How to be happy

Happiness and “Truth-Knowledge-Bliss”

Why do we want to be happy? Does everyone want to be happy?  Such questions seem to remain un-answered forever. Nobody can hope to fully and scientifically analyse the state of mental happiness, nor explain easily why it is so important to us. What we can do however is to side step the theorising and practice of trying to define the intangible, and look at our wants in a realistic manner. We can and should get the most out of our lives, but not necessarily by any particular attainment. It seems a fallacy that success and happiness, (call it what you will), is to be achieved, if we believe that a state of perfection is no further than our true innermost self. Yet we do not see, except or recognise it, (this natural innermost self), easily. Why?

If we are really perfected souls, why then are we very imperfect? What can be more perfect in so many ways than the amazing facts of human life and the world and cosmos around us? So brilliantly designed and conceived and yet seen as so flawed in so many respects!

To answer our questions and realise a truth that is already there, we have to seek guidance – usually. It is as if we are blind, and yet with help can reach a place where our eyes will be opened, and we will see the truth of what has been described to us. In some ways it does not matter who guides us really or which path we take, as in time we will the probably find our own way. It is a matter of making the journey to start with, setting out and having a desire to be in a different, illuminated state of self-knowledge.

The word self-knowledge is a useful term to describe or mean the state that a seeker of happiness should attain.  This ties in with an interest in a chosen spiritual philosophy that can be used as the core of the search to achieve and understand intellectual and spiritual goals. One philosophy that we can draw on as a particular source for inspiration is Vedanta. In Vedanta the “apparent” world is Maya. We could say “unreal”, although in slang that means “fantastic”. We actually mean false or fake, in comparison to the essential concious nature of the universe, a reality which “words and thoughts cannot reach”.

How real is the body? It dies and then does not exist. How real is a dream? It ends and then does not exist. Where then one might ask has the real world been hidden? When we dream we exist within a world that is very real to us at that moment, and the outside world is blocked out by sleeping mental and physical faculties. Life still exists, not really as a hidden world at all, as we know that the world around us goes on even when we sleep. We know this however by intellectual knowledge; not necessarily by any direct awareness that functions during our sleep. When we wake up from a weird dream, we know that the strange people and places we experienced were false reality. Yet we still feel a chill, and awaking has not distanced us completely from our imaginings or dreaming.

If we walk out in the dark and see in the gloom something lying on the path in front of us we hesitate. Is it a snake? It may be just a piece of thick rope which appears in the gloom to be a snake. We are momentarily frightened until our eyes adjust to the object and we laugh inside at our silliness. In the murkiness of our minds we erroneously perceive the world about us to be something other than it really is. When we are very young we believed that the height of affluence, (when I was in England), was to possess a bag of sweets/lollies or a posh doll, a new cricket bat or a modern bicycle. Adults may laugh at childish naiveté, yet see nothing strange about their own desires for a turbo model car or the latest in lounge furniture. No doubt someone in the heavens is looking down with amusement on the childish fantasies of fully grown adults. Yet we take ourselves seriously whether as children or senior citizens. All our games are usually played as real, and we do not want to be put down as daydreamers. Not until perhaps our last days when, as we know, there are quite a few conversions to some religion or philosophy on the deathbed. When we are about to depart this mortal world our prowess in chess or in sports, or on the stock exchange becomes a non-entity. People can remember us for our achievements when we are gone, but do we actually get to enjoy adulation as if we were alive and there?

Where is then the way to real happiness? Do we avoid the world completely because it is like passing dream? We cannot usually spend the whole time in trance, nor even alcoholic stupor or drugged euphoria. The reality of our continuous dream of life impinges upon our consciousness to a greater or lesser extent, whether we choose or not. We are bound by our bodies, upbringing and personal environment, to live out our lives as long as we live. There is no simple escapist route that avoids the facts of life and death. Happiness then if anywhere must live within our own experience. That is if it lies anywhere, or if it exists at all even.

Perhaps before we start spending any more of our time on the pursuit of happiness we should consider whether or not we are really wasting our efforts. We know, due to universal experience, that some states have an utter inner peace and tranquillity, and do exist even when we are in deep sleep. We can experience deep and profound rest from our problems and woes, and we know this because when we are awake we say to ourselves that we had a wonderfully refreshing rest. If we are in pain and receive some injection that works, we can go into the state bordering on euphoria because of the effect of the drug, and also the release from an immediate and urgent physical pain. It’s such a relief. On a more mundane level we might jump for joy when after days or weeks of some hassle or problem, we then have a breakthrough or a change of luck perhaps. Note that often the arousal of happiness is almost dependent on some previous misery, tiredness or trouble. Happiness is achievable, but may also be transient and the result of having an opposing unhappy time!

