Where Can I Find Happiness?

With thanks to Reena Patel

This story is about a beautiful, expensively dressed lady who complained to her psychiatrist that she felt that her whole life was empty, it had no meaning.

So, the lady went to visit a counselor to seek out happiness.

The counselor called over the old lady who cleaned the office floors.

The counselor then said to the rich lady "I'm going to ask Mary here to tell you how she found happiness. All I want you to do is listen to her."

So the old lady put down her broom and sat on a chair and told her story:

"Well, my husband died of malaria and three months later my only son was killed by a car. I had nobody. I had nothing left. I couldn't sleep, I couldn't eat, I never smiled at anyone, I even thought of taking my own life. Then one evening a little kitten followed me home from work. Somehow I felt sorry for that kitten. It was cold outside, so I decided to let the kitten in. I got some milk, and the kitten licked the plate clean. Then it purred and rubbed against my leg and, for the first time in months, I smiled.

Then I stopped to think, if helping a little kitten could make me smile, maybe doing something for people could make me happy.

So, the next day I baked some biscuits and took them to a neighbor who was sick in bed.

Every day I tried to do something nice for someone. It made me so happy to see them happy.

Today, I don't know of anybody who sleeps and eats better than I do.

I've found happiness, by giving it to others."

When she heard this, the rich lady cried. She had everything that money could buy, but she had lost the things which money cannot buy.

The beauty of life does not depend on how happy you are; but on how happy others can be because of you...

Happiness is not a destination, it's a journey. 

Happiness is not tomorrow, it is now. 

Happiness is not dependency, it is a decision. 
Happiness is what you are, not what you have.

Is Yoga for the Rich?

 

I was listening to the Yoga Talk podcast while they were reviewing an article called "Is Yoga for the Rich?"

The hosts discussed the cost of yoga, which can get fairly high in some cases (designer yoga wear, upscale studio costs, retreats, etc.).

They also pointed out that a yoga practice can "cost" valuable time.

Yogis (a person proficient in yoga) know that any time the spend doing yoga pays them back many times over - they have better health; they feel better throughout the day; major and minor physical tasks are easier to do, and so on.

Still, it would be helpful for many if there were less expensive ways to do yoga, and preferably close to home.

That's why non-profit yoga centers are so great. You pay what you can (donations) and there is probably one very close to your home that a google search would turn up.

You can also look for a non-profit ashram that accepts donations like the one I go to. They welcome everyone, spiritual and non-spiritual alike.

Once you've attended enough sessions, you can do it at home on your own (or with youtube videos) which is the easiest and cheapest way of all. Or get together your own little group of yogic friends in the biggest living room you can find and have a blast!

The bottom line is, it doesn't matter what you're wearing or how nice the yoga studio is - what's happening inside you is where the practice really pays off.