Thursday, Apr 25 2024  

True Happiness lies within Us - 15 Oct 2012

What makes us happy? A child, who is playing with his new toy, is happy at that instant. A teenager, who gets the latest gadget, the iPhone 5, is happy. A Postgraduate, who lands himself in a high paying job in order to buy himself a new car, is happy. However, such possessions do not last long and only bring temporary happiness to us.

The child would soon gain interest in a new toy and find himself unhappy when his parents refuse to purchase it. Similarly, the Postgraduate would want to buy a better car upon seeing his friend's new car, without realizing the cost of its maintenance. Such worldly possessions only delude and derail us from realizing true happiness.

Happiness is not in the material objects. If true happiness lies in material objects, people should be very happy having all their possessions. On the contrary, wealth makes them more insecure. The more we have, the more unhappier and less peaceful we become. True happiness, in fact, can only be found within us.

Many of us, including myself, do not realize how lucky we are, having been blessed with good health, good family and good company. We keep looking for happiness elsewhere, in the world outside, without realizing that the happiness we desire, lies within us. Swami once told a story that illustrates this point beautifully. There was an old lady who was searching for a needle under a street lamp. A young man walked past and asked, “O grandma, what are you doing?” She replied, “I lost my needle and I am searching for it here in the light.” The boy asked, “Where did you lose it?” She replied, “I lost it in the house but there is no light in my house. Therefore I’m searching for it here.” Similarly, when happiness is found at one place, there is no use in searching for it elsewhere.

This is such a simple, yet profound example. Therefore, as long as we think that happiness is in material objects, we are far away from it. The world and objects outside us are just passing clouds. True happiness lies within us.

Swami says that happiness is union with God. I really understood Swami's teaching during our Sunlove Home Seva. Prior to joining in Sunlove Home Seva, I had the assumption that it would be boring, as the Seva usually lasts for two long hours. However, after the persuasion of my parents, I decided to attend the Seva. Along with a group of brothers and sisters, I sang bhajans, put up some entertainment for the elderly to watch and danced with them. The elderly were also given the microphone to sing their favorite songs.

Seeing their faces with smile, happiness, joy and fun, I soon found myself experiencing similar joy and happiness within. I was truly happy and could feel Swami's presence. At that point, I did understand what true happiness meant. When we serve others and make them happy, we would feel such happiness in return.

In conclusion, here is a poignant message from Swami that I have absorbed and reflected upon: “The secret to happiness is not in doing what one likes to do but liking what one has to do.”

JAI SAI RAM

Bro Justin Yugumaran
Group 4