That's a very interesting question indeed Clive - very thought provoking. It makes me happy
You're already pointing quite strongly to what I regard as the truth in your intro. Yes the mind frequently tries to own a state of happiness or create one. It seems many are striving for happiness. Personally, I find happiness just arises when all internal striving for a particular outcome or state of being is removed.

But then of course the question is what is happiness? To me, this is also linked to what our central purpose is in life? In my truth, there is only one being in existence. And since that one being is everything and everywhere, there is only one thing to know - what and who are we? More accurately, the purpose is to EXPERIENCE ourselves as the One Life. In other words, to have a thoroughly complete and magical experience of our completeness.

Now this can be done in a myriad of ways - in fact there is a different way for each soul. Each soul is the One Life expressed. What I find for myself, and in my work with others, people are most content and at-one with who they are, when they are centred in the state of completeness and AT THE SAME TIME radiating their unique expression fully. To me, this is to be truly 'happy'. It is to be what we really are....enlightened.

Of course this then leads me back to the question of what is happiness? For me, happiness is harmony. It is this balance. To be in the drama and expressing myself fully, but not of the drama. It is allowing my soul to be whatever it wants to be without putting limitation on it. It's to be able to be deeply joyful and also deeply sad, yet still centred in harmony.

In my truth then, when you are truly 'happy', you are even happy when you're being sad.

Chris

What an interesting question!

For me during spiritual unfolding I have found happiness to be an ungraspable nothingness. A construct of the mind that doesn't make sense on a soul level at all. My soul does not yearn for happiness. Instead it yearns for alignment with the universal flow. It yearns for peace and unity at levels so profound that the whole universe seems to pale into insignificance.

I guess you could call that happiness. The problem is when we end up doing things because we perceive that they will 'make us happy' or we will 'find happiness' through them. We end up making choices because of the perceived outcome.

In doing this we push aside what we are REALLY supposed to be doing. When I say 'really supposed to be doing' I mean that which is guided by the soul. When we do what we are divinely guided to do we find an unmistakable peace resonating through every cell of our being. No matter what it is.

We could call happiness, but to me, peace within is not the same. We can feel universal peace within, no matter what the circumstances are. I am sure that this is what Chris is suggesting.

I could experience happiness or I could experience sadness, but my soul is only really interested in whether or not it is aligned with the universal flow of higher consciousness. If it is aligned I feel peace. If it isn't I feel inner chaos.

I was wondering Clive what happiness means to you and what role you feel it has played in your journey so far?

Trin
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Thank you both for those insights. I feel very much aligned with those viewpoints. I looked into the history of happiness on line before attending the debate. My conclusion was that the concept of happiness is man-made and like most man-made things, was engineered by people seeking control. It might be the promise of heaven to the person attending church on Sunday or the promise of cleaner clothes if you use Persil! I know from my old life in marketing that the feel-good factor underpins the strategy of the vast majority of advertising campaigns.

The problem is that once we buy into that concept we come out of our place of contented beingness and start chasing rainbows. This leads to desires, yearnings, frustration and disappointment - all agitated states of being that destroy the internal state of harmony to which you refer, Chris.

I wonder if the whole concept of happiness isn't some giant con trick being played by Opposing Consciousness to keep us from ascending.

So to me, happiness and unhappiness are distorted states to be avoided because they take us away from our true path. As you indicate Trinity, when you are aligned there is peace. Going with the flow requires no effort. You know you're in the right place. You want for nothing. In yoga, we call this SAMADHI -"Being at one with the supreme spirit governing the Universe" I'd be happy with that!!

clive

ps my original post should have read poor old soul, not more old soul!

Yes that sounds familiar.

It fascinating to hear of the conclusion that arose for you upon contemplation of happiness. This is such an over looked concept so I feel deeply warmed to read your posting.

The only thing I would add is that perhaps it is not 'happiness' or unhappiness' that ought to be avoided? For 'avoidance' would equate to efforting, which would create another distortion in itself. In my view it is not the emotion that it is the problem, but the attachment (often in the case of happiness) or avoidance (often in the case of sadness) that is the problem.

In my experience it's absolutely OK to feel these things. I often feel 'happy' just by doing things that stir my soul. In fact some time I feel so elated that I can hardly contain myself! The difference is that I am not looking for happiness. It simply arises. And when it falls away again, that is fine too.

