HOW TO STAY HAPPY & ALIVE

What I have learnt so far is that "Happiness is a choice" it really depends on us and our perception, mostly in our day to day life we often see the one side of a coin and forgets about the other. Our happiness is the condition of our mind but if one really wants to be happy and alive we must look beyond our mind and its condition.

I would like to ponder few things by a Buddhist Monk and Peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh to stay happy and alive ~~~

In one of his retreats he said that "Happiness lies in the present moment". and is made up of small moments. He further said :

Mindfulness and concentration brings happiness, compassion, understanding and solidity.

Happiness depends on us, the way we act changes everything.

Every moment is a miracle, enjoy when you take your breath in and when you take it out.

Try to be fully present in the moment. " Here and Now".

Acknowledge the gifts you have each morning. Smile when you wake up and practice gratitude.

Energy of mindfulness and concentration are energy of holiness.

Practice humility.

Somebody ask Thich Nhat Hanh, How to produce the feeling of joy and happiness ?

He replied that the practice of mindfulness, concentration and letting go can bring a feeling of joy and happiness.

How to take care of our feelings and emotions ?

He beautifully explained that there is a ocean of feelings in us and every emotion is like a drop in the ocean. Mindfulness helps us to connect with the joy inside us and to the wonders around us and if we are happy enough we can be able to handle the feeling and emotions. He further explains that mindful breathing is like playing violin, very soft and smooth, it is a continuation of the breath and there is no break between the two. He also said mental formations are organic i.e. one feeling can transform into the other, like hate can be transform into love, Anger into compassion and so on.

How can we cultivate understating and compassion ?

He explained that understanding and compassion are like beautiful flowers which grows after looking deeply into the nature of suffering. He gave the example of a garden where you have flowers and garbage too, without garbage there would be no flowers, in the same way if you cannot understand suffering you cannot cultivate compassion. The flower of understanding and compassion can be made by the garbage of suffering. Without one there is no other. so embrace it, look deeply into the suffering which will transform into compassion and understanding.

In the end I leave you with few quotes by Thich Nhat Hanh

There is no way to Happiness - Happiness is the way.

The amount of Happiness that you have depends on the amount of freedom you have in your heart.

The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.

So many conditions of happiness are available; more than enough for you to be happy right now. You don't have to run into future in order to get more.

You know that your happiness and suffering depend on the happiness and suffering of others. That insight help you not to do wrong things that will bring suffering to yourself and to other people.

Many people are alive but don't touch the miracle of being alive.

Be yourself. Life is precious as it is. All the elements for your happiness are already here, there is no need to run, strive, search, or struggle, Just Be.