Reimagine Happiness

Yesterday all my troubles seemed so far away
Now it looks as though they're here to stay

On September 12, 1965, the Beatles released the single Yesterday. It was the first Beatles’ song to top the charts that didn’t include all four band members. It was written by Paul McCartney. It was likely the best song ever written by Paul and this really shook John Lennon’s confidence in himself as an artist.

 Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can

It took John six years to recover almost to the day. On September 9, 1971, he released his Yesterday. It was Imagine on the album of the same name. It is considered one of the most influential songs of the 20th century.

The lyrics invite and encourage us to rely on our imagination to create a new reality for ourselves. We often imagine that a new Porsche or house will make us happy but what if we could image an alternative reality for ourselves. One where meaning and value is not equated with the objects we possess.

Talking 'bout a world where all is free ...

Only a fool would say that

But there was some push back on this sentiment in the Steely Dan song Only a Fool Would Say That from March 1973. This type of song is referred to as a diss track with lyrics rumored to mock John Lennon’s Imagine with lyrics that chidied Lennon for "being out of touch with reality." This is explained in a YouTube video titled Steely Dan Wrote This Song to Mock John Lennon.

I found this very interesting because a similar controversy broke out recently when Jim Carrey said that possessions are not the true source of happiness in a YouTube short titled Wealth and Fame are not Enough. He was criticized as a poor little rich guy complaining about all his success, that he was naïve and hopefully out of touch with everyday life. As a comedian, he is so quick witted. He replied that only a rich person can tell you this from direct experience. Only the rich know that possessions do not improve one’s happiness and often does just the opposite. Can you think of another person who did not find true happiness in all their wealth?

There is a story of a child born into a royal family. He was raised with everything money could buy; all the prestige, power and possessions that anyone could ever want. He went to lavish parties where everyone catered to his every need and wish. He was groomed from birth to be the next warrior king.

He was skilled at archery, horsemanship and martial arts. His palaces and bank accounts were full, but his heart was empty. He continued to feel unsettled, never satisfied. He had a nagging sense that something was off.  He was also dealing with the grief of losing his mother a week after his birth due to postnatal complications. 

At 29, he left behind the life of a powerful, wealthy man and began to seek true meaning in his life. He realized that his suffering was caused by wanting things to be different than they really were, both big and small, the profound and the mundane. For example, his mother’s death and the daily difficulties of just living life.

Like John Lennon and Jim Carry, he realized that wealth and power would not ease his suffering. This set him on a six-year spiritual journey. It is then that he became a Buddha, an awakened one. He would then go on to teach the Dharma for 45 years. He was able to become a seeker of meaning rather than a seeker of wealth and power.

So, I think John Lennon and Jim Carry are correct. Who else but someone rich and famous can speak with authority on this topic ? It is not the problems of only the privileged or the elite. They are articulating a problem that exists for all of us. They just know with certainty that more stuff will not relieve our suffering. I think the following summarizes this wonderfully for all of us.

“We can even say that Buddhism is a way that relieves the suffering of people whose hopes are not fulfilled.”

What is the meaning of chanting “Namoamidabutsu”? Yasushi Kigoshi, Otani University

Namoamidabutsu,

Rev Jon Turner