True Happiness

To maintain an unchangeable sweetness of disposition, to think only thoughts that are pure and gentle, and to be happy under all circumstances,—such blessed conditions and such beauty of character and life should be the aim of all, and particularly so of those who wish to lessen the misery of the world. If any one has failed to lift himself above ungentleness, impurity, and unhappiness, he is greatly deluded if he imagines he can make the world happier by the propagation of any theory or theology. He who is daily living in harshness, impurity, or unhappiness, is day by day adding to the sum of the world's misery; whereas he who continually lives in goodwill, and does not depart from happiness, is day by day increasing the sum of the world's happiness, and this independently of any religious beliefs which these may or may not hold.

Everyone should aim to maintain a consistently kind disposition, think only pure and gentle thoughts, and be happy in all circumstances. These blessed conditions and this beauty of character and life should especially be the aim of those who wish to lessen the world's misery. If someone has failed to lift himself above unkindness, impurity, and unhappiness, he is greatly mistaken if he thinks he can make the world happier by spreading any theory or theology. Anyone who lives each day in harshness, impurity, or unhappiness adds to the world's misery day by day. But anyone who lives with constant goodwill and remains happy increases the world's happiness day by day. This is true regardless of the religious beliefs either person may or may not hold.

He who has not learned how to be gentle, forgiving, loving, and happy, has learned very little, great though his book-learning and profound his acquaintance with the letter of Scripture may be, for it is in the process of becoming gentle, pure, and happy that the deep, real, and enduring lessons of life are learned. Unbroken sweetness of conduct in the face of all outward antagonism is the infallible indication of a self-conquered soul, the witness of wisdom, and the proof of the possession of Truth.

Anyone who has not learned to be gentle, forgiving, loving, and happy has learned very little. This is true no matter how much they have learned from books or how deeply they know the words of Scripture. For the deep, real, and lasting lessons of life are learned in the process of becoming gentle, pure, and happy. A person who remains consistently kind in the face of all outward hostility has surely mastered themselves. Such conduct is a sign of wisdom and proof that the person possesses Truth.

A sweet and happy soul is the ripened fruit of experience and wisdom, and it sheds abroad the invisible yet powerful aroma of its influence, gladdening the hearts of others, and purifying the world. And all who will, and who have not yet commenced, may begin this day, if they will so resolve, to live sweetly and happily, as becomes the dignity of a true manhood and womanhood. Do not say that your surroundings are against you. A man's surroundings are never against him; they are there to aid him, and all those outward occurrences over which you lose your sweetness and peace of mind are the very conditions necessary to your development, and it is only by meeting and overcoming them that you can learn, and grow, and ripen. The fault is in yourself.

A sweet and happy soul is the mature fruit of experience and wisdom. It spreads the invisible but powerful fragrance of its influence, bringing joy to others and purifying the world. All who have not yet begun can choose this day to live sweetly and happily, if they resolve to do so. This is fitting for the dignity of true manhood and womanhood. Do not say that your surroundings are against you. A person's surroundings are never against them. They are there to help. All the events that cause you to lose your sweetness and peace of mind are the very conditions you need to develop. Only by facing and overcoming them can you learn, grow, and mature. The fault lies in yourself.

Pure happiness is the rightful and healthy condition of the soul, and all may possess it if they will live purely and unselfishly:

Pure happiness is the soul's natural and healthy state. Everyone can have it if they live purely and unselfishly:

Is this too difficult for you? Then unrest and unhappiness will continue to dwell with you. Your belief and aspiration and resolve are all that are necessary to make it easy, to render it in the near future a thing accomplished, a blessed state realised.

Is this too difficult for you? Then restlessness and unhappiness will stay with you. Your belief, aspiration, and resolve are all you need to make it easy. With them, you can accomplish it soon and experience a blessed state.

Despondency, irritability, anxiety, complaining, condemning, and grumbling—all these are thought-cankers, mind-diseases; they are the indications of a wrong mental condition, and those who suffer therefrom would do well to remedy their thinking and conduct. It is true there is much sin and misery in the world, so that all our love and compassion are needed, but our misery is not needed—there is already too much of that. No, it is our cheerfulness and our happiness that are needed, for there is too little of that. We can give nothing better to the world than beauty of life and character; without this, all other things are vain; this is pre-eminently excellent; it is enduring, real, and not to be overthrown, and it includes all joy and blessedness.

Despondency, irritability, anxiety, complaining, condemning, and grumbling all eat away at our thoughts and minds. They are signs of an unhealthy state of mind. Those who suffer from them would do well to change their thinking and behavior. It is true that there is much sin and misery in the world, so all our love and compassion are needed. But our misery is not needed. There is already too much of that. No, what is needed is our cheerfulness and happiness, because there is too little of both. We can give the world nothing better than beauty in our lives and character. Without this beauty, everything else is in vain. It is of the highest value. It lasts, it is real, and it cannot be overcome. It includes all joy and blessedness.

Cease to dwell pessimistically upon the wrongs around you; dwell no more in complaints about, and revolt against, the evil in others, and commence to live free from all wrong and evil yourself. Peace of mind, pure religion, and true reform lie this way. If you would have others true, be true; if you would have the world emancipated from misery and sin, emancipate yourself; if you would have your home and your surroundings happy, be happy. You can transform everything around you if you will transform yourself.

Stop dwelling pessimistically on the wrongs around you. Stop complaining about and rebelling against the evil in others. Instead, begin to live free from all wrong and evil yourself. This is the path to peace of mind, pure religion, and true reform. If you want others to be truthful, be truthful yourself. If you want the world to be free from misery and sin, free yourself. If you want your home and surroundings to be happy, be happy yourself. You can transform everything around you if you transform yourself.

"Don't bewail and bemoan. . . . Don't waste yourself in rejection, nor bark against the bad, but chant the beauties of the good."

"Don't complain and lament. . . . Don't waste your energy rejecting things or railing against what is bad. Instead, sing the praises of what is good."

And this you will naturally and spontaneously do as you realise the good in yourself.

And you will do this naturally and spontaneously as you recognize the good in yourself.