Happiness is a combination of science and art: scientifically, it involves understanding that pleasure (10%) is only the tip of the iceberg, while 90% of happiness comes from peace and purpose, and that more wealth ultimately reduces happiness due to greed and ego; artistically, happiness requires acceptance of life's circumstances, living in the present moment, and understanding that true fulfillment comes from within rather than external validation or material possessions.
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Laughing But Empty? | Episode 1 | The Truth About Happiness ft. Sruthi Hariharan & Atman in RaviAdded:
But you can always laugh and become happy.
Yes.
If you can't be happy and laugh, at least laugh and be happy.
>> Yes. It's the way the industry treats you. It's the >> You felt count down or they pushed [music and singing] you down? You think they pushed you down?
>> Completely. And even today I'm still like I'm still called the Me Too girl.
>> Love can be so beautiful when it's love, right? When the love is going from the depth of your eyes to the eyes, it's from soul [music] to soul. That's love.
All these politicians who are having war, how can you be heartless in killing children and people?
And the whole world is watching.
>> It doesn't necessarily mean that you're happy.
It's just >> [laughter] >> No, I don't know whether I'm happy or not when I'm performing it.
>> Accept. Accept. Accept. Shruti Haasan is an Indian actress and dancer, known for her work primarily in Kannada cinema, along of course with Tamil Malayalam films across the board. She's trained in classical dance that gives her that ecstasy of joy. She gained recognition with many films like Lucia, Godhi Banna, and Sadrana Mykatto. She's also known for her strong roles and she speaks out on important issues. Bold girl. When she wants to say something, she says it. Not many people are like that, but sometime you've got to be who you want to be and not just be what others want to be. So, today it's great to meet Shruti, not just because she's Shruti, but also because it's World Laughter Day.
>> Really?
Wow. Happy Laughter Day.
>> Happy Laughter Day.
It's the 3rd of May and they celebrated it as World Laughter Day.
>> I did not know that.
>> I did not and day before yesterday but I was in St. Moritz and they told me, "Tell me something on laughter."
Actually, I don't do it. He does it.
There's a divine power that comes inside and says something. So, I said I only said one thing.
>> Yeah.
>> I said, "See, when you're happy, you laugh."
>> Yeah.
>> Correct.
>> Correct.
>> And people laugh to be happy.
>> Yes. Yes.
>> So, some of the >> [laughter] >> You want to be happy.
>> Yes.
>> And you laugh.
>> Yes.
>> But you you hear a comedy, it's kind of comedy, a joke or what have you.
>> Yes.
>> But sometimes, though you want to laugh, you are not happy, so you can't laugh.
>> Right.
>> You want to laugh, but so many things on your head, back, somebody said bad about you, somebody did this, some something happened.
>> Yeah.
>> So, you can't always be happy >> Yeah.
>> to laugh. But you can always laugh and become happy.
>> Happy. Yes.
Got it.
>> On the laughter day, the message that came is, "If you can't be happy and laugh, at least laugh and be happy."
>> Yes. Yes. Also, sir, sorry, I'm just going to connect this to performance, right? I feel laughter is so performative in action. And it does not as you very rightly said, I think, yeah, it does not it doesn't necessarily mean that you're happy.
It's just >> [laughter] >> Now, I don't know whether I'm happy or not, but I'm performing it.
>> That you're a performer, so you can do it sometimes. For me, it may not be as easy.
>> So, it's hasya.
This is comes from one of the four one of the nine navarasas, which are the which form the base of abhinaya or performance. So, hasya or laughter is one of them and it's yeah, it has this performative angle. And sometimes happiness can be quiet, you know?
>> Of course.
>> Okay.
>> I give you a ball.
Anybody I meet, I give them a ball.
>> Yes, why?
>> A smile. You know, you look around, people don't smile.
>> That's true.
>> And all it takes I have taught people the science of happiness. So, you have For example, people are confused whether happiness is a science or it's an art.
>> Yes. Wow.
>> So, you are an artist, right? So, tell me what is what is What do you think in in common words what's an art?
>> Art is something that that that that just comes that How do I put this? Let me think. Art is a feeling.
>> Correct.
>> Art is an emotion.
Art Art Art is creative. It requires awareness.
It requires practice sometimes. But, science is not necessarily that, right?
>> Science is different, right? Like everybody can be an artist like you.
Nobody can act like Shruti.
>> Sure.
>> Shruti is unique. That's an art you have got. You are other and the way you do it is an art.
>> Yeah.
>> Right?
>> Yeah.
>> But, happiness is also a science, which means that if you smile, anybody can smile.
