Books on Happiness / the happiness revolution - 2 students

We continued on our walk, thinking about what Panditji had said. Only a few moments had passed when he suddenly halted and turned in our direction. Speaking in a much softer tone he said, “But if you send a wise person to hell, he will turn it into heaven.” Our walk continued. Karen and I looked at each other as we both silently repeated what we had heard: “Send an

ignorant person to heaven and they will turn it into hell. But send a wise person to hell and he will turn it into heaven.” We looked up. Panditji had stopped again. Now greeting us with his arms extended, he whispered, “If you wish, get really, really strong, ask for the privilege to go to hell… and turn it into heaven.”

His words were coming from the future. We did not know it then, but Panditji was forecasting our future. Ten years later global warming, extreme poverty, biodiesel and AIDS would become the focus of our lives. Where there is drought, devastation, disease and despair, we want to help.

There is a wake-up call sounding around the globe. The su erings of humanity and the planet itself are now becoming calls to action for every citizen and school child. We can no longer remain in a state of ignorance about global warming and other species-threatening behaviors.

BUILDING A BETTER WORLD THROUGH

ACTION

For Karen and I, our travels to India became the spark to work for the betterment of others. It was definitely a bonfire approach and it was fueled by the poverty and destitution that we witnessed. All of us reach this point where the spark ignites and helping others becomes

the fuel to help us attain our own goals. As your self-concept broadens, the welfare of others becomes more important.

All of us eventually gravitate toward the people and the opportunities that can help us achieve our goals – both lofty and mundane. There is no need to abandon your friends or family, but you must recognize that the only constant in life is change. As you and your mind become more supportive of your self-selected goals, the environment in which you live and work will gradually rise up to support you. Finding that support has become easier than ever. You can create a network of helpful people in your life by going on-line, by joining weekly classes or attending seminars. You can visit with these peers and mentors not just in person, but also through email, telephone, text messaging, instant messaging and so on. Your community is out there waiting for you. Go say hello.

As you can see in this chapter, I am expanding the concept of happiness to a higher level. When the forefathers of America wrote about “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” they were asking the citizens of their new nation and the world at large to reconsider the goals of

humanity. They saw this to be essential to the formation of a more perfect union. A much older document, the Vedas, expounds on yoga as skillful living. The Vedas state that yoga, or union, will come when you perform your actions skillfully in harmony with all forms of life. This synchronicity of goals and actions leads to a sustainable future. When all the individuals, cultures and nations of the world begin performing their actions skillfully, peace and prosperity will reign. This is the sacred link that binds us together. The longing for that connection dwells in you, as it dwells in me.

A huge component of skillful living comes down to how we treat ourselves and others. As we start to embrace diversity at the cultural and governmental levels, global policies will shift for the better. Governments will start to actively make peace and prosperity a priority. Someday, there will be a Department of Peace in every government and a Secretary of Peace in each president’s Cabinet. We can initiate these changes now. You can inspire your government to create these positions, and to fill them with leaders who will bring peace within and promote peace and prosperity to other countries. If the great countries of the world would commit the same amount of effort and resources that they currently reserve for war into actively creating peace and prosperity, then everything could change quickly. Our behavior at the individual level can powerfully shift the collective behaviors of a nation. Praying for peace - even demanding peace - is not as powerful as living it.

Do not expect a democratic leader to be more generous or more peaceful than the citizens he or she serves. In every democracy the health and mindset of the citizens determine the actions and attitudes of their leaders. Good intentions are not enough. Many people have good intentions and yet there is still su ering in the world. Good intentions should be put into action. We must make a little more effort to greet and embrace the forces of good works. We cannot force others to change but we can change ourselves and become an example to the world. In the immortal words of Gandhi, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” With this attitude, Gandhi truly did change the world. Do not underestimate your impact.

The pure goodness and determination seen in the actions of Gandhi may seem like a lofty standard in which to hold yourself. There are, however, benchmarks along the way that you can aim for, as well as methods and guidelines for working toward true skillfulness in your interactions with others. Ask yourself everyday:

How much patience have I cultivated for my family members, friends and co-workers? How much sensitivity do I have toward the problems of others? How easily am I disturbed or angered by others? How do I respond to insult and injury from others?

