Eating, drinking. sleeping, pro-creating. A little laughter, a lot of tears. Is this all there is to life? Don't die like a worm on the surface of the planet. WAKE UP and be all that you can be, you are so much more than that.
SivanandaRead
There is no end of craving. Hence contentment alone is the best way to happiness. Therefore, acquire contentment.
Interpretation
True happiness comes from being content rather than constantly seeking more.
Sivananda's quote highlights the idea that an endless desire for more can lead to unhappiness. Instead, finding contentment in what we have allows us to achieve true happiness. The emphasis is on the notion that contentment is a choice that can lead to a fulfilling and satisfied life, underscoring the importance of appreciating the present moment instead of pursuing never-ending cravings.
In practice
During a meditation retreat, a speaker quoted Sivananda to emphasize the importance of inner peace.
Eating, drinking. sleeping, pro-creating. A little laughter, a lot of tears. Is this all there is to life? Don't die like a worm on the surface of the planet. WAKE UP and be all that you can be, you are so much more than that.
Put your heart, mind, and soul into even your smallest acts. This is the secret of success.
Let each man take the path according to his capacity, understanding and temperament. His true guru will meet him along that path.
Forget like a child any injury done by somebody immediately. Never keep it in the heart. It kindles hatred.
Adhere To - Faith, Unity, Sacrifice. Avoid - Back-biting, Falsehood and Crookedness. Admire - Frankness, Honesty, and Large-heartedness. Control - Tongue, Temper, and Tossing of the mind. Cultivate - Cosmic Love, Forgiveness and Patience. Hate - Lust, Anger, and Pride.
Rise above the deceptions and temptations of the mind. This is your duty. You are born for this only; all other duties are self-created and self-imposed owing to ignorance.
My dear brothers and sisters, the joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives.
If you want to be happy, set yourself a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy and inspires your hopes. Happiness is within you. It comes from doing some certain thing into which you can put all your thought and energy. If you want to be happy, get enthusiastic about something.
Obviously, circumstances alone do not make us happy or unhappy. It is the way we react to circumstances that determines our feelings. Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven is within you. That is where the kingdom of hell is, too.
The pleasure of eating should be an extensive pleasure, not that of the mere gourmet. People who know the garden in which their vegetables have grown and know that the garden is healthy will remember the beauty of the growing plants, perhaps in the dewy first light of morning when gardens are at their best. Such a memory involves itself with the food and is one of the pleasures of eating. (pg. 326, The Pleasures of Eating)
A person who's happy will make others happy; a person who has courage and faith will never die in misery
It was my mom who told me, "Ernie, if you make even one person happy with your smile or a funny thing you did every day, you'll have accomplished a great deal." And that's all I've ever tried to do.
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