>> Sure.
>> You don't need an art of smiling.
>> Yeah.
>> An auto wallah can smile.
>> They smile, yes.
>> A beggar can smile.
>> Yes.
>> So, the art of being happy is one aspect of happiness.
And one aspect of happiness is the science of happiness. It's very simple.
>> Right, yeah. I I'm I'm So, what is the science of that?
>> So, what did we learn in school? We learned physics, chemistry, biology. They care.
They're all sciences. We all done it in schools.
So, H2O, we learned what is uh >> Hydrogen, oxygen.
>> And then uh then we learned all these.
So, happiness is also a science, which means that anybody can be happy.
For example, if you learn to accept Now, anything happening in your life, if you accept, you can be happy.
But, if you expect, you will become unhappy.
>> That's true.
>> But, this is an art.
>> That's true.
>> This is a science. So, happiness has got certain certain science. For example, I don't know whether you will agree or not.
>> Okay.
>> But, they say there's a paradox.
>> Mhm.
>> When you make money, you make money, you become happy or not?
>> Sure.
>> You become happy because you get roti, kapda, makan. You get your clothes, you get your food, your car, your house.
>> Maslow's theory of hierarchy.
>> But, the paradox is that the more and more and more you create wealth, the less and less and less you become happy ultimately.
Now, why this happens? When you create money and you don't stop at a particular point, then you have greed.
And then you have the ego.
And then you become jealous. And then all the qualities of too much money reduces the graph of happiness.
Now, this is a science.
>> Wow.
>> Think about it. You think I'm asking you this question since you're from the uh exposed to the world of rich and famous.
>> Sure.
>> So, do you think all the rich people are happy in this world?
>> I'm not sure, sir.
I'm really not sure. I've kept I keep thinking about the Ambanis, for example.
Like, Instagram's full of them, right now. Um Reliance and what they're doing. And I keep thinking, are they really happy?
>> But, what do you think?
>> As a person who comes from a middle-class family and as a person who aspires to uh I would not say luxury, but I aspire to have the freedom to do whatever I want with my time.
>> Correct.
>> And I know money can buy it.
>> Correct. So, let's not deny that that money is very important.
>> Correct.
>> I'm not a hypocrite. I have done it 25 years. I made money, money, money, more money, more money.
>> Correct.
>> Let me ask you a honest personal life story. Huh. Tell me something that really made you happy in an aspirational level some 10 20 years back. Tell me something that really you got uh when you bought a car or you bought a house or you bought a sari. Just give me some moments of joy in your life.
>> My first car. I still love it. I still have it.
>> you buy? How many years back?
>> 2017 December.
>> Correct. Must have been a humble car.
>> It was a Creta, but I put a loan on it and I just finished the loan about 2 years ago.
>> Okay. Then you bought a bigger car?
>> No.
>> Same car. But you aspire?
>> Yes.
>> So, my story is I had a Maruti 800.
>> Right.
>> And that was my first car.
>> Wow.
>> And then I bought a Maruti 1000 and then I went on to buying a bigger car, a bigger car. I bought a Mercedes Benz. I even had a limousine.
>> Oh.
>> But let me tell you, the joy I had in buying the Maruti 800, >> Right.
>> I did not get that joy in buying a Mercedes Benz.
>> Right.
Wow.
>> There's a law that in fact it's called a hedonic paradox. It's called the hedonic treadmill. It's like a treadmill.
>> H E D O N I C >> Hedonic.
>> So, you're on a treadmill once in a way?
>> Yes.
>> So, when you're running on the treadmill, after 1 hour, where have you reached?
>> Nowhere.
>> You're there.
>> You're there only.
>> So, pleasure is like that.
>> Wow.
>> You keep on running, you keep on running. I want a car, I want a bigger car, I want a bigger car. Now I'm going to buy I was I was just short of buying my private jet.
I just stopped. I said, "No."
Because had >> And how did that feel?
>> What? To stop or to buy?
>> To stop.
You were this close.
>> No, I had I had the money in the bank. I had to just write a check. So, the point is I think I'm the happiest man in the world.
>> Mhm.
>> But happy, I spell happy with three P's.
>> I know this. Yeah.
>> You know this.
>> I've watched you, so I know this.
[laughter] Yeah.
>> Good. I love to go to Iceland.
>> Okay.
>> There's nothing in Iceland. I just drive every year I go and drive for 10 days in nothingness, okay?
>> Wow.
>> So, there's place called Jokulsarlon in Iceland.
>> Okay.
>> I went there and I saw a beautiful iceberg.
>> Wow.
