SEARCH FOR HAPPINESS
The search for happiness has always been external. In meditation, the real path to happiness, we integrate ourselves in mind, body and spirit, and bring the mind to a balance where all the desires fade away.
You cannot be totally desireless, but even the desire that would be there would have some foundation, it would have some form of logic. Those desires would be for your needs and not your wants – there is a significant difference.
When we become integrated our thought patterning change, and as our thought patterning change our attachment to things change. We become more and more non-attached.
That does not mean we separate ourselves from the world, we are “in the world and yet not of the world” as the saying goes. Our thought patterning change, our demands in life become less and less. And, the less you demand, the more you lessen desires, wants, and cravings; the more happiness will grow within you. You become in a more integrated state, and integration is the foundation upon which happiness is built.
Someone might crave to find a handsome, dashing, young prince charging down on a white horse. These are dreams, fools’ dreams. Why not the lovely boy next door? Or, one of your school friends who could become a very good boyfriend or girlfriend, instead of dreaming of that handsome prince charging down the street on a white steed with a lance in hand. They are quite skilful at using lances, those handsome princes on white steeds — they might pierce you so much that your heart won’t beat again.
HAPPINESS TAKES US TO JOY
Happiness is that which takes us to joy, where you could possess nothing in the world and be the poorest person and yet be the happiest person.
Happiness is not measured by our possessions, but happiness is measured by that inner balance, that inner stability that one has and that is how one becomes happy because a happy person is a tolerant person, is a patient person, is an accepting person. And, when that person bubbles over with joy and happiness, it influences the entire environment around him, and that, in turn, makes him more and happier.
That is the quest, but people try and find it all the wrong ways, and that is where all the trouble begins. That is why the ancient gurus used to advocate: “Become a monk, possess nothing or need nothing, you just need a begging bowl and go around begging.”
If the whole world were going around with begging bowls in our modern society, then who’s going to beg from who? Things are adapted according to the times, the day and age.
But, more so now than in past times a person does need a far greater balance because all the outward yearning and cravings tend to create more and more imbalances in us. Then you find people, again, that possess everything they have, tons of things, and they use it in a good, rightful way to help or to help those that are trying to help others if they can’t do it themselves.
There are many, many ways of using material possessions, for one thing is sure, anyone who gives one will receive ten back. It’s an irrefutable law, it comes. And that makes a person help ten times more again and then ten plus ten — a hundred comes. So that’s how it goes, that’s how it works.
A lot has to be done, realizing more of one’s inner worth and of course not neglecting the outer things, but maintaining a nice balance so that you could find happiness in every aspect of life. For the more you are balanced inside and the more integrated you are, you would be more and more appreciative of many possessions, or little possessions or whatever, more appreciative of it.
……… Gururaj Ananda Yogi: Satsang US 1983 – 11