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The Search for Happiness - Notebooks of Paul Brunton

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Chapter1:TheSearchforHappiness

TheSearchforHappiness
Thelimitationsoflife
1

Whereisthepersonwhohasgainedtotalsatisfactionofallhisneeds,letalonehiswants
anddesires?Thereforenooneistotallyhappy.Itisbetternottobeacandidatefor
happinessandsufferfrustration.Thenwhatisthenextgoalworthseeking?Itispeace
withinoneself.
2

ItisintheWorldIdeathatthelivingcreatureismadetoundergosomanyvarietiesof
unhappinessalongwithitsexperienceofsomanyvarietiesofhappiness.
3

ItisnotreallythatGautamadeclaredlifetobemisery,astheearliertranslatorstoldus:
thecorrectversionisthathedeclaredlifetobeunsatisfactory,insofaraslimitationsare
imposeduponeachseparatepersonlimitationswhichbringloss,pain,disappointment.
Thereissomuchthathedoeswronglythroughignorance,somanythingshewantsbut
cannothave.Moreovernopersonfindshimselfinaperfectsituation,aflawless
environment,orafaultlesssetofcircumstances.Thereisalwayssomethingineachone
whichoffsetstosomeextentthesatisfactionityields.
4

Whenpeopleseekexcessiveentertainmentandamusementwhataretheydoingbut
confessingtheirlackofhappinessandtheirneedtoforgetthisfact?
5

Themorepersonsoneobserves,thewiderone'sacquaintance,themoreonemust
concludethatfewofthemenjoyrealhappinessforlongwithoutsomecomplementary
sourceofunhappiness.
6

Toooftendoesdesiregainitsobjectonlytofindthatitstillhasnotgaineditshappiness.
7

Thefrustrationofourdesireshappensmuchmoreoftenthanthesatisfactionofthem.The
disappointmentofourexpectationsofotherpeopleismorefrequentthanthefulfilmentof
them.Thebrevityofourhappyperiodswhencomparedwiththelengthofdullor
distressedonescanbeseenwhenviewedfromthevantageofelderlyage.
8

Hehaslearnedthroughtheexperiencesofmanybirthsnottoclingdesperatelyto
anything,nottoholdonstubbornlywhenlife'sclearindicationistoletgo,nottogetso
attachedtopersonsorobjectsthatallhishappinessrestssolelyuponthem.
9

Ahappinessthatiscontinuousandunbroken,wefindnowhereamongmen:the
circumstancesoftheirlivessimplydonotpermitittoexist,asBuddhasaw.
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10

Thewisdomofexperienceteachesusthatallthingschange.Friendshipwanesand
realizedambitionbringsitsownnewtroublesordisappointments.Afixedand
unalterableworldlyhappinessbasedonoutwardthingsissoughtbymanybutfoundby
none.
11

Whateverhegraspsatinhissearchforhappiness,itisonlyasubstitutefortherealthing
andthereforemustonedayleavehimdiscontentedwithitorboredbyit.
12

Themanwhofollowshisego'sleadinhispursuitofhappinesstreadscircleswithoutend.
Hemayattainfleetingpleasurebutneverlastinghappiness.
13

Asatisfactionwhichissubstantialandlastingcannotbefoundinhumanlife.Existence
largelyamountsintheendtosomekindofdisappointment.ThiswasGautama's
discovery2500yearsagoanditisthesametoday.
14

Thesatisfaction,evenhappiness,gotfromanything,situation,orpersoniscertainly
there.Butitisonlythereforalimitedtimeandinalimitedwayandtoalimitedextent.
Forbyrelaxingfromthedesirewhenitisfirstgained,thetensionisdroppedandthereis
innerpeace.Thismaylastashortoralongtime,butothersituationswillarisewhich
oppose,reduce,orevendestroyandremoveit.Whateversatisfieshimnowmayborehim
lateron.
15

Whenonehasreceivedaterribleblowsuchaslosingsomeoneverydeartohimhewill
understandbetterwhytheBuddhataughtthatalllivingissuffering.Inpleasantertimes,
thistruthgoesunrecognized.Itisonlythroughheartrendingsorrowthatmanyfinally
arriveatthegatesoftheQuest,fortheyhavelearnedatlastthatonlyinseekingsome
knowledgeoftheHigherPowercantheyobtainanenduringmeasureofinnerpeace.In
thecalmheartoftheinnerlifeinitsstrengthandunderstandingcompensationmaybe
foundforouroutwardhardships,griefs,andlosses.
16