>> After I saw the iceberg, something struck me that such a spectacular iceberg, but in school I learned something that some part of the iceberg is outside and a large chunk of the iceberg is inside. You remember this in school?
>> Yes.
>> Then I study they say only 10% of the iceberg is up and 90% is >> below the water.
>> Happiness is like that.
>> Oh.
>> Pleasure is only the tip of the iceberg.
90% of happiness is in peace and purpose. Tell me, you've been you've been shooting movies. Tell me an incident where you were shooting and something went wrong and then you could not shoot. You had no frame of mind.
>> So many times.
>> Tell me one incident.
>> [clears throat] >> Rain.
>> So, you said rain.
>> Yes, rain.
>> Which important shoot of yours this got >> Um yes, yes. We were shooting this film called Raat De many years ago in North Karnataka, monsoon season. Um it keeps raining incessantly and each day there is a budget, right? On production cost.
And if the rain comes, it washed away with the rain.
>> Okay.
>> Yes, so uh it happened it happened multiple times and the film lost a lot of money.
>> And then you you lose your peace of mind, right?
>> Of course. I mean, if not if not me, at least the producer did.
>> I think the overall mood is gone.
>> Overall mood is gone.
>> It's fun to have pleasure, >> Right.
>> but when the peace is gone, the pleasure does not stand. So, let me tell you Amma, let's go out and she's not having peace because some of her cousin is not well or somebody passed away somewhere, then you take her out for dinner. Amma say, "No, I'm not in a mood to go."
>> Yes.
>> Have you heard the story of Steve Jobs?
He's the person who said that money is not worth it. Money is not going to make you happy.
>> He did?
>> Yeah. And and he says all the rich people in the world, in fact, you ask all the rich people in the in the world, some podcast, some they ask them, "You're the You've got some tens of thousands of crores. How important is money?" He says, "Money is like paper." After you make so much money, all they want is to be calm. Do they Did people have stress? Shruti, when you have money if you're a Ambani or Adani or any of the big guys, you wake up in the morning, the first thing you're worried about is where am I?
Your ego your ego is The ego makes you unhappy. But ultimately, what are you seeking?
>> Purpose.
>> Purpose or happiness?
>> Happiness, sure. Happiness.
>> Some people are confused. You want a purpose. Why that purpose?
>> What I was connecting purpose to sir was um you asked me through external validation from people, what am I seeking?
>> Yeah.
>> Sometimes or most of the times, at least as an artist, I don't find myself seeking purpose through their validation. And then I suddenly remind myself, do not do that. Like that's not what you're in this for.
You know? Because I've seen failures so many times. A film flops at least mine.
I've had more number of flops than I've had I've had successes.
>> That's everybody's everybody's life, yeah.
>> Right. And there are times when I do seek it. Especially uh there was a huge thing that happened in my life. I don't know how much you know about this. Uh I I I spoke up during the Me Too movement.
And that completely jolted everything that I had worked up to then.
>> Why?
>> It's the way the industry treats you.
It's the way >> felt held down or they pushed you down?
You think they pushed you down?
>> Completely. Completely. And even today I'm still like I'm still called the Me Too girl. You know, I wouldn't be surprised if some of the comments on this particular video would have comments like that. And I'm not saying this with any kind of sadness. I'm very proud of it. I think it was necessary.
And uh remember you just said that I would speak up. Like it's so important for me to say what I feel and not be someone I am not.
>> That's For example, when this problem came and people tried to push you down, what did you lose?
You lose your peace.
>> That's true.
>> People who have a lot of money, including me, when I made a lot of money in the Kids Camp days, every day there was a problem. Every day there's some government person give you a notice, there's some problem with the police.
When you want profit, you have problems.
You cannot have profit without problems.
But back to happiness, you know?
Ultimately, the Chinese, they like noodles. The Italians, they like pizzas.
And the Americans like burgers.
In Bangalore, we get the Rameshwaram dosa, means we are very happy, right? We used to have one good dosa.
>> Or masala dosa.
>> [laughter] >> So, the point is ultimately, whatever we all want differently. One thing we all want is we all want to be happy.
>> That's true.
>> We want to smile.
So, I said, "Let's make this a happy world." Can I ask you, in the science of happiness, I say that you should carry a card of 10 things that make you happy.
Do you know what are the 10 things that make you happy? Now, see you're thinking, right?
>> Yes, I'm thinking.
>> See, tell me tell me if you really want to be happy. If I tell you, Shuchi, next 1 week you have whatever you want. Tell me what makes you happy. What would you do?
>> Food.
>> What Where would you go and eat food?
