(Anecdote from the life of Swami Chinmayananda)
Wealth is by no means a measure of happiness, since joy is not to be found in the sense objects. If it were contained in those objects, each object would provide the same amount of joy to all those who came in contact with it. But this is not the case:
A man smoking a cigar after a satisfying meal in a fancy restaurant is overwhelmed with pleasure at crowning his feast with such a relaxing, enjoyable activity. However, the person sitting two tables away is going through agony, because her evening is spoilt by the pungent fumes she loathes. If joy is not in the sense objects, then where exactly is it located? This leads us to the fundamental question: Where is happiness? These questions were the basis upon which the ancient masters made thorough investigations into the human personality. They discovered that Happiness is a state of mind. When the mind is agitated, we feel sorrow and anxiety. When the mind is tranquil, we feel joy.
Thus, Happiness is measured by the tranquility of our mind. Tranquility may be at times brought about by the contact with sense objects, but that tranquility turns out to be only temporary. Lasting satisfaction comes from the mind which has become quiet because its desire has been fulfilled. The masses run after the material world in vain. The spiritual masters of all ages have asserted that the human being has the unique capacity to quiet the mind and thus learn to enjoy real tranquility – without having to depend helplessly upon any object or thing.