Happiness

March 5th, 2009 by Guruka Singh Source: www.mrsikhnet.com

"One thing IS, (and that is) happiness.  Happiness cannot be bought.  If you have a good car, you sit in it and drive it.  You don’t leave it sitting with a cover on it.  Walk over the entire United States, and see if you can find one shop where happiness is sold.  You cannot.  This is because happiness is one thing which can never be bought and which cannot be sold."

Smiling Happy Sikh

Happiness runs in a circular motion.
Thought is like a little boat upon the sea.
Everybody is a part of everything anyway. 
You can have it all if you let yourself be.
Why? 
Oh, because.  - Donovan

"Now, this is the secret of happiness: This last line.  Why?  Oh, because.  That’s it.  That’s it.  Why?  Because.  Whatever you put out will come back to you.  I myself learned the secret of happiness from this song.  And I’m asking you, whenever you will fail to understand and practice this line, you shall be unhappy ... Even Almighty God who created this earth cannot keep you happy." - Yogi Bhajan, August 21, 1988

We all know what 3HO means, right?  Healthy, Happy, Holy.  Well, healthy is healthy.  It’s a spectrum of wellness and you can measure yourself on it.  Everyone is holy.  We are sacred beings and we all have nine holes.  (Think about it.)  So all we have to do is be aware and in control of whatever comes into and out of our nine holes.  But what about happy?  That one seems a bit more elusive.

 Most people ride the emotional roller coaster from day to day.  I’m having a good (or bad) day.  I’m feeling happy (or sad.)  But actually, happiness lies beyond emotions – it’s much, much deeper than that.

Sometimes doing yoga makes you feel happy.  Sometimes doing sadhana makes you feel happy.  But sometimes it doesn’t.  Sometimes a lot of garbage or weirdness comes out in your meditation.  But actually, those meditations where you process your garbage are the best of all.  After all, that’s why we do sadhana - to clean our subconscious mind, balance our positive and negative minds and stimulate our neutral mind.

So what’s the secret formula to be a happy person?  To find that deep wellspring of happiness that lies beyond day-to-day emotions?  Well actually, it’s very simple.  … Pay attention now, ok?

How happy you are is inversely proportional to how much time you spend dwelling on your own predicament in life.

Go ahead, read it again … I'll wait.

Yes, it’s that simple.  Serve others and forget about yourself.  The universe will take care of you.  You do not have to do it yourself.  Every little baby bird and every little bug under a rock has its food provided for it.  Why not you?  Just pay attention to what the moment is asking of you and then do it!  Care for others. Serve others, and let yourself be served.  Only those who spend their lives serving are truly happy.

- Guruka Singh

Comments

March 6, 2009 - 9:51am PCJ

I agree that the portrait is

I agree that the portrait is really great...

***Religion is a rebellious son of mother spirituality and religious fanatics are the worst offenders (Patits).

Religious fanatics are allergic to their own medicine.

March 7, 2009 - 12:12am Ujagar Singh

Painting by Sukhpreet

The painting is really wonderful. Multiple colours in the turban, open buttons of the shirt, a twisted-head stick (khoodi) in hand, flowing beard and moustaches besides and exuberant face - are all giving a clear-cut message.
March 8, 2009 - 9:05am PCJ

How on this earth did he

How on this earth did he paint a multi-colored turban? That's amazing...

***Religion is a rebellious son of mother spirituality and religious fanatics are the worst offenders (Patits).

Religious fanatics are allergic to their own medicine.

March 6, 2009 - 9:56am Theodorus

Indeed

I agree with you the paining with this story is great. Why isn't the artist mentioned ?
March 6, 2009 - 10:04am PCJ

It's Sukhpreet Singh.

It's Sukhpreet Singh. Clicking on the picture takes you to http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrsikhnet/3306139191/ where it says the name of the artist...

***Religion is a rebellious son of mother spirituality and religious fanatics are the worst offenders (Patits).

Religious fanatics are allergic to their own medicine.

