0 1_ Where is happiness?
Yoga practitioners should understand that different types and levels of happiness should be obtained in different ways. The happiness gained through sensual enjoyment, fame and fortune are like a flash in the pan, which can't fully satisfy our hearts; Sometimes you can get the highest level of happiness by taking an unusual road.
? The ancient yoga sutra called happiness "Ananda" and "priority". However, happiness is hard to find, and the feeling of happiness we taste in life is often fleeting, which can't satisfy our real desires.
The Highest Realm of Happiness-"Ananda" and "Original"
Over the years, we have received many letters from successful people. They enjoy all the splendor in the world, but their hearts are still not satisfied; They are suffering from all kinds of troubles, but they don't know what the problem is.
For example, we received a letter from a lady saying:
My life can be said to be perfect. I run an international swimwear company, which has attracted much media attention. I am in good health, have a lovely daughter, have a happy marriage, my husband's career is also very successful, and my friends are envious of me. But all this still doesn't satisfy me. I always feel empty, as if there is something missing in my life.
Happiness is like ebb and flow.
If you try to write on the beach with twigs, you must know that it won't last. Similarly, the new clothes you just bought made you happy for a while, but how long can the novelty last? Yesterday, you may feel happy because you watched a good movie or ate a delicious meal, but where is this happiness now? It has disappeared without a trace!
? This kind of happiness is not only short-lived, but also the source of happiness is not long-lasting. For example, the happiness gained from food is short-lived, because the material form of food itself is short-lived, it has its own time limit, and it will rot when time comes. Some people feel happy because they are famous and respected, but flowers bloom and fall. This year is a smash hit, and next year will be a thing of the past, and no one cares; Some people have been in business for many years and have a lot of money, but unexpected events happen, and people and money are empty overnight. No matter how beautiful you are before your death, you will only be a pile of loess after your death.
As the saying goes, relying on mountains to eat mountains, relying on water to draft. The happiness gained by the body is like a cloud in the sky, which will disappear with the passage of time.
Happiness lies in misfortune.
? Although the fragrance of roses can hurt people, sending a bunch of roses to the person you love can also bring sharp thorns. Similarly, short-lived happiness is always accompanied by pain and suffering. This example can be seen everywhere; Although candy is delicious, eating too much will make you feel uncomfortable, gain weight and have cavities; Although drunk is pleasant, it will bring the consequences of drunkenness, vomiting and splitting headache; "Smoking" will only solve the temporary addiction, but it will eventually lead to cancer, emphysema or other smoking-related diseases; After a day of "shopping", we may gain a lot, but it is followed by anxiety, swollen legs and blistering feet; Fantastic relationships make people live in the clouds, but often end in heartbreak.
Materialism, fame and fortune, and the bright moon in the water can't satisfy my sincerity.
? The Rolling Stones, one of the most famous and successful rock bands in decades, has a classic song called "I can't be satisfied", and one of the lyrics is like this: "I can't be satisfied, I can't be satisfied, even though I work hard, work hard and try again. I still can't get it, I can't get it. " The members of the band are rich and famous, and they try their best to enjoy the senses that money can buy, but their songs are still not satisfied.
Take movie stars for example. Even at the peak of their careers, their lives are not satisfactory. The more popular a star is, the more difficult it is to enjoy the quiet life of ordinary people. Their every move is under everyone's eyes, and there is almost no privacy. As soon as they step out of the house, they will be targeted by reporters from all walks of life, and then their privacy will be exposed. Paparazzi always try their best to take untidy photos of big stars, even their families. Some celebrities even close the curtains at home, because paparazzi may lie on the roof next door and try to take pictures.
Fame and fortune will not make the pain in our lives disappear. In fact, when we have everything, we will feel "unattainable", lose the motivation of life, and don't know how to get real and lasting happiness. The phenomenon of drinking, taking drugs and committing suicide among the rich is increasing, which shows the tragic emptiness of their lives.
During the lecture tour held in Chinese mainland from 65438 to 0980, we discussed the problems and current situation of western society, and mentioned that westerners are rich, but not happy. Many young people in rich countries are depressed and choose to seek happiness from drugs or commit suicide. Of course, when we share this information with sociologists and college students, they are all surprised and it is difficult to understand why this phenomenon occurs.
? Everyone is born to die. After death, you can't take away your property, your lover, even your own body, and all the happiness associated with it.
