Happiness As A Practice

Thursday, 28 September 2023 Written by Robert Wilkinson

I was in a discussion recently with someone who asked if “spiritual people” could be “happy.” And is “happiness only an emotional thing?” The answer to the first is a resounding yes, and the answer to the second is most definitely no. Today we discuss the “practice of happiness.”

My original answer reminded her that there is an ancient aphorism that "happiness is of the mind, joy is of the Soul, and bliss is of the Spirit." I have taught "the science of happiness" for 45 years. It is possible to have a happy state of mind without translating it into a feeling or an action and without denying what is, or seems to be.

In truth, I suspect all truly spiritual Beings experience happiness at least part of the time, while not clinging to it when the mind in its discontent decides “it’s not happy.” This passing attitude can be corrected quickly by cultivating a habit of detachment from temporary emotional and mental states. Due to the mind’s inherent restlessness, we have to learn to monitor its changes and be able to turn the negative to positive intention.

I have found that true happiness allows space for compassion, sympathy, respect, and devotion. Happiness allows us to see the beauty in people and situations, as well as the ugliness but without getting hooked by it. Cultivating dispassion helps us overcome the suffering which comes from avoiding things.

As a spiritual man, my focused "happiness" waxes and wanes, but I am never "unhappy." That’s not to say I do not grieve that humanity is so cruel to the Earth, its creatures, and each other. I am sad that the world is so barbaric, but any "unhappiness" is a useless state of mind.

Sadness is inherent in the human condition, and so we all feel that, whether we acknowledge it or not. Sadness is the gateway to healthy grief, which is how we process the pain of loss, death, frustration, and other negative states of mind. But we can be genuinely happy even while feeling sad. That's how powerful happiness is as a state of mind.

We cannot force ourselves to be happy, and if we’re tuning into the global sadness, then we can only detach with open hearted compassion and a willingness to be a witness to what is, and what could be while cultivating a positive attitude by remembering that all along the Path of Life, we have loved and been loved abundantly. Life’s goodness comes from the eternal love which is always good for us, regardless of how or when or in what form we encounter it.

The fact that we can instantly access the love we are and always have been and will be, and re-experience all the love that's been given to us across the years, is the supreme state of awareness which nothing can shake. When our mind is focused from the angle of our Soul, we can easily cut through the illusion of “unhappiness” and BE the happiness we have cultivated.

About 6 months ago I did a longer article titled How to Be Happy - Happiness is Our Birthright. In it I elaborated techniques to recognize what makes us happy, and how to cultivate a constant happiness as a state of mind. You will also find how to release all which makes you unhappy, including the mind’s constant “compare and contrast” functions which breed discontent. Please take a new look at it, since it’ll help you cultivate a happy state of mind which nothing outside you will shake.

Reprinted on crystalwind.ca with written permission from Robert Wilkinson. Copying this article to other blogs is strictly prohibited. It is copyright protected. 

© Copyright 2023 Robert Wilkinson

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