True Happiness
Dear Forum friends:
Everyone wants to be happy. We are always looking for thingsthat make us happy. It is easy to be happy when everything is going wellin our lives, but when things that we don't like or cause us to besad or worried happen, then it is not easy to be happy.
If we look around we see people who seem to be happy – they have material things, a nice apartment or house, a car, more money than we have. But everyone is
looking for happiness. Many findhappinessinrelationships,(some for love and others for gratification of physical desires).
And then there are millions who try to acquire happiness by running away from their problems.
Some prefer a heavy dose of entertainment or sports, others becomeworkaholics, and others turn to alcohol or drugs. Increasing numbers of people
are realizing that these answers don't bring lasting or true
happiness.
What are the physical things that make us happy? Would you saya loving family? a nice apartment or house? a car? a high salary?
holidays? good food? nice clothes? good friends? We know that by
putting our knowledge into hard work we can buy some physical
happiness.
According to the Bahá’í Teachings, we have two natures, one is materialand the other spiritual. I understand that it is necessary to balance thesenatures to find true happiness because both must be present to achieve truehappiness. It is fine to concentrate on material things half of my time but the other half I must concentrate on spiritual things.
So what are these spiritual things and how do I balance my life so thatI find true happiness? The Baha'i Writings tell me that I can find it by practicing the spiritual qualities within me, some of which are love, kindness, compassion, generosity, honesty, justice, loyalty, patience, nobility, service to others, prayerfulness. And some of the ways I can put this into action is by helping and serving others, being a good son/daughter, husband/wife, brother/sister, good friend, responsible human being.
Practicing these spiritual qualities also helps us overcome unhappiness in life
. e.g. loss of a job: have confidence and optimism to find another;
loss of a family member: have hope to meet them again when we leave this world;
health: courage and hope to make what is left of my life to bring happiness and
meaning to those I'm leaving behind, so that I have not lived in vain.
Would you agree that some of the spiritual things we need then to make us happy
are the love of our family and friends, meaning in our life, feeling of being
safe and secure, serving others?
When we practice the spiritual qualities we will be of service to others,
be a good friend, a good son/daughter, husband/wife, brother/sister,
mother/father then we are happy.
A quote from the Bahá’í Writings says:
As to spiritual happiness, this is the true basis of the life of man, for life is created for happiness, not for sorrow or death. Spiritual happiness is eternal. This is a light which is not followed by darkness. This is an honour which
is not followed by shame.This is a life that is not followed by death. This is
an existence that is not followed by annihilation. This great blessing and precious gift….has been given to all of us.
Our aim for achieving spiritual happiness then is to be the cause of happiness for others and be the cause of the good deeds around us. When people see the good effects they are encouraged to do the same and this will help to make this world a better and safer place
We need to understand that material progress and spiritual progress are two very
different things and that only if material progress goes hand in hand with spirituality can any real progress come about, and The Most Great Peace reign in the
world.
Kindest regards,
Sonia
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