A Happiness Challenge...by Einstein!
Albert Einstein once said, “A table, a chair, a bowl of fruit and a violin; what else does a man need to be happy?”I came across this thought provoking quote today, and I was very inspired by its powerful insight on happiness.
Instead of just posting my own insights around this quote, I prefer to challenge you a bit to think!
What did you get out of the symbols mentioned in this quote and in what way are they related to happiness?
A Table…
A Chair…
A Bowl of fruit…
and a Violin…
What else does a man need to be happy?!!
What do you think? What do these symbols mean?
Einstein is NOT crazy. He almost layed out the entire happiness formula!
I can’t wait to read your comments and thoughts. Just click on the “comment” link below and post your ideas.
posted by Tohami at 8:48 PM
8 Comments:
you are absolutely right about Einstein wrapping the entire happiness formula in these few yet v profound images. he actually put them in a certain order that starts from tackling the basic needs and finally reaching the most enlightning ones: here is how i see them: the table refers to the basic human need i.e: nutrition. it may also refer to work or family union... the chair refers to contemplation then the bowl of fruit is an image of refinement and a more comfortable way of living ( having a bowl of fruit imlies that the basic needs of stuff like starch,proteins were already available thus indicating a more refined standard of living) finally comes the spiritual nourishment which is music: the food of the soul. having all these elements in one's life : the physical, mental as well as the spiritual fullfilment, should make one wonder: "what else does a man need to be happy?" and only when a man feels an inner satisfaction with all these gifts, will the answer be : NOTHING MORE!
Denis from FRANCE says...
For me the TABLE is the gift God gave us, I mean Life; The CHAIR is our Life Purpose, what we will contribute to life (the table); the BOWL OF FRUIT represents all what is beautiful in life and all our unique gifts we can use to contribute to the world; the VIOLIN refers to what we do with Life : life is like playing the violin, it's mastering our gifts, our relationships, love...
In fact, the imagery Einstein uses is like to see us in front of our diner table (life) : the food is plenty, we just have to serve us, love it, be grateful for it, and take the energy out of it (violin) to make the world a better place : we are the conductor of our life and take full responsibility for it. It's all abour receiving and giving...
Tohami,
As I see it, Einstein had a simple vision for happiness. As you and I have discussed before, happiness is not a result - it is a choice. Einstein's comment to me illustrates my point. One doesn't find happiness in the pursuit of expensive material goods. Simple things: a table to gather around with family and friends, a chair in which to sit comfortably, a bowl of fruit from the earth (nourishment of the finest kind - fresh), and a violin - music to soothe the savage beast. Simple creature comforts is all that is required for joy and happiness.
Kevin
For me the Table represents a thing of solace where a person can lean and write his thoughts or just lean to rest for a while.The chair is where one can relax and after having a bowl of fresh fruits which inturn would give norishment and health.The violine represents the mental relaxation. Or may be i am too dumb to understand or to comment.
Baseeth
I think that this quote by Einstein provides the gist of what happiness is. I think that the table, which gathers family members daily for meals, and friends as well may be a symbol for the family and social life but also for the professional life, since it involves dealing with people. The table is also related to meals, with all the joy and satisfaction associated with meals, thus I believe that the table summarizes life, in its material, professional and social aspects, aspects we should draw satisfaction from. As for the chair, I think it refers to the place of the individual in life, the place one is confortable in, that is the place that corresponds to the individual's life purpose, which enables him/her to fully give his/her contribution with joy and satisfaction. The bowl of fruit is for me symbolic of satisfaction of the senses, while the violin is symbolic of aesthetic, mental and spiritual satisfaction. Thus Einstein's quote expresses happiness as being a deep sense of satisfaction drawn from a balance between all aspects of life: material, social, mental, and spiritual, satisfaction resulting from our finding of our purpose in life, our contribution in life and our enjoying of all its aspects.
Tohami,
My explanation to this quote under the influence of practicing "The Life Purpose Discovery System" you provide,simply is that the chair emphasizes a person's present position where he sits & focus ahead to a better vision of his future and life....The table refers to the whole world surrounding us..It's the path we take or the track we choose inorder to live the passionate life we were meant to live..While the bowl of fruit is the place where we collect our achievements,accomplishments that gives us pleasure through out the whole journey of life..Finally the violin is the inner peace u live when u experience the joy of living a meaningful life & start playing its symphoney..
The ever understated Marge Simpson is quoted as stating to Homer,"An extra porkchop on saturday night and sleeping till noon on sunday.What can they really take away from you Homey?"
Einstein's quote consciously makes us aware of the simplicity of the pleasures of life. He relates happiness to simple basic notions. The use of the table where people gather for various occasions, is symbolic of the unconditional abundance of life. A chair is used for comfort and contemplation. A bowl of fruit, different sizes, shapes, colours, provisions of nature, capture the senses, keep us alive and thriving in order to continue our life; they give us a reason to be appreciative. A violin is used for personal creativity and production on different levels.
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