From: Thyagi@HouseOfKaos.Abyss.com
Newsgroups: soc.religion.eastern
Subject: Re: Happiness
Date: 11 Jan 93 18:49:33 GMT
Article-I.D.: qiclab.1993Jan12.212253.9932
Organization: ----

93!01.11 e.v.


Abhay writes:

What is happiness ?

Happiness is a state of mind in absence of desires.


Response:

You asked after correction.  I only provide my reaction here.

I agree that true happiness (perhaps 'ananda' or 'bliss') is the
experience of absent desire (no-mind?).  The way most people use this
term, however, it means the satisfaction of short-term desires.
This, as many of us have experienced, becomes a recurrent cycle
of aroused dissatifaction until the root of the problem is addressed.


Abhay:

When is this possible, in practice ?
When there is no fear, anxiety, boredom, desires, wants
or unfulfilled needs. A feeling of all round satisfaction.


Response:

I agree that in the absence of these subjects (subjective elements)
one will experience bliss.  I do not think, however, that it is
necessary to be without these to experience bliss.  Can we feel
fear and not wish to change it?  Can we sit with boredom and not
flee into activity?  Once we practice this, then we practice
enlightenment.


Abhay:

Then how does one avoid fear, anxiety, desires, etc. ?
By realising that fear and anxiety are empty and unnecessary concepts,
by realising the futility (undesirability) of desires and wants.
Unfulfilled needs (e.g. hunger) could be a problem, until you make those
needs unnecessary.


Response:

One avoids fear, etc. by running from them, hiding in work, typing
at keyboards, fixing the lawnmower, and watching television.  As long
as our feelings drive us, then we abandon them to be entertained by
the wonderful maya of manifestation.

Only when the activity becomes sufficiently focussed as to allow one's
feelings to come up (by repetition and mindfulness) does it become a
meditation in itself rather than an avoidance-tactic.

Of course you didn't mean it this way. :>

How do we get beyond, transcend, release, abandon, dispense with, or
avoid our feelings of fear, anxiety and lust?  We don't.  We only
put off the inevitable.  If we are lucky we let those feelings come
through little by little as we run, allowing them to catch up to
us enough to inspre us to slow down and face ourselves.

Needs and desires are never transcended, yet they can be accepted and
embraced for the powerful opportunities they are.  Perhaps when such
acceptance occurs then they dissolve.  I have not had such an experience,
so I cannot be sure about this.   


Abhay:

What are fear and anxiety and how are they related to uncertainty ?



Response:

Fear is a natural response to danger.

Anxiety is the symptom of disharmony between oneself and all else.


Uncertainty is a very complex word.  One the one hand it could mean
the lack of dedication, resolve, to complete a work or engage a process.
In this way if we lack the resolve to confront our own FEELINGS of fear
then our uncertainty becomes our impediment.

On the other hand it could mean a loose mind, flowing with the winds
of the world, allowing us to release our grasp on impermanence and
ride the waves of fear into gentler seas.  For this meaning, uncertainty
is the salve which will slowly heal our headstrong ways.



Thyagi