Youngsoulslookforhappiness,olderonesforpeace,calm,andequilibrium.
17

Nootherpersoncanbringushappinessifheorshedoesnotpossessitinhimselforin
herself.Theromanticurgetoseekinasecondindividualthatwhichneitherofthetwo
has,canneverfindsuccessfulfulfilment.
18

Youmaymakeyourselfhappy,byspiritualorothermeans,butwillotherhumanbeings
letyouremainso?Nothavingaccomplishedthisfeatthemselves,theyarenotoriousfor
theirinterferenceintheirneighbours'lives.
19

Gautamasucceededinmakingareligionoutofdisillusion,asSchopenhauersucceededin
makingametaphysicoutofit.
20

Ifitbetrue,asthepessimistsays,thatlifemovesusfromonetroubletoanother,itisalso
truethatitmovesusfromonejoytoanother.Butitisaquestionwhethertheanxieties
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andmiseriesoflifearesufficientlycompensatedbyitspleasuresandsatisfactions.
21

Torestthewholeofone'shappinessuponthephysicalexistence,theclosepresence,the
emotionalresponse,orthepersonalloyaltyofasingleindividualisrisky.Ifanything
changesadversely,thehappinesswillchangewithit.
22

Itmaywellbeaskedhowcoulditbepossibletofindhappinessifharrowingexperiences
andterriblegriefshavebeenone'slotinthepast?Or,forthemorefortunate,ifseeingor
knowingofotherswhosufferedthemcreatesasympatheticsadnessnottobeerased?
23

Thereissomuchpainmental,emotional,physicalinhumanlifethatthejoywhichis
alsoinitisdiscountedbytheBuddhistorSchopenhauerianpessimists.
24

Ifhappinessistodependonthecaprice,thewhim,orthedesireofsomeotherhuman
being,itwillnotescapehavinguncertaintyatthecore.
25

Onedaytheviolenceofhate,war,andrevolutionwillspenditselfandmanwillfindby
hisownexperiencethemeaningofpeaceofmind.
26

TheBuddhatriedtoteachmentolookonlyonthedecayanddeathandsufferinginherent
inexistenceonthisphysicalplane.Thisisasunfairandasextremeifisolatedasthe
teachingofmodernAmericancultswhichlookonlyonthegrowthandlifeandjoywhich
arealsoinherenthere.
27

"Lifecouldnotbeenduredwereitseeninreality,"wroteSirWalterScottinhisprivate
diary,echoingBuddha,whosewordshemayneverhaveheard,andanticipating
Schopenhauer,whosewritingsappearedshortlyafter.Wemayflinchatthistruth,butitis
notthewholetruth.Perhapsthegreatartistorcomposerwhorisestoincrediblebeauty
offersacounterbalance.
28

Itispleasanttobesooptimisticbytemperamentastoseearainbowineverysky.Butisit
alwaysTRUE?
29

DidGautamamagnifythesorrowshecameacrossduringhisfirstfreeexplorationsofthe
worldoutsidehispalace?Wasitfairtoconcentrateonthemalone?
30

Gautama'sassertionthat"lifeissuffering"maybematchedwithSocrates'assertionthat
"lifeisterrible."ButbothIndianandGreeksagereferredsolelytolifeintheego.Isit
quitefairtostressthemiseryofhumanexistencewithoutpointingtoitsmystery?Forthat
isjustasmuchthere,evenifattentionisseldomturnedtowardit.Man,inorderto
completeandfulfilhimself,willandmustrisetolifeintheOverselfwiththeegoputinto
place,belittledandbroken.
31

Ifsomegoodfortunecomesyourway,beforeacceptingitrememberthateverythinghas
tobepaidfor,soitwillbewelltopauseandenquiretheprice.
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32

Sometimestheyfeelonthevergeofsuicidaldespair.Lucretius'poemshavebeenfoodfor
suchpeople,aswellasforthosewho,likethenineteenthcenturyEnglishagnostic
GeorgeGissing,couldfindGodneitherinnaturenorinthemselves.Hisbeliefin,and
followingof,Epicureanismdoubtlesssupportedhimforatimebutintheendhereturned
tohismelancholyand,ifJeromeistobebelieved,killedhimself.
33

ThecriticismoflifewhichthepessimistslikeGautamaandSchopenhauermake,istoo
negative.Thisisnotbecauseitisnottruebutbecauseitisnotcompleteandhenceis
lopsided.
34

Thosewhocanconcentratetheirthoughtsonlyonthedifficultiesoftheproblemswhich
confrontthem,thedangersofthesolutionswhichareofferedtothem,orthesacrifices
whicharedemandedofthem,willneversolvetheirproblems.

