Is there a good framework for discerning happiness from melancholy ? Does such a framework allow us to continuously evaluate our progress towards achieving happiness in our every day life?

The ancient hindu text of Manusmriti (the gospel of Manu) offers a simple but profound answer to these questions. The Sanskrit text and transliteration is as follows:

In the above poetic verse, Manu defines happiness and misery in terms of independence and dependence, a simple but powerful basis to discern between the two polarizing forces in the material world.

Does independence from materialism propel oneself towards happiness? Alternatively, given the natural dependence of human existence on the material world, does independence imply a symbiotic and peaceful co-existence between humans and the environment, where the net outcome is not a zero-sum game where one prevails over the other?

Can dependence be framed as acceptance without prejudice and contribution without expectation?

If the ultimate goal of happiness is to be that unfettered free spirit that is unentangled with matter, can we draw parallels to our latest scientific understanding of how the elemental particles at the quantum level are free to buzz around in their primordial glory, until such time as they get entangled with another particle forming the path to creation and destruction of matter?

If Manu is right, is happiness a point of maximum entropy where each of us has maximum degrees of freedom to buzz around the universe as a free particle? And until such time we reach this state of maximum entropy, can dependence be an equalizer between the giver and the taker to maximize the potential of happiness in the material world?