Being happy is probably the main “goal” of every human.

Everyone wants to be happy. We seek happiness each day, from the moment we wake up until we fall asleep. We reject what is painful and cling to what brings us pleasure. This is a collective phenomena.

By having enough money, a big house, a perfect body we may experience an external happiness, but we don’t notice that in the end this is a very limited form of happiness and overall freedom. We don’t realize that the happiness we experience in this particular moment is short-lived.

After purchasing a big house, we desire a bigger house, or another, better car, or something else. This form of happiness will never lead to satisfaction. This kind of happiness can never be everlasting, because we live in an ever-changing environment. What is today, is different tomorrow. We therefore have an ongoing battle with ourselves and society.

And when we finally achieve everything we ever desired, we then worry about losing it.

As long as our mind seeks security, whether in form of a bank account, or through a partnership, we are trapped. More specifically, our mind is trapped. Trapped by the relentless pursuit an experience that has already changed or passed. And experience that is gone.

Now I ask you, is this not the case?

If we truthfully ask ourselves we will understand that, as long as our mind seeks happiness from the outside, we will remain in constant conflict. It is an inner conflict between avoiding whatever brings pain and clinging to what brings us pleasure. If we don’t pay attention and are inwardly observant, it is a never ending battle,

Now you might ask, inwardly observant, in what way?

To answer this question I ask you this:

“Who is rejecting?”

“Who is clinging to?”

“Who is actually looking for happiness and who suffers if this happiness passes?”

Once we have answers to these questions, we get to the bottom of it all. If we don’t ask these questions, this turning wheel of seeking happiness will become our whole essence of life. We will continue to run after one thing today, another tomorrow, day in and day out in order to satisfy our thirst. Just like a dog tries to catch his tail, running around in circles but unable to reach it.

Without ceasing, the wheel of life is turning. We are not able to stop it, because we can not change its true nature. On that note, let’s not run the risk of blaming what is outside of us, or project the responsibility of our happiness, or lack thereof, on the external world. That would be a wrong assumption. The ever turning wheel—in this context,the world itself—is not the problem. The outer word, the big house, the bank account, the partner, the job, or whatever gives us pleasure, is not necessarily negative. Money, great accomplishments in life, fame, or the momentary feeling of happiness, are not the issue.

So, running away from the world is not the solution. Instead, we must understand it. The external word isn’t just bondage. It is necessary. Once we understand the correlation between what is around us and what truly brings us happiness, we will automatically stop running after “external happiness.” We won’t avoid it either, rather we will enjoy it fully and deeply.

We perceive everything through our mind: pleasure and pain;  bondage and liberation. Our mind is the reason for the “samsara” we are in. It is also the way out.

Our mind is the key.

In order to understand this process, we have to face and analyze it. We can start by practicing through observation and self-knowledge and learn to understand the process of our own thinking.

In the ancient scriptures, a fable tells the story about a deer with a scented spot on its forehead. This spot emits a musky fragrance. In search of this fragrance, the deer runs around, not understanding that the scent it is searching for, comes from its own forehead.

In order to find happiness, we must stop running.

We must stop looking for it.

We must stop chasing it.

We must stop.

And be present to exactly what is, in this moment. 

 

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Editorial Assistant: Kim Haas/Editor: Bryonie Wise

Photo credit: elephant archives