Philosophichappiness
35

"Sadnessdoesnotbefitasage"isthereminderofanancientConfuciantext."Heisaman
inwardlyfreeofsorrowandcare.Heshouldbelikethesunatmiddayilluminatingand
gladdeningeveryone.Thisisnotgiventoeveryhumanonlyonewhosewillisdirected
to`TheGreat'isabletodoit.Fortheattributeof`TheGreat'isjoyousness."
36

Becauseheisseekingtheultimatesourceoftruejoy,heismorelikelytofinditifhe
searchesforitwithacheerfulheartthanifwithamiserableone.
37

TheattitudeofEmerson,whichinducedhimtocallhimself"aprofessorofthescienceof
Joy,"ismoreattractivethanthatofSchopenhauer,whotaughtthefutilityoflife,
proclaimedthevanityofexistence,andspreadthemoodofdespair.Emersondeclinedto
acceptthemassiveOrientaldoctrineofmelancholyresignationalongwiththeOriental
gemsofwisdomwhichhetreasured."Thisworldbelongstothecheerful!"hesaid.
38

GautamaBuddhathoughtthatevenmereexistencewasneedlesssufferingwhereasEmily
Dickinsonthoughtittobeoneofthegreatestgifts."Thesenseoflivingisjoyenough,"
shetoldavisitor.
39

Happinessisnottobehoardedbuttobeshared.Thisisnotonlyaresponsibilitybutalso
ajoy.
40

Ifman'sinnatenatureisexaltedpeace,thenitislogicaltopresumethatmelancholyand
pessimismarebutalienaccretionswhichdonotproperlybelongtohim.Thesmileis
man'strueexpressionandnotthescowl.
41

"Ienjoylifeandtrytospenditinpeace,joy,andcheerfulness,"Spinozawrotetoa
correspondent.
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42

Itiseasiertosolveproblemsandovercomedifficultiesiftheyaremetpositivelyand
courageously,andthatmeans,orleadsto,meetingthemcheerfullyandhopefully.
43

Buddhacontinuallyrecurredtohistragicthemewhoseendingisgloomyforsomeofhis
readersbutstarbrightforotherones.
44

HanSuyinwrites,"Sadnessissoungrateful."
45

Hewhopreachedthemiseryoflifeis,despitethat,depictedontheancientstatueswitha
faintbeatificsmileBuddha.
46

Despitetheprevailingpessimismoftoday,hemayfindapeaceandsteadinessthatwill
wellsupporthim.
47

HungChouoftensaid:"SinceIreceivedenlightenmentintheinfinitewondersoftruthI
havealwaysbeencheerfulandlaughing."(Zen)
48

Ifanyonewishestopractisetheinnerlife,heshouldtrytoreflectitsquietlyjoyous
character.FatherJohnofKronstadtapriestwhowasatruemystic,aninstantaneous
healer,andbelovedbythousandswhomhehelpedwentsofarastosaythattosorrowis
tofallawayfromGod.
49

Whetherheissadbecauseofhistroublesorsullenbecauseofhistemperament,the
gloomymanisnotintouchwithhisOverself.
50

ThemanwhoknowsandfeelstheOverself'sbrightlightandbeneficentlovecannotgo
abouthabituallygloomy,cannotshowadrearyfacetotheworld,cannotholdawretched
pessimismashisleadingthought.
51

ThereissufficientreasonforConfucius'saying:"Thesuperiormanisalwayshappy."
52

Ifsomepeoplefindanunderlyingmelancholyinlife,afewfindanunderlyingjoyinit.
53

Hewillcultivatenotonlyanequablemindbutalsoasunnyone.
54

Whenthishappypeaceisreal,sothatitdoesnotdependonideologicaloremotional
moods,andispermanent,sothatitdoesnotdependonfortune'schanges,itisentitledto
thedesignationof"philosophichappiness."
55

Itisaquietkindofhappiness,notsoapparentasthegayandexuberantkindbutmuch
moreworthwhilebecausemuchmoresolidandpermanent.
56
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Itisnotaboisterousheartyoptimismbutaquietperceptivecalm.
57

Itisahopefulfaithwhichneitherwarnorrevolution,calamitynorretrogression,can
destroyorevendiminish.
58

