Happiness and spirituality
Spiritual inquiry and the search for happiness are not the same thing. In fact, the search for happiness will often impede spiritual inquiry. By focusing too much on happiness, we over-emphasize our egos. Furthermore, the search for happiness often pre-supposes that we are currently unhappy, and thus increases our misery.
Spiritual inquiry, along with most pursuits in life, is more effective when we are already happy…or better yet, when we are not all that concerned with happiness. Unhappiness is just a result of desire and dissatisfaction. It is a distraction that we can do without. If we are content with what we have, grateful for all the pleasures in life, then we will be happy.
So forget the search for happiness. It is something that happens without thought. Instead, learn to contribute to the world, learn about yourself and others, inquire about the nature of things, and be content with what you have.
