Secret of Happiness

In a small village in the valley, there lived a man who was always happy, kind and well
disposed to everyone he met. He always smiled and had a kind and encouraging word to
say whenever necessary. Everyone who met him left feeling better, happier and elated.
People knew they could count on him and regarded him as a great
friend.
One of the village dwellers was curious to know what his secret was, how could he be
always so kind and helpful? How is it that he held no grudge towards anyone and was
always happy? Once meeting him in the street, he asked the man who was always
happy, “Most people are selfish and dissatisfied. They do not smile as often as you do;
neither are they as helpful or kind as you are. How do you explain it?”
“When you make peace with yourself, then you can be in peace with the rest of the
world. If you can recognize the spirit in yourself, you can recognize the spirit in
everyone, and then you find it natural to be kind and well disposed to all. If your
thoughts are under your control you become strong and firm. The outer mask of the
personality is like a robot programmed to do certain tasks. Your
habits and thoughts are the programs. Be free from these programming
and then the inner good that resides in you will be revealed.” “But a lot of work is
necessary. Good habits have to be developed. The ability to concentrate and to control
the thoughts has to be strengthened. The work is difficult and endless. There are many
walls that need to be to climbed. It is not an easy task.” Lamented the villager.
“Do not think about the difficulties, otherwise that’s what will you see and experience.
Just quieten your feelings and thoughts and try to stay in this peace. All the abilities and
powers awaken spontaneously. You do not work on them directly. They are by-products
if your peace of mind. Just try to be calm and do not let yourself be carried away by our
thoughts.”
“Is that all?” Asked the villager. “Try to watch your thoughts and see how they come
and go. Stay in the quietness that arises. The moments of peace will be brief at first, but
in time they will get longer. This peace is also strength, power, kindness, and love. Then
you realize that you are one with the Universal Power, you begin to act from a different
dimension, not from the selfish, small, limited ego.” “I will try to remember your words,”
said the villager and continued, “there is another thing that I am curious about. You do
not seem to be influenced by the environment. You have a kind word to everyone and
are helpful. Yet people do not exploit your goodness, and they treat you well.”
“Goodness and being kind do not necessarily point to weakness. When you are good you
can also be strong. People sense your strength and do not impose on you. When you are
strong and calm inside, you help people because you can and you want to. You then act
from strength and not from weakness. Goodness can also go with power and strength,
it is not a sign of weakness as some people erroneously think.” “Thank you very much
for your advice”, said the villager and went away happy and satisfied..

 

Taken from Atma Sachaya Dhwani, soulsearchers newsletter, april 2007.