Eudaimonia, Happiness, Epicurean happiness Sattvic, Rajasic, Tamasic, Bhagavad-Gita

Sanskrit, happiness means Sukha. In Bhagavad Gita, happiness aligns with individual involvement with the "Gunas" (Moreira, 2019). The concept of happiness is found in ancient Greek philosophy. Eudaimonia is used in Greek literature by many Greek philosophers to express the alternative meaning of happiness. While there is a sheer volume of literature on happiness in different disciplines, there is a lack of studies on the Bhagavad Gita subject. The study's fundamental aim is to explore the true meaning of happiness in Greek philosophy, especially happiness in eudaimonia and epicurean term and compare with happiness found in Bhagavad Gita. The study is based on the systematic literature review that focuses on Greek philosophy and Bhagavad Gita's happiness.

The findings suggest that three types of happiness, namely Sttvick, Rajosic and Tamosic, are based on individual actions, desires, perceptions, and intellectual abilities. Anyone who attains sattvic happiness has the highest flow of joy and delight in which individual become oblivious about the world. The study explored the concept of happiness in Hindu scriptures, especially Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita and linked them with the Greek philosophy of Eudaimonia and Epicurean happiness for the first time and provide a practical template of the true meaning of happiness. The study's findings would help an individual to realise the ways real happiness attains in all walk of life, the ways people can bring true delight, Ananda, and happiness.