? If we want to fill the emptiness in our hearts through worldly sensual enjoyment, material wealth, love and affection, then no matter how hard we try, even if we can experience a little happiness in this process, it is just like the glow of fireflies is not enough to light up the night, satisfy our hungry hearts and feel something is missing!
? So, we can completely satisfy our pure happiness without causing pain-where are Ananda and Prima?
Fortunately, the mysterious and ancient essence of yoga culture has been passed down from generation to generation. Through the wisdom of our ancestors who realized self-awareness, we found the answer in the science of yoga.
We know that there are many types and levels of happiness, and the ways to get happiness are also different. For example, some kind of happiness can be obtained through the accumulation of sensory enjoyment, emotional relationship, fame and fortune, and secular knowledge. This pursuit is not evil, but it is not perfect. It is meaningless to pursue this imperfect happiness all your life!
? Yoga teachers who have achieved self-awareness know that there is another kind of happiness different from this one. This kind of complete happiness is called "Ananda" and "deity" in ancient yoga sutras. In order to get this kind of happiness, we must make some changes in our lives.
Dear friends, please listen carefully to the secret of life that we want to reveal: the world exists in the eternal source of happiness, which is infinitely deep and inexhaustible. The more sweet roads we taste in this source of happiness, the more we can feel the real peace and satisfaction inside.
The way to get this happy experience through this fountain is what we call "yoga".
? According to the authentic spread of yoga, there is indeed a source of supreme happiness, that is, the real master of all things and the source of all things. Immerse yourself completely in the source of transcendental joy-this is the true meaning of yoga and the purpose of all yoga practice methods and lifestyles. As described in the Yoga Sutra, achieving supreme happiness, tranquility and harmony, joy, a meaningful happy life and transcending the fear of death are all fruitful fruits of practicing yoga. Its essence is peace, wisdom and pure love.
The torch of wisdom drives away the darkness of ignorance and lets us see everything clearly. Sharp insight makes us clearly understand the essence of self and the real purpose of life; The warm current of happiness, the light that inspires wisdom, illuminates our hearts, so that we will never get lost on the road ahead.
Nothing can bring us more happiness and happiness except love. Love in secular life is mostly mixed with selfish desires, fears, disappointments, worries, hatred and other emotions. It is like a reflection in the river, reflecting a distorted impression in the flowing water, so the pure and unpolluted perfect love that we long for in our hearts cannot be obtained. Noble wisdom and pure and perfect love are the essence of the true source of happiness, and its sweet and fragrant nectar is beyond ordinary people's imagination. That kind of indescribable wonderful feeling, like an elixir, can make people break free from the bondage of material, break through the cage of fear, move from night to light, make their hearts peaceful and feel infinite happiness. If you drink this nectar regularly, you can experience more and more happiness.
However, where can we find such wisdom and perfect love?
? Please consider the following metaphor: a beautiful diamond is hidden deep underground. Although it is buried in the night, it is still a diamond. Mud and gravel can temporarily hide its dazzling light and make its value temporarily undiscovered.
Similarly, spiritual love and wisdom have long existed in people's hearts, but like diamonds buried in gravel and soil, they are polluted by jealousy, greed and anger and need to be washed away. Our original spiritual love and wisdom will only be more radiant through our own gradual evolution.
In order to understand the path of yoga more deeply, you can assume that you inherited a manor with various fruit trees. There are many weeds in the garden, which affects the vigorous growth of fruit trees, and there are not many fruits on thin and short trees. In fact, the fruit tree itself has the ability to bear rich fruits. It is only because of improper management and no one to take care of it that such a depressed scene will appear.
? So the first step you have to do is to clear the rubbish and weeds on the ground and let the fruit trees grow unhindered. Next, you should water and fertilize the fruit trees regularly to protect them from pests and other animals. After such careful care, the fruit trees in the garden can gradually take root. So we won't worry about not eating juicy and sweet fruit next year!
Similarly, the saplings of spiritual love and wisdom have long been planted in our hearts, but they are dormant because of ignorance and selfish desires. In order to let the seeds of spiritual love and wisdom take root, we must purify our thoughts and concepts, remove the dirt and obstacles that hinder the seeds from thriving, and, like watering fruit trees, we must also carefully water the seeds of spiritual love and wisdom to protect them from bad atmosphere.
Under our careful care, saplings with spiritual love and wisdom will thrive and usher in one good year after another. This is the path of yoga life that we should pay attention to.