>> Yummy food anywhere.
>> Okay, so you're a foodie, then.
>> I'm a merry foodie. Okay, so food makes me happy.
>> Okay.
>> My daughter makes me very, very happy.
Sorry, I didn't just say >> Spending time with your daughter.
>> Yeah, spending time with my daughter makes me immensely happy. I'm not even thinking right now. Sometimes shopping makes me happy.
>> Okay.
>> Retail therapy.
>> Okay.
>> Quote unquote. What else makes me happy?
Uh my family. I know I'm coming back to family again, but my family genuinely makes me very happy.
My art makes me happy. Watching a movie makes me happy. Why have I so many things?
>> [laughter] >> Um what else? Listening to a song makes me happy.
>> You know, sometimes it's the dog its tail, sometimes it's a cup of coffee, sometimes it's a long drive.
>> Chai. Thank you for a cup of coffee.
Yes, my chai makes me very happy. I In fact, I look forward to the morning so much.
>> no Shruthi. So, people don't know what makes them happy.
So, I beg a card. In the science of happiness, you must know what makes you happy and have it in your purse or have it in your mobile phone. So, when you really want to pep yourself up, see, the science of happiness I learned it recently, it's called dose.
Have you heard of dose?
>> No.
>> The They say take a dose of happiness.
>> Okay.
>> The science of happiness is d o s e.
>> Okay.
>> Dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins.
Now, this [snorts] is scientific, but they think that the brain is creating this.
Now, dopamine is that when somebody gives you a pat on the back and says, "Great, man. Shruthi, that was superb."
How do you feel?
>> Great.
>> That's the dose of dopamine coming in you. That chemical, it's a hormone in the body.
Oxytocin.
>> Okay.
>> Oxytocin is when you You see, you love your daughter.
>> Okay.
>> When you hug your daughter or you touch your daughter with love, an emo- a chemical is released.
>> Right.
>> And that's called oxytocin.
>> Right.
>> And serotonin is that hormone of peace.
When you just sit in meditation, there's a chemical.
And the chemical is serotonin.
>> [snorts] >> And endorphins are painkillers.
And so, when for example, you're in the sunshine, there are ways to trigger these four chemicals.
>> Within the body.
>> Within the body. Naturally.
>> Naturally.
>> And you These days, you have supplements as well.
I wrote this book already, so I can tell you what it is.
It's saying the art of being happy. So, b e i n g, being means believing that you can be happy.
E, every morning waking up with a resolution, I will be happy.
>> Okay.
>> Then I in the now living joyously in the moment. You and me are happy now or not?
>> Yes.
>> Because we don't care about any that's happening anyway.
>> true.
>> You and me are talking and we are happy.
>> We're very happy.
>> So in the now and not letting toxic thoughts of the mind enter.
>> Yes.
>> And G is giving, forgiving, and making people happy. So this is I wrote a I have written a book called The Art of Being Happy. And happy H is having a smile all the time. And A is accepting all the anything that happens, you accept it. I don't know how much you learn. This is the art of understanding karma. Karma is a beautiful thing. I'll explain that to you.
Because when you said I felt go down, I must explain this to you.
>> Yes.
>> So H is having a smile, A is accepting P is peppering your life with positive emotions. You can choose faith over doubt, love over hate, courage over fear. You can choose.
H A P P peacefully living in consciousness and picking up the three P's of peace, pleasure, purpose, all the three.
And Y yearning for nothing.
I was always yearn. I used to always yearn. I want this, I want this, I want this, I want this and I used to become unhappy.
Now I yearn for nothing.
>> So where does that leave us with ambition? I'm just curiously asking.
>> Excellent question.
Ambition will give you pleasure.
>> Yes.
>> Ambition gives dopamine. Ambition gives you a kick. Ambition gives you money, pleasure, fun, excitement.
10% of your life's happiness.
90% of your happiness is not even touched.
Shruti, have you not noticed sometimes when you're walking on the street some poor beggars, some people on the street, they are like the rain they're dancing, they're laughing, they're having fun.
Have you not seen people poor people sometimes? How can they be happy?
So, you have to learn the combination.
I'm not saying you should not have money or you should not enjoy pleasure or food or shopping or traveling.
But understand happiness art of being happy is the ability to accept not expect. Let me tell you, somebody said something about you.
First of all, nothing in this world happens which is unfair.
I read in the book.
>> Okay.
>> It's called Why bad things can't happen to good people?
This is written because of the New York Times best seller book by a rabbi and he says, why do bad things happen to good people?
His book, which is a world best seller.
>> Okay.
