Random conversation
The subsequent conversation took place a minute ago. X is feverish and Y is sleepy. See if this bit of real life chattering strikes a chord your way.
X: What do you want from life?
Y: Peace of mind.
X: How will you achieve that?
Y: Oh, spiritual tranquility, decent cash, and a lover.

Are decent cash and a lover prerequisites for us as people to the third (but first-mentioned) item in Y’s list, which is spiritual tranquility?
I saw a movie this weekend called ‘Naked in Ashes’, and it relates the life of Yogis (followers of Yoga) in India who practice ancient traditions of Yoga and Hinduism. These people have neither cash (decent or otherwise), nor lovers (at least not physically, since they practice voluntary celibacy). Yet, they profess to having achieved the highest levels of spiritual tranquility and even beyone tranquility; spiritual joy and pure happiness. One such Yogi stated this as we got visuals of his arm, which he had decided to hold above his body for the duration of 12 years (without ever bringing it down) in order to prove his dedication to the inner happiness and joy attained by his devotion to his god(s). Others spent similar numbers of years standing on their feet and never lying down for every hour of every day, or other physically torturous feats.
It all made me wonder A LOT about the definition of happiness and spirituality…