When you really think about it hasn't your whole life been about striving, searching, seeking in some way? It's constant tension, moment after moment of struggle... sometimes subtle and sometimes right in your face. Almost constantly we're seeking someone's approval or we're seeking the next event or person or thing in life. We think: When I get this I'll be happy. And we're right: We get it and we are happy -- for a brief time. Then it's back to the old rat race again, trying to get the next thing.
We don't notice that our happiness doesn't come from getting what we wanted. It comes from not striving for a short time, until the newness wears off. Without seeking there's peace. That's our nature. But then we're back to the stress of striving again.
When we see life as it is we realize that it's just doing what it does, without our input. We get what we get exactly when we need it. So the seeking can stop. We begin to see that life just moves -- effortlessly, including moving as us. It's all just the One, showing up in the form of universes, planets, earth, mountains, water, people, animals -- all of it. Who knows why it moves as it does? In a way it's like eternity. No mind can fathom eternity. Or space. No edges, no beginning or end. No starting, no stopping -- ever. Who knows what that is?
Knowing that Life is just happening, we can stop the search, relax, and just be. What could be happier and more peaceful than just being, without an agenda, without needing to get somewhere, without wanting to have or be something more?
Showing posts with label happiness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label happiness. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Spirituality Is Practical
Sometimes people get involved in seeking what they consider to be a deeply spiritual life by looking for nirvana or some constant state of bliss. That's way off the mark. The true life of reality is practical; it doesn't take you off into some other world. Circumstances don't change. It may sound too common and ordinary. But to think the so-called spiritual life is something special keeps people in the seeking mode for years - years of frustration.
If living a life of clarity doesn't bring contentment, peace, happiness, then what's all the hullabaloo about? One of the most respected East Indian gurus of the last century was a man named Nisargadatta Maharaj, who was a very common man, living an everyday life. When he was asked what it was like to live an awakened life he said it was basically just living a "life with no problems". Doesn't sound very "spiritual" does it? And not being anything special is what makes seeing life clearly so special.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Happiness Is Giving Up Control
This morning I read a Time magazine interview with mystery writer Sue Grafton. She's just written her 21st book, all of them titled to follow the alphabet, from A Is For Alibi to U Is For Undertow, her latest. Her books regularly hit No. 1 on the New York Times best-seller list. When we recognize that we're always "just along for the ride" because we're not running the show we stop trying to control things and getting upset because Life isn't the way we think it should be. That's happiness.
What I found interesting is what I've heard numerous authors, artists, and sports figures say - that they know they're not running the show when it comes to their talents. Speaking of her main character through all the books, a woman detective named Kinsey Milhone, Grafton says, "...I don't know what's going to happen to Kinsey Milhone because it's none of my business until I get there. So we'll see. I don't tell her; she tells me. I'm just along for the ride..."
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Want What Is And Be Happy
Now, that title sounds silly doesn't it? After all, life is always about wanting isn't it? When we're little we want to be older and bigger. As teens we want to get our first car and then we know we'll be happy. Isn't it true that wanting is a constant in your life?
Many years ago when I first began to learn about seeing life as it is, I read a statement by an East Indian sage named Papaji. He said when people get what they want they're really happy for a short time. They think that getting made them happy. But Papaji said no, that's not the reason. The reason they're happy is that for a short time they're not wanting anything, not seeking something more or better. In other words, they're content and at peace for that short time.
When I looked into my own life I realized he was right on. For a short time there's an ease, a relaxing, a going-with-the-flow, a peacefulness that's unmatchable. The ancient wise ones have all advised looking deep into our thoughts and desires. When we do we see that "To crave is to slave" as another East Indian sage puts it. Wanting is the definition of unhappiness: "I'm not happy now but I will be when I get...."
Instead of craving, what if we asked ourselves honestly: Can I really know I'll be happy when I get what I want? Who is this "me" that thinks it needs to direct life and control how it shows up?
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