True happiness is not something achieved by a change of our mood in reference to our surroundings. True happiness is a natural state, unaffected by good or bad luck, by tiredness, sleep, or by our pain or euphoria. True happiness is not even happiness at all, it is something else described in other words. Unfortunately we do not seem to have very suitable word or words in the English language that properly refers to this state of being – that is not the result of external or mental influences. There is however in Sanskrit a very interesting phrase– Sat-Chit-Ananda. This phrase describes the state which is the very innermost nature of all life on earth and elsewhere. Sat means the Truth. Chit means Consciousness, and Ananda means Bliss.This is the description of the unchangeable inner soul, as well as that for the Divine Cosmic presence. This is: Truth-Knowledge-Bliss.

The way to our inner self is by negating or removing all the fluctuating and transient moods that range from abject misery to wild euphoria. To do this we need some mechanism by which we can purify or still the fluctuating mental waves that wash hither and thither within our skull, like water in a bath tub. Note that we may not be able to subtract much from our thought patterns. We cannot just dump our mental processes, because there is no way of just removing them – except by dying. There is nowhere else to put them. We do not need an extractor mechanism, we need something that will calm the turbulent emotions of grief and anger, elation and confusion, and allow the mind to become a calm clear lake in which we can experience the reflected joy of our inner soul.

Many perceive that withdrawal from social activities is only negative, but “non-activities” are not destructive. It is the very nature of the world that it throws up to each individual “waiting periods”.  It is a natural protective phenomenon even when nothing seems to be happening and even if we feel frustrated, agitated, or bored when we cannot be getting on with something. If we can imitate nature’s own method, and create our own quite uneventful periods, we control better our destiny and future. (Instead of being like a leaf that is blown hither and thither by events and people around us). There are a variety of phenomena that are sometimes placed upon us by circumstance, and free seemingly empty time may not be an easily acceptable space, simply because of how we may perceive it.

It is also something of a shock that having sat down, having cleared a space, and started meditating, that agitation, boredom etc. may arise and dominate the mind. This meditative space can be a wonderful and necessary refuge, but may also stir a variety of unwelcome thoughts that had not been in the plan. This may be why we don’t hear much public eulogy about the benefit of meditation, because it is a common experience that sitting down even to 5 or 10 minutes in absolute stillness can be akin to herding cats! The mind is a wild untamed creature for many, which leads rather than is lead. When you decide to do something about this and have a disciplined state of affairs, the mind (or perhaps rather the ego), can become most upset and tries to resist attempts at any form of mental introspection. Meditation can be difficult and even “depressing” – that is just the first obstacle!

To overcome the fickle mind is not easy and it may seem impossible to get to a state of perfect meditation yoga.  A perfect yogi is not one who can sit in a cave motionless in months at a time. If one controls his or her mental environment wherever that may be, the setting is not so important. However environment can play a large part in any yogic practice as suitable surroundings, access to guides, and spiritual information, may help aid the mental processes. We can only do so much and only afford so much of our time getting into mental shape, but we cannot mend perfectly a pot that is broken and from which there are a few pieces permanently missing. We do what we can in this respect, just like bringing an older car up to a state of roadworthiness by fine tuning and renovation.

There are many different meditation pathways and also types of Yoga practices

(I elaborate in my book: Om Divine Grace Yoga).

Not for eveyone and all you need to find your own pathway and follow your own Wayfarers Journey!

Meditation, once set into solid rhythm and practice, can be made into an effortless aspect, as then it can be done whilst doing other activities at any time. We need something that doesn’t need us to dip into our precious time, and enables us to boost mood to something better than bearable. We need to be able to transcend our daily problems at times without having to put ourselves into a trance like state of mind.

So, there are ways to realisation as understanding of ourselves and the world as it really is, free from any supernatural power or need for religious belief..

When we are tied up with the world of Maya (illusory nature), it can be difficult to really believe that we as individuals are nothing but pure consciousness which has taken various transient human forms within this mire of externalised experience.

When we struggle with depression or addictions or other issues is can seem “mission impossible” to even get a foothold in the spiritual dimension.

We are saying “I am identical with all of the pervasive external and internal life force”. Then we are practicing a philosophy that says don’t identify self with body or mind, or with your role in the day ahead. It’s a simple deep breathing, (or other exercise chosen), in tune with the essence of self, which will help you to float through the day in serenity. It is useful to wake up 5 to 10 minutes before you need to do anything, and use that short space of time in vital introspection. You need to make your day goes smoothly, so give yourself time to reflect, and try to visualise the individual power of being merged into the big wide Universe. Breathe into a chosen prayer/manta/chant etc. to surrender your day into the forces which control the circumstances you are to encounter. (You cannot avoid some trying circumstances ahead of you, although you plan or program to do this and try to have a large say in the proceedings). Worrying will not necessarily change things for the better, but learning to relax and be meditative allows you to flow with events that you’re unable to control, and you may find yourself doing things more easily and more smoothly than you’ve even planned! A clear mind is always beneficial in any circumstance, and will often help you to come up with the right answer to problems.

