Happiness is an integral path for those searching for enlightenment
Long, long ago there were some very special people called the group of wise philosophers, their job was to find new words for the future generations of the human race.
One of the philosophers came up with the word happiness and it was then put to all the others to find out if it would cover all the things that the first person thought it should mean. The discussion continued for some time, and it was considered that happiness would refer to a feeling that among other things would last a long time.
Then they looked into what they felt was the difference between Happy and Happiness.
This is what they found.
To be happy, it was said, is when a person had achieved something in their life and it gave them a feeling of being light hearted, cheerful, perchance to laugh and smile; all their body would feel light and worry free; but this only lasted for a short time. They found that as soon as they were happy something would come along and change this and it went quickly from happy to sad, and so it did not last long enough.
This was a big problem because these philosophers thought that every one should be entitled to be happy for longer than just a moment or a short period of time.
So why would the word happiness mean so much more?
Well Happiness, it was said, could be felt by more than just the one person. If one led their life from now on in the correct manner it could spread to all that chose to follow this path. The philosopher, who had thought up the word happiness in the first place, said that when someone has done many good things correct in life themselves, such as helping others without question, striving to become a better person in what ever they had done or had been asked to do then Happiness is eventually born.
The biggest task of all to find this feeling he said was; for humanity to try to become less judgemental of others, like in the ways how they had remarked on the life of other’s wrong doings in general. As many had also done in the past until they had become free of, criticisms, opinions, assumptions and short on patience with those whom they thought not up to their own thinking standards. All these points had been judgmental or opinionated and would, if left unchecked, cause greater sadness in the world and the chance of happiness would be lost? Then and only then happiness would become part of them and they would be able to keep this feeling of happiness for a long time, and if others who knew them found a lot of pleasures watching that person grow, they too would be happy and this would also grow, as the years went by, into complete happiness.
The first philosopher that had started the discussion then gently interrupted and said ‘let me give you an example’.
Now that I have been a father for many years I have had the chance to look back on my life and all the pleasure I got from watching my daughters grow up. As I watched them from children I always looked upon them as their father and also as a person that would judge what they done and how they reached out to others who they met in life.
Now they are adults; I still see the beautiful person they were then and this has not changed in anyway; they bring me joy not only to me but all those who meet them and therefore it brings happiness to everyone.
I now have been more than happy for 30 years and because it lasts so much longer than just being happy I have found that the total feeling of happiness is with me every day of my life.
All I have to do when feeling low is to think of their faces or the glow that they bring when in my space and thus; I have total happiness in every part of my living day.
With this statement all the other philosophers could see that in their own life they also had felt this in some way.
The elder then said, “We all have memories of a person or someone we have admired in life and if we had thought in this way we can all be more than happy”. They all decided to look back on their lives to find what part of it they may have taken for granted and would re-visit this part of their lives, this they all did and so the word was accepted and is now a great word that the whole world uses.
To all those who wish to find enlightenment I hope you all find your happiness that you deserve.
Please remember the word HAPPY because it only lasts for a short time and then it’s gone; but the happiness that you get from giving to others never does, as long as you give it with love and do not look for reward.
In time your gift of enlightenment will arrive at your door……….. Of course you will not be ready for it because you were not waiting to receive it!
Tony Sargeant