An Official Position by Somerset Maugham On Happiness and Nirvana

An Official Position by Somerset Maugham

On Happiness and Nirvana

This is among the best stories I have ever read

 

The evolution of the plot in this tale is very strange.

The hero of the story, Louie Ramire reaches Nirvana and then it is all downhill.

Or maybe not.

Since he had reached the highest state of happiness, we could argue that his journey has been completed and it does not matter what happens after that.

Nirvana is defined as the sublime state, where one does not wish for Anything.

Since desires are the root of all trouble, their absence equals bliss.

At least that’s what Buddhists believe and it makes some sense, and not only that, but it has been proven correct, to a certain degree.

Positive Psychology research has proven that people who are not happy with what they have and keep wanting more and more are unhappy. Gratitude is a recurrent theme and shows up in the works of Doctor Seligman, Sonja Lyubomirsky, Tal Ben-Shahar, Ed Diener and many other preeminent figures in the field. The rat race and the hedonic treadmill define the situation of those who are never satisfied with what they have. On the other hand, being grateful for what one has is one of the secrets of happiness.

This is what Louie Ramire understands at the high point of his life.

You could say it is ironic that Louie Ramire had been convicted for murdering his wife and is an executioner, who has to put people through the guillotine and then take their heads by the ears, show them to the officials present and say:

-          “Au nom du people Francais, justice est faite” 

A gruesome office from which you would not expect much joy, positivity and satisfaction.

You would be wrong.

It reminds me of the case of Rosa Luxembourg, whose case is presented in the extraordinary The Happiness Formula by the wonderful German neuroscientist Stefan Klein. You should read this book because it really gives you what it promised: The Happiness Formula. Among the nuns of Notre Dame, Robinson Crusoe and many others, Rosa Luxembourg is mentioned with the letters she wrote:

-          I am having a wonderful time, flowers are blooming near me, and birds are singing…everything is amazingly beautiful. Life is extraordinary and fabulous…and more words to that effect

What is astonishing about these letters is that they had been written in…prison.

In other words, just like Louie Ramire and Rosa Luxembourg you can Stumble Upon Happiness in the most unexpected places, in the worst possible circumstances.

But you have to find it Within you.

And be grateful for what you have.

Louie Ramire has a small house, more like a hut with one room. He has the worst job in the world.

The executioner is thinking about the six hundred francs he will receive for killing six criminals.

And this is when he sees that he wants nothing.

He is happy with his life as it is.

Yes, he would guillotine six men in the morning, because this is the duty of his Public Office.

Louie Ramire takes pride in his office.

The reasons why this fantastic saga is called Public Office are-

                First of all, the importance that it has for the hero

                Second, what happens at the end is because of The Public Office

                Third – how extraordinary people are- they can be happy with such an office.

I believe this story to be among the best I have read.

There is no more meaningful, useful message than the one you get from this absorbing tale:

                The secret of happiness is in here