The reason of the existence and the purpose of life of the human race are philosophical themes well examined and discussed by Eastern and Western schools of thought.

Happiness is not the same thing as satisfaction with ones’ life. Some nations that have low or average life satisfaction report high percentages of very happy individuals. Western nations with high levels of material abundance, present the highest levels of suicide.

“The purpose of life is to be happy,” wrote the Dalai Lama. This is not true for psychoanalysis, one should add, the pursuit of pleasure can not be ignored. In some cultures the enjoyment for life come naturally, in others it comes from complex sources. Buddhism and American materialistic capitalism, although in search of the same outcome, happiness, are in many aspects antagonistic.