I will do everything in life out of happiness, and not for happiness.
The disciple asked the master, “Master, now that you are enlightened, what do you do?” The Master replied, “I draw water from the well and chop wood.” The disciple asked further, “What were you doing before you got enlightened?”
The Master replied, “I used to draw water from the well and chop wood.” The puzzled disciple remarked, “There seems to be no difference in your actions between then and now!!!” The Master said, “Oh, there is no difference in my actions, but the quality with which I perform my actions has changed.”
That qualitative shift is in living out of happiness, and not for happiness. Happiness shouldn’t be a result. Happiness should be the process. There is no way to happiness.
Happiness is the way. Happiness isn’t a destination. Happiness must be in the journey.
The way to the picnic should be as enjoyable as the picnic itself.
More than 90% of our life keeps going right. Less than 10% of our life may not be how we want it to be. When a small piece of wood is held away from the eyes, it is only a small piece of wood. Hold the same close to your eyes, it will even cover the sun.
When all the attention is given to the 10% that’s not okay, obviously, life seems all messed up and wrong. No, we cannot ignore that 10%. It does need attention. But also, give the 90% the needed attention. With 90% of your life going right, if that does not give you happiness, be sure, even if the other 10% becomes okay, still you won’t be happy.
Those who are not happy with what they have, no matter how much more they have, still they won’t be happy. Be grateful for the 90%, and out of that derived happiness, strive to get the 10% okay.
You were born naked. The piece of cloth that’s wrapped around you is a bonus. You brought nothing. Everything you have was added to you post birth. From nil balance at birth, you live a profitable life and die a profitable death.
Whatever you lose, material or relationship, it is only a loss in profit. Whisper a ‘thank you’ to life for that piece of cloth wrapped around you and live out of happiness.
However bad the traffic jam may be, eventually we will all reach home. Knowing we will eventually reach home, we might as well relax in the traffic jam. After all, your stress and tension is not going to clear the traffic jam. Similarly, however tough the times may be, for professional or personal reasons, everything has a lifespan. Every beginning has an end.
Your tough times too will end, and a beautiful life will unfold beyond that line. In that faith, smile through your tough times. It is during moments of darkness the stars are noticed. Tough times are life’s way of revealing to you and to the world that you are a star.
Divinity waits at the door of a happy soul. Your happiness is your invitation to the divine. Make happiness a constant. Let everything else about your life be a variable.
In fact, shift from wishing people ‘Good Morning’ to wishing them ‘Happy Morning’. Rather wish them a ‘Happy Day’ than just ‘Good Day’. Happily yours…