Itisnotahystericalblissnorawilddelightitisaserene,beautifullybalancedhappiness
permeatingamindthateffortlesslykeepsitselfinamazingequilibrium.
59

Philosophichappinesshasitsownsenseofhumourandbearsitsownsigns.Butthesedo
notincludenoisyguffawsandcacklinglaughter.
60

MusthewearthefixedautomaticsmileofaHollywoodcelebritytoshowthathehas
foundhappiness?
61

Itdoesnotmeanlookingforhopeinahopelesssituation.Philosophyismoresensibleand
morepracticalthanthat.
62

Allpreviousexperienceshouldteachhimthatitisnotsafetobetoohappy,thathecannot
liveontheheightsofjoyfortoolongwithimpunity.Itisnotsafetoexulttoofreelyin
thegoodfortunewhichcomesinthesummersoflifeitisnotsafetoforgetthehoursof
badfortunewhichcameinthewintersoflife.Fatecannotbetrustedtobringinonlysuch
pleasanthours,foritmayequalizeitselfbyhurtinghimnowandthen.Heshouldtemper
hisdelightatfatewithfearofit.Buteventhisisnotanidealattitude.Serenity,which
leaveshimabovebothdelightandfear,isimmenselybetter.
63

ItisseldomnotedthattheBuddhataughtadisciplethathisadvancefromthethirddegree
tothefourthandfinalonedependedupon"thepassingawayofanyjoy,anyelation"he
hadpreviouslyfelt.Thisisacuriousstatementbutitisquiteunderstandableasa
resistancetotheonesidedemotionalismwhichiscarriedawaybythepleasanterstatesof
theego.
64

Thejoyshaveflappingwingsbutthesorrowshaveleadenfeet.Tobringhimselftoinner
equilibrium,themidpointofbalanceisthebetterwayforaman.
65

Hemaystillfeeltheneedofcertainthings,hemayevenliketohavethem,buthewillnot
feelthattheyareessentiallyimportanttohishappiness.
66

Hewillacceptthepleasantthingsoflifeiftheycomehisway,buthewillnotlongfor
themorbeunhappyiftheynevercome.
67

Withoutapeacefulmindandahealthybody,happinessmustremainatadistance.
68

Themanofdeepthoughtandsensitivefeelingcannotbehappyinaworldlikeours.But
hecanbeserene.
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69

Heenjoysapeacewhichisabovepassion,abovemanyadesire,sothatwhattheworld
runsafterhasnopowertoattracthim.Indeed,thepeaceitselfholdshimbecauseithasa
greaterpowerandgivesagreaterenjoyment.
70

Theserenityinsideaman'smind,thefaithinsidehisheartthesecancontributetohis
happinessasmuchashismaterialsurroundingsorhiswayofphysicalliving.
71

Ifpeace,deepinnerpeace,isnotfound,thensoonerorlatermoodsofelationwillreign
forawhile,onlytobesucceededbymoodsofdepression.Asfresheventsarriveor
circumstanceschange,sothehumanbeingispushedemotionallyandmentallyfromone
sidetotheother.
72

Whenonefindsaconstanthappinesswithinoneself,thepleasuresofthesenseswillnot
bemissediftheyarenotthere.Theyarenolongernecessarytostimulatehim,although
theywillstillbeappreciatediftheyarethere.
73

Whereasthemysticrapturecomesonlyatintervals,themysticpeacemaybefound
forever.

Theheartofjoy
74

Ifyouinvestigatethematterdeeplyenoughandwidelyenough,youwillfindthat
happinesseludesnearlyallmendespitethefactthattheyareforeverseekingit.The
fortunateandsuccessfulfewarethosewhohavestoppedseekingwiththeegoaloneand
allowthesearchtobedirectedinwardlybythehigherself.Theyalonecanfinda
happinessunblemishedbydefectsordeficiencies,aSupremeGoodwhichisnotafurther
sourceofpainandsorrowbutanendlesssourceofsatisfactionandpeace.
75

Pleasureissatisfactionderivedfromthethingsandpersonsoutsideus.Happinessis
satisfactionderivedfromthecoreofdeepestbeinginsideus.Becausewegetour
pleasuresthroughthefivesenses,theyaremoreexcitingandaresharper,morevivid,
thanthediffusedselfinducedthoughtsandfeelingswhichbringushappiness.Inshort,
pleasureisofthebodywhereassomethingquiteimmaterialandimpalpableisthesource
ofourhappiness.Thisisnottosaythatallpleasuresaretobeasceticallyrejected,butthat
whereaswearehelplesslydependentforthemonsomeobjectorsomeperson,weare
dependentonlyonourselvesforhappiness.
76

