Happiness wandered around the world and granted wishes to everyone who met along the way. One day, due to carelessness, Happiness fell into a hole and could not get out of there. Many people came to the pit and made their wishes – Happiness fulfilled them. However, no one was in a hurry to help Happiness get up.
And then one day a young man approached the pit. He looked at Happiness, but did not demand anything, but only asked: “Happiness, what do you want?”
“Get out of here,” answered Happiness.
The young man helped Happiness get out and went on his way. And Happiness… followed him.
Each of us periodically thinks about whether we are happy, and what we lack to be happy. We often believe that if our cherished desire comes true, we will immediately become happy… for example, when we get a promotion at work when our salary is increased, when we buy an apartment, when we give birth to a child, etc. However, when we get this, for some reason the happiness quickly passes… Some new experiences, worries, and life circumstances arise. And it’s worth thinking – what am I doing wrong? Why can’t I always be happy?
Guide to Practice
Gautama Buddha said:
“Happiness doesn’t depend on who you are or what you have. It depends entirely on what you think.”
The first part of this expression is more or less clear – it is clear that happiness is something that is inside a person and does not depend on any external factors. We still manage to feel happiness when it is tied to some kind of desire. For example, I bought a car – I became happy, I went on vacation at the seaside – I became happy… but in reality, this is only a weak semblance of real inner happiness, which also passes very quickly…
How to understand the second part of the Buddha’s phrase “…Happiness depends on what you think.” What do you need to think to be happy? One parable immediately comes to mind:
God molded a man from clay, and he was left with an unused piece.
– What else do you need to make? – asked God.
“Make me happy,” the man asked.
God did not answer anything, and only placed the remaining piece of clay in the man’s palm.
This piece of clay is something that we can create ourselves, it is something that already exists within us. All that remains is to find the way to it.
Vedic sources say that there are as many of these paths as there are people on Earth. The diversity of paths is explained by the fact that all people are different. Each of us has our own experience, our values, concepts, and ideas about the world order, our store of knowledge and experiences…
Today I want to share with you one of these paths to happiness, which has a 2000-year history of practice by Buddhist monks. Their path lies through the heart, the anahata chakra. They have long understood that the depth of happiness experienced can be felt through other people, or more precisely, through empathy and helping other people. When you try on another person’s shirt and with an open heart you are ready to do everything in your power to help another, a feeling arises inside of being involved in the positive changes in someone else’s life – this involuntarily gives additional meaning to your life. The most interesting thing is that by following this path, you gradually begin to feel as if you were connected to an inexhaustible source of happiness that constantly feeds you from within.
It’s like in the parable about Happiness, you stop looking for it, it just follows you everywhere.
If you DO NOT experience the deep satisfaction of helping someone, then this is not the path for you. Then look for your path – try and observe your inner experiences.
Well, if the experience of the Tibetan monks resonated in your heart, then I suggest you try it for yourself. It will take 15-20 minutes a day. You can perform this technique at any time.
Try to follow it 3-4 times a week and after 7 days you will notice changes not only in your inner world, but they will also occur on the external plane. Check it out and the results obtained from this practice will change your life for the better!
Meditation of Tibetan monks
Be sure to share your impressions and experiences after practice. Sitting in front of the TV and complaining about everyone around is easy, but setting aside 15 minutes of your time to spiritually support and help another person requires effort, and only a few can think at least 15 minutes a day not only about themselves and about for your benefit, but for the well-being of another.
Whatever group of people you belong to, since you are reading/listening to this text/video, it means you have already entered the path of your search and want to change your life and the lives of those around you for the better.
I wish you strength, confidence, and love on your journey.
Om!
Author of the article:
Olya Amitara
Healthy lifestyle consultant
