[RC] Be-Attitudes: Don't try to feel happy -- be happy

[Dr. Ernie Prabhakar]

Hi all,

I've been meditating on the Aristotelian idea of happiness as the state  
of virtue.   Radical Centrism is built on a moral code, but I've never  
though about happiness very much before.   So, I've been trying to both  
get in touch with my own feelings on the matter, as well as improve my  
understanding of it.   I think there is a legitimate (if awkward)  
distinction between a state of "being" happy. vs the perception of  
"feeling" happy.   I believe the way to avoid the pathologies of  
self-gratification is to pursue the former rather than the latter.

The primal text on this point is arguably the Christian Beatitudes,  
part of the Sermon on the Mount.

http://www.blueletterbible.org/cgi-bin/tools/printer-friendly.pl? 
book=Mat&chapter=5&version=yng&Go.x=14&Go.y=8

The translation of 'Happy' as 'Blessed' is a controversial one, which  
goes to the heart of this issue.  Below, I've tried to interpret this  
in the context of my 'Radically Normal' psychology:

http://radicalcentrism.org/resources/rc-psychology.pdf

Anyway, I thought some of you might find this interesting and/or  
illuminating.  As always, I welcome your thoughts -- but I've gotten  
used to not hearing anything back, so I'll just keep posting until  
someone says something one way or the other. :-)

-- Ernie P.

Beatitudes: The Radical Centrist translation

Happy are those who are poor in earthly identity, for they can receive  
the security of God's fatherhood.

Happy are the grievers, for they shall mature into wholeness.

Happy are those who know when not to use their own power, for they will  
receive that which they could never win on their own strength.

Happy are those who know their own hunger, and realize that at its core  
it is a hunger for God and righteousness, for they shall receive that  
which truly satisfies.

Happy are those who reach outside themselves to show kindness and mercy  
to those around them, for they shall uncover the kindness that is  
already there, and help transform others into people who show kindness  
back.

Happy are those who forsake the false enjoyment of destructive things,  
for they shall see reality and Truth, and be able to enjoy both fully.

Happy are you if you suffer for doing right instead of wrong, because  
that shows you are manifesting the kingdom of God, which is the source  
of true happiness.

-----------
Ernest N. Prabhakar, Ph.D. <DrErnie_ at _RadicalCentrism.org>
RadicalCentrism.org is an anti-partisan think tank near Sacramento,  
California, dedicated to developing and promoting the ideals of  
Reality, Character, Community and Humility as expressed in our Radical  
Centrist Manifesto: Ground Rules of Civil Society  
<http://RadicalCentrism.org/manifesto.html>
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