Epicurus was a philosopher from ancient Greece who spent his life exploring how people can find true happiness. He believed that everyone aims for happiness, but the real question is how to achieve it. His ideas are still important today because they help us think about what makes life meaningful.Epicurus was born in 341 BCE on a small island called Samos in Greece. At that time, philosophers played a big role in society, and ideas from great thinkers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle had already changed the way people thought. Epicurus learned from these ideas but took a different path. He wanted to know how we could live happily, even if the world isn't perfect.Epicurus opened a school called "The Garden" in Athens. It wasn’t just for the wealthy or powerful—anyone could join, including women and slaves, which was unusual at the time. The Garden was a place where people could freely talk and learn about life. Epicurus believed that life’s goal should be to find happiness by understanding and removing pain, both physical and mental.He explained that real happiness is not found in luxury or temporary pleasure but in long-lasting peace of mind. He talked about two main types of happiness: ataraxia (mental peace) and aponia (absence of physical pain). According to Epicurus, the best life is one where we can avoid pain and stay calm in our minds. He believed that pleasure comes naturally when there is no pain, and this is the true state of happiness.Epicurus also taught that fear and desire cause most of our problems. One of the biggest fears people have is the fear of death. He said that we shouldn’t be afraid of death because when we are alive, death isn’t there, and when death comes, we no longer exist to feel anything. So, there's no reason to fear it.Another part of his teachings was about simple living. Epicurus said that to be truly happy, we don't need a lot of wealth or fancy things. What we really need are the basic necessities, like food, shelter, and close friends. He believed that when we focus on what’s truly important, we can achieve a peaceful and content life.Friendship, according to Epicurus, is a key to happiness. He valued friendships because they provide support and help us deal with problems. In The Garden, students were encouraged to build strong, trusting relationships. It was a place where people could share their thoughts and emotions, making life more enjoyable.Epicurus' teachings are often misunderstood. Some think he promoted just having fun and enjoying physical pleasures, but his idea of pleasure was much deeper. He taught that happiness comes from mental peace and controlling desires, not from always chasing excitement.Today, many of his ideas resemble modern practices like mindfulness and minimalism. Mindfulness focuses on living in the present moment and finding peace by letting go of stress and worries, which matches Epicurus' idea of ataraxia. Similarly, minimalism encourages living simply, just like Epicurus advised, to reduce anxiety and find true happiness.Epicurus’ ideas remind us that a good life is not about having a lot of things but about having a calm mind and strong friendships. He believed that happiness is about living wisely, with less fear and fewer desires. These teachings continue to inspire people to find peace in a busy world.