March 6, 2009 - 7:30am arshi (not verified)

Turn happiness into bliss:

Happiness is a human perception of satisfaction with the way one’s life is moving. For some it may be a temporary experience of a particular mode of pleasure or even ecstasy. For others it may be a moment of pleasant sensation or glow within. It is also a relative term – put in an extreme manner “one man’s happiness can be another man’s taboo or misery”. What pleases one may irritate another. However, bliss has different connotations – we instinctively associate ‘bliss’ to a more permanent mode of happiness – an elevated type of happiness – a happiness linked to the soul. Bliss (anand) is a kind of feeling which sends a subliminal message to the soul - messages not consciously recognised by the mind but which, nevertheless, impinge on the mind in a Holy, positive manner. Depending upon the intensity of the bliss or ecstasy, it should subtly percolate to the unconscious mind. The effect of course is reflected in subsequent thought and action. Turn happiness into bliss - have a bliss full day.
March 5, 2009 - 12:27pm Jas4raj

We are happy when we are not

We are happy when we are not worried/anxious/sad about our worldly possessions. Once we remove the anxiousness of our worldly matters and set our minds on Vaheguru, we will be happy.

Guru Tegh Bahadur ji says on Panna 1429 of SGGS ji:

ਚਿੰਤਾ ਤਾ ਕੀ ਕੀਜੀਐ ਜੋ ਅਨਹੋਨੀ ਹੋਇ ॥ਇਹੁ ਮਾਰਗੁ ਸੰਸਾਰ ਕੋ ਨਾਨਕ ਥਿਰੁ ਨਹੀ ਕੋਇ ॥੫੧॥
ਜੋ ਉਪਜਿਓ ਸੋ ਬਿਨਸਿ ਹੈ ਪਰੋ ਆਜੁ ਕੈ ਕਾਲਿ ॥ਨਾਨਕ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਨ ਗਾਇ ਲੇ ਛਾਡਿ ਸਗਲ ਜੰਜਾਲ ॥੫੨॥
Chintha thaa kee keejeeai jo anehonee hoe, eihu maarag sansaar ko naanak thhir nehee koe [51]
jo oupajiou so binas hai paro aaj kai kaal, naanak har gun gaae lae shhaadd sagal janjaal[52]

People become anxious, when something unexpected happens, This is the way of the world O Nanak, nothing is stable or permanent[51]
Whatever has been created shall be destroyed, everyone shall perish, today or tomorrow. O Nanak, sing the glorious praises of the Lord, and give up all other entanglements[52]

"Spirituality without religion is like a lemonade without lemon"

March 5, 2009 - 12:04pm PCJ

Real happiness comes with

Real happiness comes with understanding the truth about this world and this life and learning to accept the truth "as is".

Ignoring the problems in life is not a way to find the real happiness. Real happiness is in finding the solution to the problems in life.

***Religion is a rebellious son of mother spirituality and religious fanatics are the worst offenders (Patits).

Religious fanatics are allergic to their own medicine.

March 5, 2009 - 12:20pm guruka

The solution is already present

The solution to every perceived problem is already contained within the problem itself. There is nothing to "find." All one has to do is pay close attention and watch the solution emerge.

"A sound man's heart is not shut within itself but it is always open to other people's hearts. If I am true enough, I feel the heartbeats of others above my own."
March 9, 2009 - 5:58am nimanna

Request to guruka ji.

Respected guruka ji i think you are the best person here to answer my one question.My question is what we call that person who is claiming he has no religion and still he giving the pain to all sikhs on sikhnet?What we have to do with him?Even he saying lot of things againest our GURU SHAIBS.Kindely request please answer this.
March 9, 2009 - 8:08am PCJ

Nimanna, before we end up

Nimanna, before we (you and I) end up hijacking this topic as well, please stop it right where you are. But this is just to advise you. Obviously there is nothing wrong with telling people of religion that what they are doing doesn't make sense. Even Guru Nanak did that by going to different religious places...

***Religion is a rebellious son of mother spirituality and religious fanatics are the worst offenders (Patits).

Religious fanatics are allergic to their own medicine.

March 10, 2009 - 6:00am nimanna

pcj very smart.

