Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Happiness

A small take from Stephen Knapp

Happiness is a part of our spiritual nature. In Sanskrit, that nature is called sat-chit-ananda. The word sat means eternal. The soul is eternal and its natural tendencies are also eternal. The word chit means knowledge, especially the higher spiritual knowledge that is connected with our eternal nature. In our natural and fully realized spiritual position, we are full of knowledge, and we know what to do and how to do it--in other words, no confusion. The word ananda means full of bliss. Again, the eternal, awakened nature of the soul is to always be full of happiness. It is always within us. The problem with attaining this bliss is that before we are fully connected with our higher Selves, we search for it outside of us. Thinking our inner joy comes from something external only contributes to our confusion and frustration. It adds to our misidentification of who and what we really are, and what we really need. The fact is, our body alone cannot make us happy. It is a machine in which we exist, although we may feel fairly pleased with it when we are healthy and in good shape.

Likewise, our mind alone cannot make us happy. What we seek is deeper than that. Finding the happiness within may not always be easy, but it is impossible to find it elsewhere.


To be convinced that our search for happiness should be in things outside ourselves is what shuts us out from finding the happiness already within us. What value is our happiness if we must work hard and struggle for it? That merely means we are looking in the wrong direction. Sure, maybe we do have to work hard, but that should not be the cause of either our happiness or distress. We attain happiness from what we learn, what we accomplish, and the experience or personal progress we derive from it. This is especially powerful when what we do is connected with how our inner Self is revealed.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great article and very motivating too. I enjoy every read.

Mike

Shamsud Ahmed said...

Hey Thanks. I will ensure I will try my best to keep inspiring and motivating through my arrticles.

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