Only if you're a Rand worshiping objectivist. When you let politics pervade every area of your life, you clearly lose out (example: thinking compassion is bad). I never saw it here that he was a fortune-teller.
I read the words, "Send me your questions", so I sent the question. Here is a question that is a bit more philosophical in nature: Which will do more to reduce acts of violence committed by religious ideologues. Meeting them with force, or meeting them with kindness?
I first thought that was the Zen Masters answer implying to answer it yourself - and thought it a good reply to a baited question. For us the Garden has no real numbers to count on for material gain - somehow to figure out how to grow it would be better.
Seems there are other reasons for unhappiness. Not sure unhappiness is the only result for striving. Reaching controlled everlasting happiness might be considered a strive in itself, and a primary goal of life.
zentech where the F did u go? I've been searching through some Richard Rose material and found that he gave a lecture in the town i live in! http://www.searchwithin.org/download/peace_of_mind_irwin.pdf I did about 3 double takes... no one comes out here.
I am pretty sure that if your goal is happiness, you will never reach it. Happiness is a journey, not a destination.
??? - Why would a goal of happiness never be attainable? All journeys have a destination - including happiness (within) - IMHO. - - Not to say there is not happiness along the way but complete happiness is also possible.
I'd like to let our new friend give us the stock Buddhist answer first, before I show where Eastern religion went wrong. Note: I'm not promoting Middle Eastern religion either -- the three desert religions barely consider human happiness important enough to be worth worrying about!