The Quest for Happiness
How to be happy? Happiness, often sought as an external goal, is, in fact, our most natural state. It's not something we must tirelessly chase; it resides within us. When we recognize that we lack nothing, an innate happiness emerges. This is when we connect with the divinity that is our essence, a divinity untouched by scarcity.
The Need Fallacy
You might wonder, "Does this mean we should abandon desire altogether?" Well, not necessarily. It's entirely possible to experience happiness while harboring desires. The real challenge arises when we convince ourselves that we "need" something external to be happy. Consider this: everything we believe we need for happiness already resides within us. Just as God lacks nothing, so do we.
From this perspective, whether you lead a humble life as a rishi in a modest hut or enjoy immense wealth in a grand mansion, both paths have the potential for happiness or sadness. True joy emerges when we realize it dwells within us. Possessing or lacking external riches becomes inconsequential in this light.
Happiness as Your True Nature
Happiness is your intrinsic nature, most profoundly experienced when you are in harmony with the divine—a state often referred to as "Satchidananda."
The attachments we form to external things and our desires will inevitably wax and wane. Amid this ever-shifting tapestry of life, one constant remains—you. You are always with yourself. Thus, the path to genuine happiness lies in understanding the profound joy inherent within your being.
Genuine happiness does not originate from external sources but radiates from deep within. This underscores the importance of uncovering and nurturing your inner essence. Frequently, we misattribute our happiness to external possessions—a new car, a farmhouse, or a child's wedding. But does true joy truly reside in these external things?
Overcoming Mental Obstacles
Our mind get in the way and keeps saying we need to do something, become something, get something to be happy. But happiness is never a faraway goal. Nothing lasts forever, on this planet, in this world of Maya everything eventually decays and dies. Like A Course in Miracles says “Nothing real can be threatened. Nothing unreal exists. Herein lies the peace of God.”
Life as a Vacation
The one thing that is not destroyed is the all-pervasive consciousness, from which we all came. Actually, when you accept the fact of death, it is no longer a sad thought. It is liberating. You know that you are in this body on this planet only for a short while, it is like knowing that you are on a vacation for just some time. While the trip lasts, enjoy the sights, the smells, and the flavors. Don't let what is happening in the vacation affect you too much, because soon you will be going back home. Till then experience what you can, and be happy. No, not be happy, I meant be yourself- your true, happy self.
Commentaires