Posts Tagged ‘journey’

Living Luminaries

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

Living Luminaries – On the Serious Business of Happiness is a 2007 film that follows one man’s quest to find happiness.  His journey brings him to many sages who offer their own interpretations of what happiness is and how to find it.  Overall, this is an excellent film, with some really practical advice.

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A reoccurring theme is how unhappiness and suffering are due to us being self-centered.  The “I”, the ego, the self… attachment to this illusion is what causes suffering.  Relinquishing attachment, being free from the self, free from the ego, is what also frees us from suffering.

As we relinquish attachment, mentally rising from the physical realm into the spiritual realm, we can see ourselves and all others as part of the same whole, part of something beautiful, and how the self, the “I”, the ego… this is just an illusion we create in our own minds.

As well, we need to find what our own gifts to the world are, and then set on a journey to make them happen. To find out what our gifts are, to find out what we want to do in life, we need to listen.  We need to withdraw from the outside noise, and look inwards.  Every cell of our bodies have harmony and wisdom – we need to get in touch with it.  Be in the moment, be in the present, be in the now… as we do this, we will be in touch with the entire universe.

Ultimately, happiness is a decision.  Choose to be happy.  Happiness is a state of mind… a state of mind we can put ourselves into, whenever we choose.  Don’t attach happiness to the attainment of some goal to be found in the future, like, “when I get a million dollars, then I will be happy.”  No, be happy on the entire journey to getting the million dollars.  Be happy on the way.