Every great civilization has handed down guidelines for how to treat others. These guidelines consistently center on love, compassion and generosity toward all of mankind. Buddha said, “Hatred never ceases by hatred, but by love alone is healed. This is the ancient and eternal law. Like a caring mother holding and guarding the life of her only child, so with a boundless heart hold yourself and all beings.”32 The Gospel According to Matthew says, “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”33

In my own life I wanted to inspire all people, but I did not know how to respond to those who were not kind to me. In response to my dilemma I received the following loving instructions: All people are destined to be great and good some day. Some march toward their des-

tiny while others occasionally get lost and distracted. Regardless of their current status, you share the same destiny.

Whenever you see a wicked person, immediately say to yourself, “Someday he will be good.” Whenever you see a good person, immediately say to yourself, “Someday he will be peaceful.” Whenever you see a peaceful person, immediately say to yourself, “Someday he will obtain liberation from the tyranny of his mind.” And, whenever you see a liberated person, simply bow your head.

Skillful interactions with others requires not just responding appropriately to those who are hostile, negative or displeasing to us in

any way, but also responding appropriately to those who have been kind and helpful to us. Your personal lineage is filled with ancestors that many rarely acknowledge. Family is more than a bloodline, it is a legacy of culture refined for centuries to benefit you and those yet to come. This ongoing lineage has been preserved in the oral tradition as well as in the arts and music of every land. From a multitude of sources, I have recreated a tale that must be told.

According to legend, an ancient master imparted this advice to his son before sending him out into the world. He said: As you perform your actions, remember that you stand on the shoulders of your ancestors. Be grateful for all that you have inherited from them and think of what you can leave for those who come after you. You may think of your ancestors only as your direct blood relatives, but this is a limited view. You actually have four types of ancestors.

The first type is indeed your blood relatives. If it were not for them you would not be here today. They have given you everything about your body, from your flesh and bones down to your genetic make up. The parents of your bloodline have cared for and raised the children of your bloodline. The best way to serve these ancestors is to do what they have done for you. In your lifetime, provide another with the privilege of human life. Raise your own child or children with the utmost respect and care. In this way, you honor the sacrifices of your parents, grandparents, great grandparents and all those who preceded you in your family.

The second category of ancestors is made up of those who have provided our family lineage with material wealth, which includes employers, patrons and friends. Your relationship toward your employer is a sacred one. To honor our ancestors of this type, care for others to the best of your financial ability. When you become successful enough, employ those in need of work, give to those in need of charity. Keep only what you need for yourself. One who hoards more

than he needs isolates himself from others and dishonors those who were generous enough to give to himself and his ancestors. Everyone, in some time and place, needed the guidance and charity of others.

The third category of ancestors is comprised of the scientists and teachers whose inventions and ideas made life easier. From the simplest inventions to the most fascinating and elaborate ideas, they passed on knowledge that saved many lives and gave us more time to care for one another. Do not take these gifts for granted. You can honor these ancestors by using the knowledge they have given us and expanding or improving upon their contributions. Use their knowledge and inventions in the most virtuous way - one that is conducive to the growth of mankind. The best way to honor these ancestors is to teach others. The virtue of contributing to the field of knowledge, through teaching others, exceeds all other good actions when done lovingly and selflessly.

The fourth and final category of ancestors is the forces of nature. Without air, sunlight or water, life simply could not exist. Nature serves all without discrimination or prejudice. The sun shines on the virtuous as well as the non-virtuous. Those who serve nature not only honor her, but they also leave a great legacy for generations to come. Consider the impact of your actions on nature. Consider what kind of planet you are leaving for future generations. Consider whether your actions convey the proper message of gratitude to the forces of nature. The water, air, soil and space carry the gross and subtle impressions of all of our actions. Therefore, contribute to the health of nature.

