The
Alchemy
of
Happiness



AainaA‐Ridtz
A
R




In
music,
identity
is
similar
to
identity
in
universal
algebra.
An
identity
function

is
a
permutation
or
transformation,
which
transforms
a
pitch
or
pitch
class
set

into
itself.
For
instance,
inverting
an
augmented
triad
or
C4
interval
cycle,
048,

produces
itself,
084.
Performing
a

retrograde
operation
upon
the
pitch
class

set
01210
produces
01210.
In

mathematics,
identity
can
refer
to
an

equality
that
remains
true
regardless
of
the

values
of
any
variables
that
appear
within

it.


“Identity
is
also
the
Motto
of
the

Brave
New
World.
It
emphasizes

sameness
and
monotony.
It
is
an

ironic
contrast
to
the
battle
cry
of

the
French
Revolution:
Liberty,

Equality
and
Fraternity.”


Having
had
a
long
discussion
over
a
span
of

more
than
fifteen
years
about
the
cultural

identity
of
being
human,
one
questions
the

segregation
process
over
time
–
the

process
of
creating
chaos
in
an
ordered

universe.
Malaysians
of
Indian,
Chinese
or

Indonesian
origins
ignite
questions
about

the
identity
of
being
Malaysian.
Therefore,

the
basis
of
European,
American
and
the

ethnic
foundation
of
a
mindset,
equally
spark
these
questions.


What
does
it
mean
to
be
a
human,
living
within
the
macro

and
microcosmic
definition?

Is
a
Malaysian
heart
only
seen
when
the
National
Identity
Card
or
passport
is

being
produced,
and
asked
for
to
determine
one’s
measure?
On
the
other
hand,
is

being
Malaysian,
a
challenging
cultural
event,
where
tolerance
plays
a
crucial

part
in
its
evolution?
On
the
other
hand,
does
tolerance
spur
an
excuse
to
buffer

the
intolerance
amongst
the
people
due
to
the
lack
of
compassion,
and

knowledge
about
themselves
–
that
of
their
identity
as
a
being,
human.


The
shaping,
appreciation
and
respect
of
an
entity’s
“identity”
is
beyond
any

racial
undertone
of
its
inherent
attributes
of
the
perceptive
comprehension
of

oneself.
How
far
have
the
cultural
differences
between
the
origins
spark
a
better

nation?
Will
a
Malay
Malaysian
be
able
to
excel
equally
as
Chinese
Malaysian?

Should
one
do
away
with
racial
identity
to
shape
the
nation
effectively,
and

productively?
Should
a
Malaysian
be
any
different
from
an
American,
European,

or
even
…
a
third
world
produce?


In
China,
the
individual
was
conceived
of
as
a
microcosm,
a
mini‐world
within

the
larger
frame
of
the
cosmos.
In
addition,
health
and
disease
were
conceived

on
the
same
terms
as
health
and
disease
in
society.
Society
had
always
been

menaced
by
chaos,
which
could
only
be
counteracted
by
an
orderly
government.

In
the
individual,
likewise,
health
depended
on
order,
on
resistance
to
disorder

and
chaos.


Where
is
the
common
ground
that
balances
the
micro
and

macrocosm?

Whilst
looking
at
this
from
an
eagle’s
perspective,
how
different
is
the
West,
as

compared
to
the
East
vice
versa?
How
different
is
Islaam,
Christianity,
Judaism?


Until
one
is
able
to
question
the
direction
and
the
essence
of
any
culture
be
it

professionally,
emotionally
or
even
socially,
the
identicalness
of
a
nation’s

identity
–
religious
or
political,
is
severed
due
to
constraints
set
by
indifferences

within
a
societal
misapprehension
of
humanity.
The
bridge
between
the
East,

and
the
West,
between
religions
must
first
be
comprehended
by
“identifying”
the

root
or
essence
of
cultural
identity,
first
and
foremost.


Humanity
serves
a
purpose
on
a
larger
scale.

The
bridge
must
be
sought,
re‐established
between
the
nature
of
macrocosm
and

microcosm
–
the
parallel
aspects
is
found
on
that
thin
line,
between
unity,
and

disunity.
In
a
whole,
humanity
serves
more
than
a
cultural
aspect
or
concept
of

being.
It
moves
in
one
direction
–
that
of
a
natural
law
towards
ethical
progress

for
the
common
goal
of
all.


“The
oldest
tradition,
the
deepest
–
regardless
of
culture
or
nationality,
time
or

place
–
is
humanity
in
its
purest
essence.
By
freeing
ourselves
from
the
confines
of

cultural,
national,
and
social
prejudice,
and
the
attractive
yet
deceptive
trap
of
the

surface
of
living,
we
can
find
a
way
to
the
depth
of
life.
Nothing
remains
as

beautiful
and
valuable
as
Life;
a
gift
entrusted
by
and
through
Being
in
is
existence.

Put
aside
future
promises,
covenants,
and
vows,
the
only
assurance
we
possess
is

the
present
time,
the
present
breath,
the
core
of
life
–
life
that
covers
the
past
and

leads
to
future
in
these
cycles
of
being.
The
greatest
celebration
is
the
celebration

of
the
life
of
the
present
through
our
own
present
being.
We
have
to
ask
ourselves
–

what
should
we
do
and
how
should
we
care
for
this
most
praiseworthy
gift
of

being?


It
is
the
understanding
and
the
valuing
of
the
essence
of
human
life
that
is
the

foundation
for
any
truthful
conception
of
human
rights.
The
laws
of
human
rights

are
not
founded
by
people,
by
the
agreements
of
nations,
nor
are
they
in
any
sense

“natural
laws”
that
can
be
“discovered”
through
philosophical
systems.
Instead,
the

law
of
human
rights
springs
out
of
Being,
through
our
very
existence,
and
these

laws
are
an
intrinsic
part
of
the
fabric
of
existence.
The
defender,
the
supporter
and

the
creator
of
this
gift
is
Being,
the
existence
in
its
unity.
The
right
of
life
is
the
law

of
being,
and
it
is
the
human
being
who
needs
to
understand
and
remember
that

law.
The
human
being
has
to
clean
the
dust
from
the
face
of
such
holiness,
and

understand
the
sacred
to
witness
the
beauty
of
this
excellence.


Human
right
is
the
right
that
is
discovered
only
through
the
understanding:

through
the
essence
and
perfect
nature
of
humankind.
The
individual
who

recognizes
and
discovers
that
nature
within
his
own
being,
is
the
one
who
respects,

reveres,
and
recognizes
the
right
of
others.
The
essence
is
unchanging,
though
its

faces
are
many.
~
Seyedeh
Nahid
Angha,
PhD”

Copyright
©
2010
by
AainaA‐Ridtz
A
R
|
All
rights
reserved.
No
part
of
this
book
/
article
may
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or
utilized

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or
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or
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in
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publisher.
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