The American dream has always been to own your own home, have two cars, a beautiful wife/husband, two lovely kids, and enough money in the bank to cover you and your family if you lose your job. In short it's always been material things for the American, at least that's my take on it. I'm American, and for a long time thought like this too. This carrot still dangles at the nose of many Americans, some even though any chance of it for them was lost during the Reagan years. This is why I am answering the second part of this question with "India". I know from my own experience in life that happiness comes from wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of the world around you. Once there, there is no other substitute for happiness. I learned this through my studies of the Holy Bible and Buddhism, but what prepared me most for pulling up and out of the mental, emotional and physical suffering I'd endure for enlightenment was Buddhism. It is void of Christian dogma. Here is a quote from Matthieu Ricard; a molecular biologist turned Buddhist Monk. "Happiness is not a mere pleasurable feeling, a fleeting emotion, or a mood, but an optimal state of being. It is a way of interpreting the world. While it may be difficult to change the world, it is always possible to change the way we look at it." Many Indians know this and live by it, as do many Chinese. And so do I. For more discussion of failed American dreams: The 50s a decade of the perfect family What is happiness? More about the dynamics of happiness can be found at: http://peopletruths.blogspot.com and on jimisound.com Tip: type "happiness into the search box at jimisound.com