With Love
Trin
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LeeLa Rose

Happiness IS, until it isn't. Just another experience floating into, through, and beyond the human Being screen of Awareness Living Life... NOW.

I have observed that any desire to have it be other than IT IS, creates a static pause in my experience of fluid, cohesive, Oneness Presence. There are many pauses during a day. These "slow-down" effects of time assist me in seeing into, through, and beyond the fragmentations of 3d reference points. How interesting these opportunities are! Anything that pulls me out of my true timeless, unbound Presence is showing me yet another piece in the duality field, that if I see, (through the lens of "Not It") I can invite to return with me...Home.

So now I am seeing this... when a so-called opposite appears, in this case un-happiness, instead of pushing it away and saying oh, I would rather be happy, that is better, nicer, easier... I can choose a pathway of fluid, open, freedom- Awareness and say, hay, do you want to take this moment and come Home with me? Through the open Heart of Oneness Living Now, the invitation is extended....again and again and again..

Happy Trails,
LeeLa

Beautiful posting Leela.
Welcome to the Openhand forum

Chris

LeeLa Rose

I found Openhand through the Utube link at precisely the moment that I was ready to flow up the evolutionary spiral into a deeper awareness of Absolute clarity. I have been reading your articles and have experienced the energy to be assisting this continuous opening. It is beautiful indeed how resonant connections occur beneath and beyond time and space.

I related well to your mention of receiving "downloads" from the multidimensional elements/essential nature of our sol light. Reading of your experience has assisted me in honoring, and further and more deeply allowing, my experience of fluid, open alignment with that which I feel, and See, and trust...Oneness!

This morning, I allowed myself to open to receive what I experience as a New World activation. Through a newly awakening channel of Awareness, It presented as a "supranova sol". Lucky for me, the small self has no idea of this, so I could remain open to receive. I am sharing this because I feel that this transmission could knock on my door only after I allowed myself to Be who and what I am here to Be.

THROUGH reading the sharings of your experiences of awakening and unfolding Truth, Light, Love, I could access, through resonance, a feeling that I am not alone here, and that it is safe to Be who and what I am. For your honesty and openness and courage to Be That One... I thank you...

LeeLa

I think happiness is just one of the emotions.And many things could lead to this emotion.

So I don't understand really why it's something to try to define. Isn't that enough it has a word for?

It's like in cartoons I was watching when I was little:
In one of them a bird said:"Happiness is when everybody's home (also insane in russian sleng)"
or this cartoon about different animals who were arguing what part of the body is the most important...For me it's the same here.

Why is "it" a problem? anything?

The Nature has it's own ways, and a very high diversity of forms, thoughts...beleifs..happinesses..

There is no ultimate happiness, the same for everybody, and even for you today and in a week.

I feel that I'm in a "box", blind, subjective and impermanent. So when I totally accept it, I find that many questions are falling. And I stop seeing people as wrong or things as wrong or problematic. I might do or feel or think or talk the same if I were them. (not mentioning that I'm them too, so they are just some kind of my projection)

It just occured I at the moment feel something different is right, so I just do that.

And I never forget I might feel different tomorrow, maybe like someone who is so "wrong" today. So I just try to stop defining, stop thinking it's right or wrong.

For me this is the key. The key to understanding, acceptance,love and freedom.

LeeLa Rose

to "someone" (and every one...)

I related to much of your sharing. So many different viewing points! from looking out of your feeling of being "in a box, blind", to the open awareness that Nature expresses through our "high diversity of forms"!

Through your unique sharing, I could see places of "right or wrong thinking" that still linger in my old world view finder. Looking out that split-duality lens has only perpetuated,and unconsciously contributed to, the illusion of separation. That old, fear-based habit has keep me from discovering, (and opening to receive and celebrate!!), the rich diversity that unfolds into life through each one that is here...living the beautiful, perfect expressions of... ISness Now...

Thank you for sharing your "key to understanding, acceptance, love, and freedom."

with gratitude,
LeeLa

Welcome here Leela :angel:

It's most warming to read your postings here. I am so delighted that you are sharing your journey with us.

Thank you for your honest sharing too `Yulia 'Someone'. I agree that the realisation of there being no right or wrong is a vital and liberating key.

With Love
Trinity
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