Weekly Thought #3:
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So in what way do happy people disturb our peace of mind? The first key to freedom is: Friendliness. You might assume that happy people do only good to our mental state but you should keep in mind the jealousy we often hold in our minds towards those that are happy and reside in prosperity and abundance. For example: Your neighbour has a Ferrari, a bigger garden, an extra floor built on top of his standard house, a gorgeous girlfriend, a job he loves, and most importantly: he is very happy with all of that. Now as you see him driving home with his ferrari, kissing his astonishing girlfriend and smiling big time, many of us will feel slight discomfort. Some of us might feel nothing, some of us might feel major discomfort: Jealousy. The key to freedom in this case? Friendliness.
Same goes for example when we see someone do something we would really like to do as well, but don't have the courage to. When someone performs on stage, or acts crazy and funny in public and doesn't seem to care about what other people think of him/her, we are often annoyed. That is because in fact we envy that person, he seems to be free of social conditioning, we want to be carefree of what others think of us as well. This irritation towards the other person doing what we long to do, is a form of jealousy and discontentment with ourselves. Whenever you feel something similar to this, observe what happens within you and transform this feeling slowly and gently to a feeling of freindliness and respect towards that other person. Be happy for others. That is your key to freedom.
He who feels happy with other people's happiness, possesses a richness without limits.
-F.Daels
You might have thoughts like: Why does he get all that? He doesn't deserve that. or: Why don't I deserve this? Or: Look at him smiling, that filthy rat, he must have cheated the system to get all of this money and prosperity... Whatever it is you may think at that moment: it is disturbing your peace of mind, your neutral state of love, peace and beingness. We don't want our minds to be disturbed/influenced by such things/other people. When we see a happy face, we should rejoice, we should be friendly. When we cultivate friendliness without the judgemental thoughts, towards those who are happy, we retain and deepen our state of love and peace. When we do this we will be more truly happy ourselves as well. This, again, is our key to freedom.
Practice
Practice whenever you encounter someone who is happy. Look for the happy people and observe what you feel when witnessing their happiness. Apply this friendliness key to freedom. Don't force this too much, let it happen naturally, because if you approach happy people with this attitude consciously, you will probably not feel as jealous as you normally would. So just be alert on what you experience whenever you witness someones happiness in action. Observe what you feel, and then let go of that feeling. Then try to cultivate feelings of friendliness towards them. Be their friend in heart and mind; approach them with feelings of friendliness, cultivate friendly thoughts. Bless them with their happiness and hope for them to receive even more happiness.Practice this key to freedom on a daily basis this upcoming week and be as alert as possible on your own inner feelings and thoughts in regard to other people. Transform your mental/emotional state into a loving, friendly being. Whenever someone is happy, rejoice, be his/her friend in heart and mind.
Next week I will explain compassion towards those that are suffering.
"Continue to Weekly Thought #4: Key to Freedom #2: Showing Compassion
Return from Key to Freedom #1: Happiness to Weekly Thoughts Index
