Happiness and Contentment

All our life, we keep chasing after things we like but don't have - such as money, status, power, happiness, etc. 

It's not hard to understand that people who don't have enough to live comfortably are unhappy.
But those who have everything or more than they need - don't seem to be very happy either.

Is happiness merely a delusion?
Just a concept to imagine?

It depends on how we define happiness. 

If it means to achieve the things we like or we don't have, then we may never find happiness.
Because every time we get what we want, there will be another desire to obtain something else.
Never, there will be a time when we would feel that we have enough to be happy-ever-after.

Therefore, the wise talk about contentment. 

We are told to be content with whatever little we might have, and we will be happy. 

We often hear this phrase: You cannot buy happiness with money.

But on the other hand, no one can achieve happiness with poverty either.
Everyone needs to meet the basic necessities to be able to survive in the physical world.
Without proper food, shelter, and essential medical help, no one can stay happy for long.
If riches cannot provide happiness, then neither can poverty.

Perhaps the solution lies somewhere in the middle. 

While the poor are always struggling to meet both ends' meals - the rich are busy trying to find different ways to be happy - to find pleasure through entertainment and traveling, etc. - and continually thinking of ways to extend their wealth and power and how to save it.
Neither rich nor poor have time to relax and try to find the real purpose of life - to find Truth.
Neither of them has time to unwind and try to find the real purpose of life - to find Truth.

No one appears to be truly happy.
Being content seems to be the only way to become happy.

But at the same time, no one can become content if their basic needs of food and shelter are not met.
Even the Saints, religious leaders, Dharm-pracharaks, and Gurus also want to secure their wellbeing and the future requirements of their families - and there is nothing wrong with it.

Therefore, instead of saying: Money cannot buy happiness - It should be understood as:
Neither riches nor poverty can bestow happiness.
We may find happiness by having - not a little - but enough to meet our needs and being content with it.

There is a beautiful Doha (Hindi couplet) perhaps by Satguru Kabeer ji:
                Saayeen itnaa deejiye - jaamay kutumb smaaye 

                Main bhi bhookha na rahoon aur saadh na bhookha jaye
O' Lord, please grant me enough to meet my household requirements - 

That we may not stay hungry, nor the guests should go hungry from my home.

                                            ' Rajan Sachdeva '

साईं इतना दीजिए - जामे कुटुम्ब समाए
मैं भी भूखा न रहूँ और साध न भूखा जाए