We like what is our true nature. If something was not our real nature we would not want to have it. Take happiness for instance. Everybody wants to be happy, we are constantly searching for happiness. We get disturbed if our happiness is disturbed. Disturbance through sorrow may occur for a while each day, but the whole day is generally peaceful and uneventful for most of us. No news is good news. But, good news unfortunately is not as exciting as bad news. If you find that hard to believe, read the media reports and see what news sells most—good or bad.
Happiness is like good news. It is needed. It is the very juice of our life. It is the only ultimate state of being that can keep us healthy. It is the essential way to be if you really want to achieve greater ideals in life.
The youth of today are in search of this happiness alone. They search it through food (fast foods), entertainment (thrillers and latest film releases), loud music that rocks their nerves to a stupor, short-lived relationships that seemingly give some pleasure. They are quick to get into a new relationship if the earlier one does not work out. Even reading novels, going to an amusement park and taking a ride on that stomach-churning roller coaster is only to experience the excitement that keeps you happy for just a moment.
All our endeavours are for the sake of happiness. The only difference between true happiness and temporary happiness is that the former is long lasting and the latter is short lived. True happiness can never bring any sorrow, but temporary happiness brings sorrow after sorrow. The story of alcoholics and drug addicts only point out to the difference between our choice for true happiness and what gives temporary pleasure.
There are no shortcuts to happiness. If you want it, you have to work for it. True that it is something you already have. Yet, without knowing where it is, the quest has been going for a long time now (since the beginning of time that is) of finding it in this thing or that, this relationship or that, this situation or that and this experience or that. Knowing what is temporary and what is permanent is the first step. Discarding the temporary for the permanent at all costs is the second. The strength to do this cannot happen with just knowledge, but has to be backed by a sound emotional mind which has the six treasures of peace, sense, control, minding one’s own good business, withstanding little and big difficulties without complaining and being established with faith in a state of happiness that is so far elusive. The last quality that can help us is a burning desire to be happy. We get only what we really want. To first know what you want is the way to get what you want.
(www.swahilya.blogspot.com)
