People by Money or Others Mode
Meeting With People (Emotional Support)
43
65
Trust oneself 42
Goal Directed Actions 32
Knowledge 23
Discharge of Responsibilities 57
Christian Grace of God
Not Hurting Others
64
37
Love to Every Creature of God 48
Prayer 40
Self-Conscience 34
 9
Conclusion
 On the Basis of aforementioned study, it can be said that while, Happiness is a global
concept and feeling that can be seen in every living being of this world. Each one have
their own way to express and feel it. This study is was an primarily effort to present a
comparative pictures of meaning, actions, and determinants of happiness and well-
being in students of cross-cultural and religious group.
 The thematic analysis of qualitative data revealed that among students of different
religious groups, (a) Accomplishing the Responsibilities, Living with Family, Helping others,
Availability of Materialist things, Blessing from God etc. are some of the key elements of
meaning of happiness or feel happy. (b)Adopting spiritual life style i.e. meditation, yoga,
chanting, prayer, visiting and practicing religious practices, & Helping others are the key
actions performed by they to seek happiness. (c)Self- Discipline, Grace of God,
Discharge of responsibilities, Meditation and Yoga, receiving emotional support, Not
Hurting Others, Believe in God, Self-Conscience etc. are the key determinants of own
well-being and happiness
 This study has some limitations such as it is an exploratory study deals with a small
number of sample and qualitative study. It is only on male students of different religious
groups studying in University of Allahabad.
 10

Thanking You!
& Please Give Your
Valuable Comments and
Further Suggestion