endingviciouscircleofconstantmentalpreoccupationandagitation,whichinitself
twarthsthepossibilityoftruehappiness,whichisabiding.Inaddition,sincenotall
situationsworkoutthewayoneanticipatesthattheywill,one’sexpectationswillbe
periodicallytwarthed,probablymoreoftenthantheywillworkoutinthewaythat
onehaddesired.Whenthisoccurs,thefrustrationanddisappointmentthatensues
blocksanypossibilityofexperiencinghappiness,evenatransientexperienceofhap-
piness,soexperiencingabidinghappinessisdefinitelynotevenapossiblilityunder
such circumstances.
“There is no happiness for the soul in the external worlds since these
are perishable.
True happiness lies in that which is eternal, within us.”
Intheexampleabove,acustomerwhounderstandsthefutilityinpursuinghappinessintheworldof
objects,relationships,situations,etc.,wouldnotlettheproblemwiththecashregisterdis-balance
theirmind.However,mostcustomersarenotinthisspirituallymaturecategory.Mostwouldbecome
upsetandimpatient.Inthiscase,asthecashier,youneedtoexertyourwillpowersoasnottoallow
thesituationtodis-balanceyourmind,nomatterhowridiculousitbecomes,becauseyouknowthe
secretofbeingpeacefulandhappy.Youknowthatyourhappinessisindependentoftheoutwardcir-
cumstance,andtocontinuetoexperienceitallyouhavetodoisstaycalmasyoucontinuetodeal
withthesituationtothebestofyourability,withpatience.Youknowthathappinessisyourtrue
nature,andthereforecanbeexperiencedinitsfullnessateverymoment.Thisisthegoalofallspir-
itualpractices,tomanifestthisstateofbeingwhereoneisperpetuallyhappyandjoyful,nomatter
whatisgoingon.Justtohavethisinsightresultsinamajorreleaseofstress,becausenowyoucan
stoprunningandchasingafterthephantomofhappiness,andbestillanddiscoveryourtrueessence
astheembodimentofabidinghappiness.Thisisthestateoftruehealth,andanystepsyoutakeinthis
directionwillleadyoutobecomehealthier.Thoughnoteasy,itmustbedone.Inreality,youare
alreadytryingtodoit;youarealreadyconstantlyinpursuitofabidinghappiness.Whatispresented
here is the wisdom that is needed to do it correctly, efficiently, effectively and healthily.
Journey to Abiding Happiness—What it takes to get there:
Forsome,thejourneywillbeeasy,whileforothers,challenging.Thisphilosophydoesnotleadtoa
morbidandausterelifestyleassomebelieve.Itisnottellingyounottolove,nottointeractwithob-
jects,toendallrelationships,togetridofallobjects,etc.No.Rather,itismerelyurgingyoutoreal-
ize,eachtimeyouexperiencehappinesswheninteractingwithspecificobjects,situations,conditions
orpersons,togivecreditfortheexperienceofhappinesswherecreditisdue,totheHigherSelfwith-
inyou,andnottheoutercircumstance.Ifthisispracticed,inadditiontotheotherspiritualdisciplines
forpromotingself-discovery(meditation,selflessservice,righteousaction,etc.),youwillgradually
leadyourselftothestateofenlightenment.Youwillhaveattainedthegoaloflife,thatforwhichyou
havebeenstriving,butwhichhaseludedyourgraspforcountlesslifetimes,theexperienceofabiding
peace and joy (bliss).