These are the four types of ancestors that have selflessly contributed to your world. None of them sought or seek your gratitude or praise. We honor and respect them all because we are grateful. We do our best to invest their gifts wisely to yield a greater return for future generations. Remember also that you are the ancestor of generations to

come. Think always of your children, your children’s children and all of the children to come thereafter. If it is within your capacity, provide them greater opportunities than your ancestors provided you. Be thankful for this great blessing of life.

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CHAPTER SUMMARY

•Before you can master your emotions, you must feel like a master. When you perform your actions like a slave, then all you are doing is working. But when you perform your actions like a master, then there is a graciousness and a selfl essness that guides your actions.

•To build a fi rm foundation of peace within you, all levels of your life have to come into balance. That is why it takes many years for most of us to achieve that solid inner core and outer core of stability in our life.

•Good intentions are not enough. Good intentions should be put into action. We cannot force others to change, but we can change ourselves and become an example to the world.

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Chapter14

Love and Longevity

“Love supersedes the regular laws of Nature, including the law of karma.”

Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, PhD.

Thank you for traveling with me on this journey to joy. Within these pages I hope you have learned some useful strategies that will help you uncover the happiness within you. We know it is good to improve your diet, the benefits of exer-

cise are countless, and the usefulness of prayer, contemplation and meditation are timeless. But it is unlikely that a single person could incorporate into his or her life all

that has been taught in this book. I encourage you to gather even the smallest seed of a useful idea from any chapter, plant it in the fertile soil of your mind, and allow it to grow.

But beyond every strategy and technique mentioned within these

pages lies something even greater, and I guarantee you that it will benefit you and yours. That something is love.

Writing this book has forced me to take a hard look at myself, my life, and the possibilities that yoga and spirituality can o er. My conclusion is simply this: there is very little that I have ever been able to do on my own or learn on my own. The first two decades of my life required the help, guidance, and teachings of many people to learn how to establish myself and navigate through life. I recall a student asking Swami Rama about the

identity of the greatest yogi. The student had heard that the Sage Patanjali, the codifier of the Yoga Sutras, was the greatest yogi. The student asked Swami Rama if that was true. “No,” replied Swamiji, “if it had not been for Patanjali’s mother, he would never have attained these great achievements. His mother was the greatest yogi.” And this summarizes my conclusion. If it were not

for the love of my own parents, I would never have arrived. Therefore, love must be the answer.

The poets write that love is the answer, no matter what the question. But as for you and me — as we do our best to improve our diet, lifestyle, and relationships with a multitude of techniques — we would do well to remember that all the great sages declare that love supersedes everything. Love overrides the law of karma that you thought could never change.

If you can fall in love with life, if you can fall in love with your habits, your body and your personality, if you can fall in love with the people and animals you see around you, if you can do only that, you will find the happiness that is the goal of this simple book and the goal of all philosophies and theologies. And in that love you will

find the fellowship of your neighbors and strangers alike. It is in that fellowship that I write these words to you.

BECOMING A CREATURE OF CHARM

Everything that has ever happened to you … everything … the good, the bad and the ugly … has to be acceptable to you. To make the final leap to happiness, all you have to do is accept your entire life history and habits.

It is not possible to live a full life if you view a part of your life as unacceptable. I counsel families torn apart by feuds, by squabbles over inheritances and by religious di erences. Marrying the ‘wrong’ person has caused some families to never join together again. How can this be? Even if you and I disagree on every topic, we should still be able to dine together, work together, worship together and even live together. We cannot continue to be broken, or break o our relationships with others, let alone alienate ourselves. As President Clinton spoke to the nation in 1998, “The children of this country can learn in a profound way that integrity is important and selfishness is wrong, but God can change us and make us strong at the broken places.”

These fractured relationships can be healed. To have a healthy society and optimal health at a personal level, this healing of families and relationships must happen. But for many, it is a struggle that seems irreconcilable because greater importance has been placed on following a rule or tradition, instead of loving those you birthed or those who birthed you. In your public life, society requires you to embrace all forms of diversity – avoiding all forms of discrimination against race, color, ethnicity, religion, politics and sexual orientation. This rule creates the possibility for a population of diversity to live together. But true diversity begins with a population of one.

You will never live in a world that is free of all prejudice until you embrace the diversity in your own mind and heart. To fall in love