Man is generally unhappy with the present. He thinks of the past and dreams of the future for mirth. Future is uncertain. It is a sealed book unopened and unstudied by anybody so far. So it is natural that man should think of the past for happiness. Material progress adds to our happiness but it cannot be the determining factor for increasing our happiness. In every age, we lack something which retards our happiness and there is something which adds to it. So happiness is a relative term.

In the beginning, man lived like a wild beast. He knew no worries. He was ignorant and orthodox. He was happy but it was the happiness of ignorance. Then came the Stone Age. He made weapons of stones. He discovered fire. This added something to his safety, comfort and happiness. His worries also increased as war for superiority among different groups started. This marred man’s happiness and mental truce.

Now man made further progress. There came a time in the history of the world when famous civilizations flourished. Persons were very happy. But the majority of wild brutes always kept them restless. This decreased their happiness.

The thirst for further progress and happiness brought man to the present age. Today we have the fastest and most comfortable means of travelling. We have many means of amusement. Medical science has developed. There is progress in almost all walks of life. What was only a dream in the past has now become a reality. Materially we appear much better than our forefathers. But we are not really happy. The progress of science and technology has created further problems. Wants have increased. Worries have multiplied. We have no peace of mind. Tension has become a part of life. In spite of the inventions of new medicines, new and fatal diseases crop up to mar our happiness. Many of us think of the past when man was free from worries and tension.

In short, in many ways we are happier than our forefathers. But in some ways, our forefathers were happier than we people are. Happiness is a state of mind. Unless we are morally and spiritually uplifted, we cannot be really happy.