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Infinite
Happiness
Happiness.
Such an ordinary word with such immense connotations. What does
it mean? Does it exist? Where can it be found? The
television and print ads are filled with images of "happy"
people living the "good life": floating on cruise ships,
driving fine cars, drinking champagne, celebrating the winning of
the lottery, etc. What do these images really convey? The media
would have us believe that if we find the perfect mate or the right
job, we will achieve happiness, and people spend their entire lives
pursuing happiness out of that belief. Of course, anyone who has
done any honest, personal contemplation on the subject knows that
it is a misconception. Yet, we still desperately try to live the
"American dream," and fail miserably in our attempts to
achieve the sought-after happiness.
It is this writer's humble opinion (and based on much personal experience
on the subject!) that true, lasting happiness in the physical realm
can never be achieved, simply because this entire existence is fleeting
and is constantly changing. Since the physical universe is constantly
changing, it stands to reason that our wants and needs are also
constantly changing! Bhagwan Ra Afrika says that happiness can never
be achieved; it can only be realized. This realization comes from
the rediscovery of that God-nature (bliss) which is every individual,
but which lies obscured by the ego (self).
Also,
the mind itself is fickle! Once one achieves some small (or large,
depending on one's point of view) measure of success or pleasure,
it (the mind) is off to the next pursuit! If happiness
can so easily be tossed aside for the next attainment or achievement,
or greater pleasure, was it genuine happiness? This question is
worth pondering, simply because we expend so much time and energy
chasing the next, higher pursuit of happiness or fulfillment. Then,
as soon as the "high" of the experience wears off, we
experience pleasure "withdrawal" and need a new egoic
"fix." That is because it was the seeking of the mind
for pleasure (emotionally, mentally or physically), and pleasure
is not happiness! This cycle perpetuates itself throughout our lives
and leaves nothing but emptiness and destruction in its wake.
We try to fill the void with drugs, sex, jewelry, cars, homes, you
name it! Yet, we are more and more unhappy and less and less fulfilled.
Why? Because we have lost sight of who we are, we have lost sight
of our God-nature. The great Socrates (among others) said, "Know
thyself." Happiness can only be found where true self-knowledge
resides. Also, happiness can only occur in the present. The past
is a dream and the future is a fantasy. Yet, we spend most of our
time reveling in the past or projecting into the future our desires
and/or plans for achieving happiness.
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