Hewillbehonestenoughtoadmitthathedoescareifthingsaregoingwrong,if
possessionsarefallingaway,andifhisdesiresareendinginfrustrationinsteadof
fulfilment.Buthewillalsobewiseenoughtodeclarethatheknowsthatpeaceofmindis
stillworthseekingdespitethesedisappointmentsandthatintuitionsoftheOverselfareno
lessnecessarytohishappinessandwellbeingthanarethecomfortsofthisworld.
77

Ifthemindcanreachastatewhereitisfreefromitsownideas,projections,andwishes,
itcanreachtruehappiness.
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78

Theearthmovesitscargooffourbillionhumancreaturesthroughspace,buthowfewof
themtastetheOverself'speaceandenjoyitshappiness?
79

Inthosemomentswhenhetouchesthestillcentreofhisbeing,heforgetshismiseries
andenjoysitshappiness.Thisprovidesacluetothecorrectwaytofindrealhappiness,
whichsomanyareseekingandsofewarefinding.Itlieswithin.
80

Lettinghimselfbebornealongbythisinnerrhythmoflifewillyieldacontentedhappy
feeling.
81

Ifhiseffortstoprocurehappinesshaveendedinfrustration,discontent,orfailure,what
moresensiblethingcanhedothandrawalinethroughthemandtryadifferentapproach?
82

Buddhapromisedan"aboundingbliss"tothosewhowouldgiveuptheir"littlepleasure."
Thesearehisownterms.
83

Thereisimmensejoyinbeingreleasedfromthecloseknitweboftheego,inescaping
fromhimself.
84

JulesRenard:"IamahappymanbecauseIhaverenouncedhappiness."
85

Artificialpleasuresarenotthesameasenduringhappiness.Theycomefromoutside,
fromstimulatedsenses,whereasitcomesfromwithin.
86

Outoftheselaboursatselfelevation,hecancreateandkeepajoyoftheheartnotless
intenseeventhoughitisnotderivedfromoutwardthings.
87

Themanwhoisnotinwardlyfreecannotbeinwardlyhappy.
88

Noenvironmentisideal.Notinoutwardsearchbutindeeperselfpenetrationshallwe
findtruelastinghappiness.
89

Anymancansayheishappy,butfewmenarecompetenttoappraisethequalityoftheir
happinessaccurately.
90

Hewhohaslearnedhowtoenteratwillintothissilentinnerworldwillreturntoitagain
andagain.Innootherwaycansuchcalmholyjoybefelt,suchdeepmeaningbeknown,
suchreleasefrompersonalproblemsbesecured.
91

Wethinkthatthisorthatwillbringustothegreathappiness.Butthefortunatefewknow
thatinmeditationthemindisatitsmostblissfulwhenitismostempty.
92
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Galatians5:22saysthatjoyisafruitofthespirit.
93

HeishappyeventhoughhehasnoblessedconsciousnessoftheOverself,no
transcendentalknowledgeofit,butonlysecondhandnewsaboutit.Why,then,ishe
happy?Becauseheknowsthathehasfoundthewaytobothconsciousnessand
knowledge.Heiscontenttowait,workingneverthelessashewaitsforifheremains
faithfultothequest,whatotherresultcantherebethanattainment?Evenifhehastowait
fiftyyearsorfiftylifetimes,hewillandmustgainit.
94

Thefullysatisfyingjoyheissearchingforinthisorthatthing,whichalwaysyieldsit
coupledwithdisappointmentinsomewayoratsometime,isforeverwaitingforhim
deepwithintheheart'sdeepestsilence.Buthecomestoitonlywhenallelsehasfailed
him.
95

OneoftheoldestHinduphilosophictexts,oneoftheUpanishads,tellsusthatjoycomes
outofthedeepinnerpeaceoftheOverself.
96

Onlyonewhohasintimatelyfeltthisdivinepeace,howeverbriefly,canknowits
inestimableworth.Onlyonewhohasfeltthisdivinelove,howeverseldom,canknow
thatitsindescribablejoyisaboveallearthlyones.
97

Whetherornotheislivinginamysticalfool'sparadiseoragenuineheavendepends
uponhowmuchegoandhowlittletruthseekingarepresent.
98

