Insights

Happiness

"No one saves us, but ourselves, no one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path but Buddhas clearly show the way." (Buddha)

How can we save ourselves?

We see the world clearly (wisdom), we live in it decently (ethics) and become more and more aware of what we do, feel and think (concentration).

How can you see the world more clearly?

See it as a m i r r o r:

It reflects over time all that is put in front of it. It is like a seed that you plant: The quality of the seed determines the quality of the fruit. This is the "Principle of Cause and Effect" aka "Karma":

There is a special seed inside you. It is the center and source of your being. Some call it the "soul", "innermost being" or "The Holy Grail". Others call it God.

If you can connect to that, you become one with yourself. Being one with yourself, you are one with the world. You recognize, that whatever goes on outside of you also goes on inside of you:

Trust yourself, and you will be trusted.
Support others, and you will be supported.
Love yourself, and you will be loved.

No seed in life will be without a fruit, nor any fruit without a seed. If you trust nature in this, if you give without expecting, love without clinging and be grateful for all things, life will be well. "For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." (Matthew 7:7-8)

How can it be any different? We are all part of nature and cannot separate ourselves from it. If nature will take care of itself, will it not also take care of you?

Therefore, be brave, do the right thing, make an effort to live decently. And first of all: Follow your bliss. You cannot solve the socioeconomic conflict (conflict between self-interest and the individual's need to be part of a community of shared values, cp. http://cyrilmorong.com/MythCampbellSocioEconomic2.doc) by trying to follow two masters, your bliss and money. First follow your bliss and all these things shall be added unto you.

What's your bliss?

Only you can know that. But it is never something with "you", your "self" at the center of your efforts. It is never about trying to get something, but always about trying to give something, never about gaining something, but always about letting go of something. (cp. http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_buettner_how_to_live_to_be_100.html)

You will discover, that happiness is not about how to best get something but about how to best give something.

You discover, that "spiritual bread" is just as important as "physical bread", the latter keeping you alive, the former giving you a life, direction, meaning, something that goes on beyond this life.

And if you are in trouble, just remember this:

"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye." (Antoine de Saint Exupéry: "The Little Prince")

May you find your bliss, may you be healthy and happy!

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