What we are doing as religion peopels thats doesnt make sense this mean pcj only you are smatter than all of sikhs arround the world ?And what you are doing thats only make sense?I just request to him because i am dumb and i hope he give me good answer about my question whats wrong in this pcj?
March 5, 2009 - 1:35pm PCJ

Guruka Singh Ji, I like the

Guruka Singh Ji,

I like the way you said "perceived problem". You are right, all problems are simply matter of our perception. You are right, solution is right there as long as one is capable of accepting the solution "as is".

***Religion is a rebellious son of mother spirituality and religious fanatics are the worst offenders (Patits).

Religious fanatics are allergic to their own medicine.

March 5, 2009 - 12:58pm Theodorus

Pro-Active?

"The solution to every perceived problem is already contained within the problem itself." That is probably true but "All one has to do is pay close attention and watch the solution emerge." doesn't sound very pro-active to me. Don't read me wrong I would love to just sit and watch but somehow I often think that more is expected from me.
March 5, 2009 - 1:18pm guruka

Navel watching

You are right. I didn't mean "don't act!" I meant only act when you know what's required and that that becomes apparent with full presence.

"A sound man's heart is not shut within itself but it is always open to other people's hearts. If I am true enough, I feel the heartbeats of others above my own."
March 5, 2009 - 10:46pm Theodorus

Thanks I now understand.

Ok thanks, now I understand what you say. I'm just a bit confused as I always thought that what you said ("The solution to every perceived problem is already contained within the problem itself. There is nothing to 'find.' All one has to do is pay close attention and watch the solution emerge.") and what I now understand, was sort of common knowledge. I at least never thought otherwise? In other words; what you just made explicit I thought was implicit to everybody.
March 5, 2009 - 11:42pm Ujagar Singh

Solution to the perceived problem

Dear Theodorus ji, I don't think one should 'pay (even) close attention' to the emerging solution. That by itself will be distracting as one starts putting in some degree of effort, howsover minute it may be. This results in doing some concentration on it, with natural rise of eagerness in the mind to see the solution emerge which may be further distraction. The best thing is to leave it aside like a floating thought. One should just not think about or reflect upon it, and be just a witness to whatever may happen. Thus one allows the limitless intellect and spirit to take over the reins. The solution is certainly contained in the problem by itself. It will surely emerge by itself i.e. without effort and anyway. But one must identify it, accept it willingly and then adopt it for his guidance.
March 6, 2009 - 12:49am Theodorus

Ujagar Singh ji, I had to

Ujagar Singh ji, I had to read your reaction several times as at first I really had not clue what you were trying to tell me. The first part of your message I could understand but the second part needed some real effort. With "and be just a witness to whatever may happen. Thus one allows the limitless intellect and spirit to take over the reins." and "But one must identify it, accept it willingly and then adopt it for his guidance." you are basically saying switch of you Ego, the solution is provided by God as are your actions needed in the solution. (I seem to have a problem with my Ego every time; it is just way too unhealthily persistent.)
March 7, 2009 - 12:04am Ujagar Singh

Solution to the perceived problem - cont'd

Dear Theodorus ji, you are quite right there in saying that one must bring down his ego level to zero (to enable the limitless intellect and spirit to take over...). One has to be humbler than the very dust under his own feet. The scripture says: "Die unto me, and be reborn". This death as stated in the Bible is not referring to physical death, but to the death of 'ego'. 'Reborn' here refers to the new self that will then be able to rise from within. But you already know the necessary requirement to achieve this higher level of consciousness. The burning of ego is v. difficult for all of us but it becomes v. simple under Guru's guidance. Guru means the 'Divine Enlightener'. Similarly, in Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji, p.1102, Raag Maroo, Guru advises: "Hohu sabhnaa ki rennukaa tau aao hamaarai paas" - meaning thereby that "First of all make yourself equal to the dust of all's feet, then only you can come to (will be able to see) me. Again, in the Sikh scripture, p.322.9, Raag Gouwri, Guru says: "Hoe sagal kee rennukaa har sang samao" - meaning thereby that "Be the dust of feet of all, so as to be able to merge into God. In Islam too there are similar passages in the Quraan but I leave it here. The Hindu sacred texts too are replete with such advice. Is therefore a common message for us mortals here delivered by the Prophets at different ages and regions?

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