A BLOG ABOUT

FULFILLMENT AND AWAKENING

Discovering the Truth of our Existence

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Happiness Inc.

Happiness is a universal pursuit. The search for happiness motivates all our actions. It will be hard to find any living being who actively strives to be unhappy. And yet when we look around we do not find too many happy people! Could it be that we do not know how to pursue happiness? Or perhaps the very pursuit of it is counter-productive?

The door of true happiness is neither open nor closed. It “appears” open or closed when looked through the lens of likes and dislikes. What is the secret to happiness? Is there way to abiding happiness? Is happiness a skill that can be mastered? Or some are just born that way, with a sort of genetic set-point of happiness?

Once a man approached the Buddha and said, “I want happiness.”

Buddha replied, “First remove ‘I,’ that’s ego; then remove ‘want,’ that’s desire. See now you are left with only ‘Happiness!’”

Buddha paused, and then added, “But if you really want to be happy, make someone else happy.”

Moral of the story: You are the happiness that you are seeking: You are already home. Act for the good of others.

The Rainbow Fish

The Rainbow Fish

Sep 21, 2015 | ,

The Rainbow Fish A Story by Marcus Pfister Once upon a time there was a fish with shiny, multi-colored scales named Rainbow Fish. He was always fond of his scales. But one day, a small fish asked him if he could have one. Rainbow Fish refused in a very rude way. The...

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Know Yourself and Be Happy!

Know Yourself and Be Happy!

Sep 20, 2015 | ,

Door of Happiness: तत्त्वमसि The door of true happiness is neither open nor closed. It appears open or closed when looked through the lens of likes and dislikes. Vedānta explains it clearly: In deep sleep, we are not aware of our body, name, fame, status, wealth...

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Glory of Self-Knowledge

Glory of Self-Knowledge

Sep 1, 2015 | ,

THE KNOWLEDGE WORTH SACRIFICING EVERYTHING FOR! When Nalanda University was ransacked in c. 1200 CE, two surviving monks managed to salvage the most precious manuscripts from the pillaged library. While ferrying this priceless cargo, water started entering the boat....

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PURSUIT OF ĀNANDA, Supreme Happiness

PURSUIT OF ĀNANDA, Supreme Happiness

Aug 25, 2015 | ,

True Happiness is Not Experiential We commonly use the term happiness, ānanda, to express our pleasurable experiences. There are other words that we tend to use quite interchangeably such as fulfillment, bliss, joy, well-being and so forth. These allied terms may be...

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Three Uses of Wealth?

Three Uses of Wealth?

Aug 24, 2015 | ,

A Sanskrit epigrammatic saying, Subhāṣita, explains various uses of wealth as follows: दानं भोगो नाशः तिस्रो गतयो भवन्ति वित्तस्य । यो न ददाति न भुङ्क्ते तस्य तृतीया गतिर्भवति ॥ dānaṁ bhogo nāśaḥ tisro gatayo bhavanti vittasya । yo na dadāti na bhuṅkte tasya tṛtīyā...

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The Spiritual Quest of Steve Jobs

The Spiritual Quest of Steve Jobs

Aug 23, 2015 | ,

Gazing Forward, Glancing Back: Connecting the i-dots! By critical acclaim, Steve Jobs is considered to be a creative genius and a great visionary leader. More than one pundit, praising Steve’s ability to transform industries with his inventions, have called him a...

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Path to Fulfillment

Path to Fulfillment

Aug 21, 2015 | ,

It is wonder of wonders that fulfillment or happiness is our intrinsic nature; we keep frantically looking for it outside. Self-knowledge puts an end to this life of relentless becoming by revealing a Self that is ever full, whole, and complete (pūraṇa). Anchored in...

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Conversations with a Tree

~ Satinder Dhiman, Ph.D. Ed.D.
January 11, 2013

Today during morning walk, I paused near a wise old tree; It greeted me, as always, gently; Unassumingly with an inviting look!

I have heard it whisper, as I pass by it, everyday: “I produce oxygen; What do you?”

Today, there was urgency in its voice, As if it had lots of questions for me That needed to be addressed; As a matter of life and death!

Still kind in its manner, Gentle in its demeanor; Solemn in its voice, The tree continued….

Rain or sunshine, Extreme cold or hot; I bear my lot, patiently; Without complaining or comparing! Do you?

By way of my own care and concern, I need very little on a daily basis. Always making sure to contribute, More than I consume. Do you?

I offer my gifts of shade and shelter, Anonymously and generously; And my fruits and flowers, To all and sundry, selflessly! Do you?

I am content in being the way I am, Without needing to compare or compete; To outshine or be better than the next tree; In the mindless race called success! How about you?

I abide placidly in the Present; Without brooding over the past, Or pining for the future; Living fully in the Now, authentically! Do you?

On yearly basis at least, I renew myself: Letting go of the old leaves; To make room for the new ones! Do you?

I do not hate my fellow trees, Nor do I destroy my own kind. Merely because they are different, Or hold a different viewpoint! How about you?

My virtues are: Patience, Generosity, Acceptance, Forbearance, Caring, Compassion, Contribution, Usefulness, Selflessness, Sustainability, Self-renewal! What are yours?

With my drab, rough exterior, I stay nimble and pliant inside. Always ready to adapt and to cater: Whatever circumstances transpire! Do you?

I genuinely hold my head high, Upright in my humility and gratitude; Always glorifying my Creator, By serving selflessly Its Creation! Do you?

In life and in death, I stay valuable, making sure that Every part of me is somehow useful, For the sake of others! How about you?

My leaves, my stem, My roots, my bark; All parts of the Divine Exchange, You humans call Eco-System. How about yours?

Even when I die, I am of service to you; As firewood to keep your house warm, And to cook your supreme meal! Do you?

Above all, I have the Virtue of Eternal Silence, And never get bored with my own existence! How about you?

As I listened to this wise old tree, I kept wondering: What have I done to the Garden Entrusted to my care?!

~ Satinder Dhiman, Ph.D.; Ed.D. January 11, 2013.