Whenwefindthestillcentreofourbeing,wefindittobeallhappiness.Whenweremain
inthesurfaceofourbeing,weyearnforhappinessbutneverfindit.Fortherethemindis
alwaysmoving,restless,scattered.
99

TheOverselfispresentwithman,andlifeisnothingmore,intheend,thanasearching
forthispresence.Heengagesinthisactivityquiteunconsciouslyinthebeliefthatheis
lookingforhappiness.
100

Hiddenunderitsmiseries,lifekeepsincrediblehappinesswaitingforonewhowillsearch
andworkforit.
101

Happinessisthedesireofmanbutisitalsothegoaloflife?Sofarasitisonlyan
emotionalcondition,likemisery,itcannotbethegoal,forevolutionkeepsleadingus
upwardtocontrolandeventualconquestofallemotions.Thereforethetruegoalmustbe
inthoserarefiedregionsandthetruehappinessmustbetheretoo.
102

Ifsufferingbringsmoodsofdejection,itisonlyfulfillingitsintention.Thisispartofits
placeintheschemeofthings,leadingtotheawarenessthatunderneaththesweet
pleasuresoflifethereisalwayspain.Butthoughtwouldpresentonlyahalftruthifit
stoppedthere.Theotherhalfismuchhardertofind:itisthatunderneaththesurface
sufferingswhichnooneescapes,fardeeperdownthanitscounterpart,isavastharmony,
animmenselove,anincrediblepeace,andauniversalsupport.
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103

Intheuniversethereisjoyandsuffering:inthatwhichtranscendsitthereisonlyahigher
purejoy.Thepairsofoppositescannotbeescapedintheuniverse.
104

Joyandsorroware,afterall,onlystatesofmind.Hewhogetshismindundercontrol,
keepingitunshakeablyserene,willnotlettheseusurpersgainentry.Theydonotcome
fromthebestpartofhimself.Theycomefromtheego.Howmanypersonscouldlearn
fromhimtogiveuptheirunhappinessiftheylearntthatmostoftheirsorrowsaremental
states,thefalseegopityingitself?
105

Theyfindreliefinitsexplanationsofcompensatoryknowledgeornewqualitiesextracted
fromtheirsufferingtheytakerefugeinitspromisethatsomewherealongtheroute,if
theyremainfaithful,gracewillmanifestitsbenignhelp.
106

Ifthedivinepresenceisdwellingatthecoreofhismind,thenthedivinebliss,peace,and
strengtharedwellingatthecoreofhismindtoo.Whythenshouldheletoutwardtroubles
robhimofthechancetosharethem?Whyshouldheletonlythetroublesenterhis
consciousness,andwithdrawallattentionfromtheblissandpeaceandstrength?The
conditionsofthisworldaresubjecttothecosmiclawofchange.Theyaretemporary.But
thebrightcorewithinhimisnot.Whythengiveapermanentmeaningtothoseconditions
byatotalsurrendertothesadnesstheycause?
107

IftheOverselfisbeyondallhumanconditions,itwillbeasked,howcantheterm
"happy"beappliedtoit?
108

Itisalwayshardtowatchotherswhoarenearanddeartohimsuffer,buthemustnotlet
goofhisowninnerfaithandpeace,howeverlittletheybe,becauseofhavingtowitness
suchsuffering.Itoughtnottotakehimbysurpriseifheremembersthatearthlylifeis
usuallyamixtureofpleasureandpain,andthatonlyintheOverselfistherelasting
happiness.
109

Theincentivetoseekhappinesswillalwaysbepresentsolongastheconsciousnessof
theOverselfisabsent.Butsosoonasthatisfound,theincentivevanishes.Forthenwe
arethatwhichwassoughtseeker,search,andobjectblendintoone.
110

Thereispeacebeneathlife'spainandpeaceattheendofitspain.
111

Hewillseethatnoafflictionandnomisfortuneneedbeallowedtotakeawayhis
happiness.
112

Itisnotenoughtoachievepeaceofmind.HemustpenetratetheRealstillfartherand
achievejoyofheart.
113

Bothgriefandjoyclaimtheirsharesofaman'slife,dowhathewilltoaverttheoneand
securetheother.Butbyrenouncingthememotionallyhemayfindthesupreme
tranquillity.Gautamasoughtrefugefromthesearingsununderabranchingleafytree.
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Therehefoundthesecretwhichhehadsoughtforsixyears."Thereisnohappiness
higherthantranquillity,"heannouncedlater.
TheNotebooksarecopyright19841989,ThePaulBruntonPhilosophicFoundation.

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