The external world – the natural world – can be called seen as energy, which is the “feminine” form of Creation. (Or Shakti). Creation as in contrast to the transcendental form of “masculine” energy. See my writings about Shakti: goddessmantra.guru.

Taking this further all the processes of life can be seen as being part and parcel of our soul work. The knowledge of our world, and being able to manage work, money and relationships will also enable us to have a stronger hold on our practice.

Work for most of us is a perfectly natural function as we are guided by a natural qualities and abilities into doing tasks for which we are most suited. It may seem that we often find ourselves doing something we neither wish to do nor are suited to do, but if we can allow our natural destiny and intrinsic divine nature to predominate, we can move into different spaces of allowing ourselves to find our natural work position. Seen in this light a soldier who fights because he born a warrior type personality, is simply fulfilling his destiny, even though his work may involve killing other humans! He is complying with a subtle set of universal laws that govern all out work.

Such ideas may not appeal to a pacifist and those who seek to stop war. A lot of us say we believe in an ideally peaceful world. The historical reality however is that this has not happened and is not happening tomorrow. An individual can change society to a degree, but the essential nature of humankind, (and the universe), cannot be changed. Scientists working on genes may say that in theory we could build a non-violent selfless person in the future. However in reality we will probably want to build something that is more akin to a Hollywood film star, rather than seeking tolerance and love for all! What we can do as individuals and collectively is develop our self-awareness and internal happiness to a point where the problems of our own making and our own human nature can be transcended or acceptedas part of our journey.

The Calmed Mind

When there is searching or seeking the journey continues. At some stage you want to be more than a searcher – and be one who has arrived. When you reach the right place, you don’t need to go further. Enlightenment is occurring at the same time as the journey is ceasing, when all diversion and digression, and the need to block the mind stops. Simply being is a present and natural state, inherent and always active. A position where all the spiritual, religious, yogic, psychiatric, and personal growth trips and efforts are cleared. Like a breakthrough of the sun. Even if all of our life, (or lives), may seem to have no real meaning, when achieving this place, one will become truly grateful, and see all that has gone before as the work consciousness through the human. We don’t need to become enmeshed in our own beliefs or practices from this perspective, as at the end of the day we don’t need the path any more, nor the guru, the teacher, or even a defined God. The purest elevated form of existence flows into a native state of spiritual enlightenment otherwise experienced as Existence, Knowledge, Bliss. This position has been known and written about over thousands of years from the time of the ancient sages and is prior to most known established religions. Nearer in history if we look closely it is expounded upon eloquently by all religions, albeit it in a variety of words, expressions and philosophy.

There are endless permutations of developed codes of religious practice, rituals and rules that are supposed to bestrew some benefit, giving a good credit rating towards the heavenly rewards. Sometimes this leads to some rejection of human natural activity such as the seeking of sex or wealth, even though the very acceptance of the human nature is also connected with a more advances  awareness.  

In the here and now, the individual who is struggling to succeed seeks a way, which is lit up by the presence and involvement of our Guides. The word guru  is compised of “Gu” meaning to “break through”, while “Ru” means “darkness”. You chose or ask for guidance on your journey, and seek it from a human teacher form, (even if not still alive). This imparter of the teaching or dispeller of darkness may subtly enable achievement of the required goal. For the spiritual seeker the guru is a grace that appears to the degree that the seeker has prepared to surrender to the guidance. It is a spark of recognition that jumps the gap between the teacher and the follower or disciple to light up the inner fires.

This following of the teacher or the guru is also part of a way, which is not about following one’s basic desires, but about dealing with one’s basic desires. Getting past what is binding. The characteristic behaviour or activity of an enlightened being can seem at times very ordinary or normal: A human who behaves as a human. But the path set down by the teacher endlessly addresses the problem of trying to get past or out of the human predicament, and the greed, hate, and desires that afflict us. It is then about accepting human nature and working with one’s problems, continuing to practice, and not giving up on the journey in spite of lapses or even relapses from the path. There is no forceful asceticism or strident moral posturing, nor religious crusading. It is then the way of accepting the Grace and energy of the enlightened being and simply allowing that to promote one’s own spiritual state until all the searching and seeking fall away.Excerpt from new book – in progress.