• Argyle, M. (1987). The psychology of happiness. London: Methuen.
• Annas, J. (2011). Intelligent virtue. Oxford: Oxford University Press
• Aristotle. (, 1954). Nicomachean ethics (Sir David Ross, Trans. and Introduced). Oxford: Oxford University Press
• Aristotle. (, 1958). Politics (Ernest Barker, Edited and Trans.). Oxford: Oxford University Press
• Arun Korath1 and Sangheethaa S (2015), Happiness management through Bhagavad Gita, International Journal of Current Advanced Research, Vol 4 Issue 2, pp 22-24
• Bruni, L., & Porta, P.-L. (2007). Introduction. In L. Bruni & P. L. Porta (Eds.), Handbook on the economics of happiness. Cheltenham: Elgar.
• Tolstoy L. The three questions. In: Tolstoy L. What Men Live by and Other Tales. Boston, MA: The Stratford
• Company; 1918.
• Ashish Rastogi; Surya Prakash Pati (2014), Towards A Conceptualisation of Karma Yoga, Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode, working paper.
• IIMK/WPS/159/OBHR/2014/17
• Badrinarayanan, V., and Madhavaram, S. (2008), "Workplace Spirituality and the Selling Organization: A Conceptual Framework and Research Propositions", Journal of Personal Selling and Sales Management, Vol 28 No 4, pp 421-434.
• Bernard, T. (1981), Hindu Philosophy, Delhi: M. Canarias's.
• Bentham, J. (1789). Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation London, Payne.
• Dasgupta, S. (1991). History of Indian philosophy, Vol 1' Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass (Original work published 1922.)
• Datta Palto; Mark T Jones (2019); Karma yoga, its origins, fundamentals and seven life constructs, IJHP, Volume 01 Issue 01
• Dewey, A. & Drahota, A. (2016) Introduction to systematic reviews: online learning module Cochrane Training  https://training.cochrane.org/interactivelearning/module-1-introduction-conducting-systematic-reviews
• Diener, E. (1984). Subjective wellbeing. Psychological Bulletin, 95, 542–575
• Divan Thomas Jones (2014), Two Meanings of Karma, Western Buddhist Review,
• https://thebuddhistcentre.com/westernbuddhistreview/two-meanings-karma, date of retrieval: 15.9.19
• Dr. Thiago Pelúcio Moreira (2019) The concept of happiness in the Bhagavad-Gita: similarities and contrasts with the hegemonic PARADIGM in the WEST, Universidade Federal da Paraíba:
• https://www.sundari-center.com/the-concept-of-happiness-in-the-bhagavad-gita-similarities-and-contrasts-withe-the-hegemonic-paradigm-in-the-west/
• Easwaran, E. (1997). The End of Sorrow: The Bhagavad Gita for Daily Living (Vol. I), Mumbai: Jaico Publishing House Easwaran, E. (1999). Climbing the Blue Mountain: A Guide for the Spiritual Journey, New Delhi: Penguin Books
• Epicurus, Letter to Menoeceus,” http://epicurus.net/en/menoeceus.html
• Letter to Menoeceus: Epicurus translated by Robert Drew Hicks (2016), CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2016
• Dr Edward Spencer (2011) An ethical and morally responsible lifestyle is a precondition for happiness. Charles Sturt University. Neoskosmos.com (2011-July dialogue)
• Fisher, C. D. (2010). Happiness at Work. International Journal of Management Reviews, 12 (4): 384- 412
• Gandhi, M. K. (2017). The Gospel of Selfless Action or the Geeta according to Gandhi, Create Space Independent Publishing Platform
• Hari Ravikumar (2016). Happiness, flow and the Upanishad, Preksa-A Journal of culture and philosophy, available from https://www.prekshaa.in/happiness-flow-and-upanishads [Date of access-10th February 2021]
• Hills, P., & Argyle, M. (2001). Emotional stability as a major dimension of happiness. Personality and Individual Differences, 31, 1357–1364
• Hodge, D. R. (2004). Working with Hindu clients in a spiritually sensitive manner. Social Work, 49(1): 27-38
• Jagat Pal (2001), "The concept of Niskama karma: Teleological or Deontological"? Indian Philosophical Quarterly, Volume 28 No 2
• Joseph A. Schumpeter (1934). The Theory of Economic Development: An Inquiry into Profits, Capital, Credit, Interest, and the Business Cycle. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's Academy for Entrepreneurial Leadership Historical Research Reference in Entrepreneurship, Available at
• SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1496199
• Kraut, R. (1979). Two conceptions of happiness. Philosophical Review, 87, 167–196
• Meghan Aris (2012), The types of happiness. Online source: https://www.yogaclassplan.com/three-types-of-happiness/?fbclid=IwAR1LVkVC3I-yUqJfcEYXVv_H82pXQ6xdWXNE_pdgtLl-D5pwdbi2vEu8yyo, [date of accessed:10th March 2021]
• Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (1990). Flow: The psychology of optimal experience. HarperCollins
• Michalos, A.C. (1985) Multiple Discrepancies Theory (MDT) Social Indicators Research, vol. 16, pp. 347-413
• Mulla, Z. R., and Krishnan, V. R. (2007), "Karma Yoga: Construct Validation Using Value Systems and Emotional Intelligence", South Asian Journal of Management, Vol 14(4), pp 116-136.
• Narayanan, J. & Krishnan, V. R. (2003). Impact of Sattva and Rajas Gunas on Transformational
• Nityananda Chakravirty (2016), SrimadvadGita, Bangladesh: Sri Gita Sangha
• Ruut Veenhoven (2006). How do we assess how happy we are? Tenets, implications and tenability of three theories, paper presented at the conference on 'New Directions in the Study of Happiness: The United States and International Perspectives, University of Notre Dame, USA, October 22-24, 2006.
• Radhakrishnan, S. (1948 / 1993). The Bhagavadgita. Harper Collins publisher, India
• Ramendra Singh and Rakesh Singh (2010); Salesperson's Karma Orientation: A Conceptual Framework and Research Propositions, Working paper series: WPS No. 658/ June 2010, Indian Institute of Management Calcutta
• Ricardo Crespo; Belén Mesurado (2015), Happiness Economics, Eudaimonia, and Positive Psychology: From Happiness Economics to Flourishing Economics, Journal of Happiness Studies, Vol 16 Number 4, DOI: 10.1007/s10902-014-9541-4.
• Sharma, S. (1999). Corporate Gita: Lessons for Management, Administration and Leadership. Journal of Human Values, 5 (2): 103-123
• Swami Chinmayananda (2016). The Holy Geeta. Mumbai: Central Chinmaya Mission Trust
• Swami Mukundananda (2014), Bhagavad Gita - The Song of God, https://www.holy-bhagavad-gita.org/
• Swami Krishnananda (2014) Commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, India-The Divine Life Society Hqs.
•  Swami Vivekananda (1896). Vedanta Philosophy: Eight Lectures on Karma Yoga (The Secret of Work), Hollister, MO: Yogebooks.
• Tatarkiewicz, W. (1976). Analysis of happiness. The Hague, The Netherlands: Nijhoff
• Tilak, B. G. (2000). Shrimad Bhagavad-Gita, (8. s. sukhantar, Trans.). poona: Kesari Press. (Original work pubtished 1915)
• Vivekananda, S. (1999). The complete works of Swami Vivekananda, Volume /. Calcutta: Advaita Ashrama (Original work published 1907)
• Veenhoven, R. (2005) Is life getting better? How long and happily people live in modern society European Psychologist, 2005, Vol. 10, 330 – 343.
• Veenhoven, R. & Hagerty, M. (2006) Rising happiness in nations, 1946-2004. A reply to Easterlin Social Indicators Research, vol. 77, 1-1