Happiness

I cannot tell if what the world considers 'happiness' is happiness or not. All I know is that when I consider the way they go about attaining it, I see them carried away headlong, grim and obsessed, in the general onrush of the human herd, unable to stop themselves or to change their direction. All the while they claim to be just on the point of attaining happiness . . .

 

The Taoist sage, Chuang Tzu

 

I sometimes send Taoist or Buddhist quotes to a couple of my workmates who have expressed an interest.  Consequently, I am always on the lookout for a good "Quote for the day" and I ran across this one on-line this morning. 

 

The image of a person being swept along by the "human herd" plunging "headlong, grim and obsessed" reminds me of so many of the people I see around me.  I want to stop some of these folks and ask them, "Where are you going in such a rush?  What is your goal?".  My feeling is that many of them would not have an adequate answer or, if they did, it would be something external to themselves that they will never be able to truly grasp. 

 

Money, power, fame, even a "cushy retirement".  These are all goals that people pursue with astonishing vigor but they are also goals that will always leave one just "on the point of attaining happiness".  How much money or power is truly enough?  How do you define fame and when do you have enough of it?  How do you know that you will live to take advantage of that cushy retirement? 

 

It has been said many times, in dozens of different ways, but the truth of living in the present moment remains a constant in the spiritual quest.  If you do not slow the car down, at least at times, you miss most of the scenery.  And, most importantly, you might just miss that sign that says "Bridge Out Ahead". 

 

I am following my own advice this morning.  After a head long rush to get some work done this morning, I am taking some time to breathe and to be before I go into round 2.  I might even get out my meditation app for lunch today.