>> Why do bad things happen to good people?
>> Right.
>> He says, God, I have taken I have served you for 40 years. He's telling God.
>> Huh.
>> I have served you for 40 years.
>> Huh.
>> And my 13-year-old son >> Huh.
>> he's got progeria. Means my 13-year-old 13-year-old son has become like 60-year-old.
>> Huh.
>> Age aging.
>> Okay, okay, right, right.
>> What have I done God to you that you've done this to me?
And then he tells God there's only one of two things. Hey God, either you are not powerful enough or you are cruel.
>> Hm.
>> In that book.
>> Hm.
>> And what do you think is the answer?
>> What's the answer?
>> Is God cruel or is God not powerful?
>> I don't know.
>> He tells God, I love you. You can't be cruel. I think you're not powerful.
I wrote this book from the Eastern theology point of view.
>> And you flipped it around.
>> From the Upanishads. I said, why bad things can't happen to good people?
>> Yes.
>> Just like apples cannot grow on a mango tree.
Because the seed you plant >> Correct.
>> decides the fruit on the tree.
>> Sure, yeah.
>> So, the deed you plant decides your destiny. If If something bad happened to you, Shruti, what does that mean? Face it. Now, I'm telling you something. If something bad happened to you, what does it mean?
>> Something good is yet to happen.
>> No, something has been done in your past which you are not even aware of.
Something might have been done in the previous life. You don't even damn it know about it. That is getting even with you. So, just gracefully accept it.
After today, don't You must because you don't let it go, you're still clinging onto that.
You should not cling to that.
Accept. Accept. Accept.
>> Interesting.
>> I know it's not easy for you to listen to me what I'm saying, but I'm telling this something as a personal experience to you. I'm asking you a question. The earth is rotating.
Can anybody stop it?
>> No.
>> It's going first sunrise in Hong Kong, then sunrise in India, then sunrise in Switzerland. Can it reverse?
>> No.
>> Why not? Why Why is it Why can't Why can't tomorrow morning wake up and it reverses?
>> It's Niyama, gravity. I don't know. It's the universe. It's the law.
>> So, so is the law of There's no luck.
You believe in luck?
>> Not really.
>> You know, how do you spell that?
>> Not entirely. L U C K.
>> I change the spelling. I write I spell luck as P L U C K.
>> Pluck.
>> You pluck.
>> Hm.
>> Nothing called luck.
Everything happens in life you pluck.
And so happiness is also something you plucked.
Something Some people are mean to us.
It's our karma.
It's our karma which you Not that your karma you did as Shruti. Maybe a karma that even before Shruti came into existence. So, you And you protest.
What's going to happen? Is it going to get better? Let me ask you a question.
What do you What do you think about what's happening in the world today?
>> Wow, I was about to ask you that question. I don't know. I think it's very unfair what's happening.
>> But so what I don't watch too much of news, but you must be in the you're in the >> I'm quite Yeah.
>> So tell me what are the What are you feeling about What are people after?
>> So sad.
>> What are they seeking?
>> Power? I think it's >> Is only power or there something more than power?
Money?
>> Money? Yeah, sure. Power.
>> You think there's no money being I'll tell you I'll tell you the motive of money is there or no?
>> Sure, of course.
>> And what else?
>> Power, money, land.
I don't know.
>> You're right. So, they are behind power, land is lust in billions.
When actually human beings want peace, love, and bliss. This is happiness.
The atman in you, Shruti, the soul in you is naturally flowing with peace, love.
Love is such a beautiful emotion.
>> I agree.
>> It has been turned to lust.
You know, l o v e means longing of the soul, which is very passionate and creates an ecstasy of joy.
And people have made it l u s t love underestimated as a sexual transaction.
Love can be so beautiful when it's love, right?
>> Yeah.
>> When the love is going from the depth of your eyes to the eyes, it's from soul to soul.
That's love.
But people don't understand.
So today's world, happiness has become power. All these politicians who are having war, how can you be heartless in killing children and people?
>> Yeah.
>> And the whole world >> Yeah.
>> is watching.
>> Yeah.
I actually have a question to ask you.
So, yes, you're right. There's so much injustice and the world is unfair today, but don't you think for us to seek happiness with everything that's happening is itself unfair and selfish?
>> Thank you for patiently listening to the video.
And if you have questions, if you want to contact me, just WhatsApp me on 9845155555.
WhatsApp India 91 9845155555.
[music] But if you want to get answers to your questions, come on Zoom.
And the Zoom ID is on your screen.
Every day at 8:00, you will find answers to all the difficult questions of life.
See you then.
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