by Lawrence Lefcort
How can we cultivate spiritual wisdom in our lives in order to live happier?
It seems that nowadays, countless people are unhappy and dissatisfied with their lives. Many are troubled by family situations, health, money, stress, loneliness and often feel hopeless in their search to make their lives better. The pace of modern life has aggravated the situation. Technological innovations designed to make our lives easier and allow us to feel more connected to one another are having the opposite effect. We appear to have less time, are more stressed out and feel more disconnected than ever!
In the midst of this turmoil, how can human beings reconnect to their own hearts as well as renew their connection to the world? How can we rediscover our link to Source or the divine? How can we live lighter and happier in the moment? In every moment?
1) Acknowledge that we all have pain
The fundamental laws of the Universe bring us back to the undeniable truth that we all share the pain of existence. Who hasn’t experienced some sort of pain or trauma in their lives? Who has never made mistakes, or acted in hurtful and foolish ways? There is no one on Earth exempt from it. Coming together to share our pain and to wish that no one else will experience this pain is the key to unlocking the door.
The teachings of Tao Sangha offer us a way to cultivate spiritual wisdom, to overcome the pain in our hearts, and to plant the seeds for a bright future for ourselves, our loved ones, and the world. With this mindset, we can create the foundation of a life with meaning and connectedness and yes, happiness in spite of our pain.
2) Realize that we are all connected
When we live a creative, natural life we understand that all beings suffer, that existence is impermanent, and that everything we do has an effect on all beings in the universe. If we truly believe in and live by the principles of the Universe: synchronicity and unity, our lives will change from loneliness to connectedness, from sadness to happiness, from hopelessness to creativity and action.
3) Give
It’s through giving from the heart that we can feel this connectivity and genuinely begin to heal ourselves and others. Acting upon the wish that no one else should suffer, that all beings be joyful, happy and wealthy (in every sense of the word), brings a deep sense of meaning to our lives.
Giving comes in many forms. Of course, we can give money to someone in need. Yet there are other forms of giving: saying a kind word to someone when they are feeling down or paying a compliment to a friend, a loved one, or someone we just met on the street. Random acts of kindness are wonderful gifts to bestow onto others. And when we plant the seeds of kindness, they come back to us later on, in spades. If we make people happy or make them smile, that’s what we’ll attract in the future. Of course, if we do the opposite and plant the seeds of hurt and misery, we’ll reap that same harvest at some point as well.
At the end of the day, our mission as human beings is to make this world a better place. To make ourselves and others happy. When we are at death’s door the only regrets we have are what we didn’t give, or the conflict(s) we failed to resolve. We never regret what we gave to others. This is truly one of the great lessons of life.
To find ou how you can experience these teachings directly, contact the Tao Sangha center nearest you.
