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Be satisfied with the small things to have a happier life |
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Most of the problems we experience during our life are caused by our lack of satisfaction - whatever we have, it is never enough. We are driven by a constant desire to change the things we have, because we always want something better or to have something more... During my visits to Tibet I have been impressed by the Tibetan people, even though they are poor and living in miserable conditions they live and work very happily, singing from sunrise to sunset. We have many material things in the west but, unlike the people of these villages, we have forgotten how to appreciate the small things around us. We have forgotten just how happy and peaceful we can feel by looking at the sky, the stars, trees, a sunset, or the pleasure and joy we can feel and create around us through the sound of a song. I personally feel very happy and satisfied when I can help others, this does not mean that I give people huge and expensive presents, just talking or giving someone attention can be enough to make them happy. Great actions are made up of small actions, just as one hour is made up of sixty minutes and one day of twelve hours. Instead of seeking happiness in a far away ideal or dream - what we would like to have or what we would like to be - we should become aware of our present situation, and try to appreciate just how many positive things we actually do have in our life. If we do not learn how to be satisfied by what we have now, it will be impossible for us to be satisfied by what we hope to have one day. We are always searching for happiness and peace in external material things but, one day, the home we spent years saving for will be too small, the car we dreamt and yearned for will break down, our computer which we thought was the height of modern technology will be replaced by a newer model after six months... The hopes and dreams on which we pin our happiness are never realised, because as soon as we attain one, we change our goal or the object of our desire creating once again the feeling of disatisfaction and unhappiness. In Tibet, it is very common to hear tourists complaining about the conditions - the food is not good enough, no hot water, the roads are too bumpy, the telephone does not work - whilst all around people live without any water at all, eat simple meals of tsampa and have no modern comforts. If we really want to develop a calm and stable mind then, we should stop thinking about impossible things that are out of our reach, we should learn how to accept the happiness created by small things. We should take inspiration from the Tibetans and learn how to find solutions within our own self for our problems and unhappiness. The world around us will never be perfect, but by simply accepting the situation as it is - everything can be perfect. Lama Michel |
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