Saint Francis of Assisi was asked by Brother Juniper while walking in the woods “How happy are the birds in the air, the animals in the grass, and the fish in the brooks. Father, why is it that men are not as happy as that?” And Saint Francis of Assisi answered, “Well Brother, it is this way: the birds, the animals, and the fish are made for this world. That is why they are so happy. Men are not made for this world. You see, don’t be naive. In this world, in a world of tears, Sri Daya Mata says there is very little happiness in this world. You have to squeeze the happiness out of it.
The laws of karma govern out what is measured in the degree of prosperity one has been dealt with in life. Your past karmic actions will determine your financial success not your happiness. In spite of that there are outer circumstances that cause happiness or joy to temporarily express itself from within but to the uninformed this condition has simply helped to release a flow of cascading joy from within the hidden pool of ever new bliss. Actual events are generally necessary to bring happiness in individual experiences; however, this creates the need to repeat these experiences. When out of tune joy appears absent of any material cause. Remember the more you find yourself depending on conditions that are outside yourself for your own happiness the less happiness you will have.
You could be looking half of your lifetime for happiness excepting to find some external circumstances to bring you happiness, peace and joy. There are some who know there is more to the meaning of life than just peace or comfort but are still unaware of life’s real meaning; they are searching for happiness everywhere except within themselves where true happiness bubbles up from the base of the spine. What does that really mean? For the spiritually uninformed, pursuing to acquire useless desires instead of your real needs is not the way. Happiness does not work that way; it springs forth from the base of the spine and trickles upward to the brain when you are in tune. How do you get in tune? The fastest way is through meditation.
Those who are out of tune who want happiness have to squeeze it out of this earth. There are those who try to find happiness in marriage; we try to develop a beautiful relationship with another soul, but because of our misbehavior, most of the time we are unable to be really in love with each other. Now what is beautiful with God is that He loves you no matter how you are. But as He sees you striving to change, then more and more of His love begins to be your reward. Remember that. Love is the fulfilling of the Law. The more you please God, the more you become in love, because He gives it to you.
Most people want to be in love don’t they? However if you are contemplating marriage; think once, think twice, then think again if the person you want to spend the rest of your days with is not spiritual and you are on the spiritual path, avoid the marriage. When the physical attraction wears off for the other person and the good looks or pretty faces wanes, you will not be loved, for it is not heartfelt divine love. Even though you can express conjugal love which is the great expression of human love to a mate, it’s tricky, idealistic and sadly the majority of people leave this life with little satisfaction in their hearts.
You may marry a very moral person who may stay loyal but friendship or companionship may be all you get because now you may have a bunch of kids and are economically stuck with each other.
That is why in the West there are so many broken marriages and cheating going on. There is no divine love there. Love is not a human quality but God himself. When you feel love for people you have allowed God to flow through you at that moment. All the love you express for your mother, father and children is simply He who loves through you. When you think you love your wife; it is He who loves your wife; it is He who loves your husband and it is He who loves your children.
That’s why yoga starts with yama-niyama to maintain constant equilibrium in your emotional life. That becomes a very strict life. Very few people are willing to analyze their situation in life to determine whether they are progressing or going backward. There are two things in life: there is fate, and there is destiny. They are not the same. If you do not assert yourself in what you are doing in life, you either go forward or backward. Therefore, only when you are certain and begin to analyze your life will you go forward. If you are not aware, you cannot remain still on the platform of Spirit, you are going to move one direction or the other and unless you begin to be aware of your life, you are going backward like some of these orphans who have made themselves beggars.
