First and Second Cause of Happiness or Misery
While some humans, for some of their lives, lead peaceful
and happy lives, there are also huge numbers who suffer from varying levels of
unhappiness. The unhappiness may vary from severe distress and trauma as for
those bombed in their homes and forced to flee as in Syria
or Yemen
presently, to just those suffering form daily stress and grind of life. It has
been so with me too in my journey through life dear friend.
It is worth reflecting on the cause of all this and do something
to make our lives peaceful and happy for how can there be happiness without peace?
Once one discovers root causes of misery and the path to overcome them, one can
gain huge amounts peace, happiness and exhilarating joy. While the worldly
teach us ways to make money or become more successful, the experience of many
is that such paths lead to misery more often than happiness.
In the end two things decide course of our lives. First are
our own thoughts and actions that create our world and second are circumstances
that world around us seems to impose. We may call these First Cause and Second
Cause. While some feel that they may be able to do something about the first
cause they also feel the second is out of their control.
Mystics since ancient times have reflected deeply on human
life and workings of the universe believe that even the second cause is a
result of our past thoughts and deeds, our karma. One may not agree with
mystics but then one will agree that there is nothing that can be done about it
short of curse our fates or someone else for it making matters worse. Better it
is not to bother about it at all and just put up with it if there is nothing that
can do about it.
As regards the first cause, our own thoughts and deeds, they
are in our control. All would agree that
it is best to work with the first cause in a way that improves lives in the
best possible way. In fact, if one does that, one may reach the same path
mystics recommend for dealing with both the first and second cause, whether we
believe in the words of the mystics or not.
It is our own desires, thoughts, and actions that are the
only thing in our control and it is this we must work with to improve our
lives. What path should we follow for this? Should we choose this path on our
own or seek advice from elsewhere too?
As wisdom increases one realizes how little one knows of
life and the world but a fool is secure in his knowledge. Therefore the latter
would not need the feel to seek any advice from anyone, secure in the knowledge
that he knows the best path forward.
What of others who feel that it would be better to consult
before choosing one’s path in life? Here too one may face problems. As an
example, consider a person who is suffering from a physical ailment such as chronic
pain and decides to consult a medical practitioner for it. The doctor he
consults may be moved more by greed and the benefits a big pharma company
offers him and therefore instead of recommending a safe pain killer or course
of action that offers relief, advises a course of opioid pain killers that
makes huge profits for the company. These latter may feel like heaven for a bit
but they can addict, compromise health and then kill. Thus one has in effect
jumped from the frying pan into the fire. This is not a rare instance because
large parts of the world are motivated by greed. Enough wisdom is required not
just to seek help but also a little more wisdom than that to reject the wrong
sort of help.
Similar is the case for those who feel that the best recourse
is to surrender to a religion, spiritual teacher or guru for solace when life
is in distress. Here too there are many sharks in disguise motivated by greed. They
are wolves in sheep’s clothing out to enslave souls and strip them of whatever
goodness remains with them after making them feel like they are in heaven for a
bit. How does one safeguard oneself?
The good news for those who trust in God and their own heart
is that His help is available directly to all. He shall lead one suffering from
pain to the right doctor; give enough wisdom to find one or quite often suggest
how to just use things like rest, sunshine, pure air, a bit of exercise and
patience to overcome the difficulty.
Similar is the case for spiritual help. If some further
education is required in this direction, the Lord has scribbled knowledge on
every leaf, flower and tree as well as in one’s heart before sending a soul
forth into life. Often we smudge that knowledge with things like lust, anger
and greed. When we control the latter, knowledge surfaces.
If necessary, He shall lead one to right words, the right
path and it shall most definitely not be in a religion that says that only
though them you can find salvation, for that is like a car dealer who says it
is only in his car you shall find comfort and it is the best. There are
numerous types of cars out there each good for someone or the other.
When it comes to the human condition, there are an infinite
number of possible conditions and an infinite number of spiritual paths out
there, each to discover for himself, with the help of the Lord. While
theologians shall continue to debate and quarrel until kingdom come, mystics of
the world have spoken the same language from beginning of time and shall
continue to until final dissolution. If you would like to know more about these
paths than check out the author’s blog on the topic at
As regards the present blog only some of the items have that
knowledge for it has a lot of other stuff from life as the title and URL of the
blog suggests.
Or if you prefer to read about in a book that you can read
and reflect on with ease and which you can keep with you for referring back as
and when you feel like, then you may find the contents of that blog in a little
book – Mystic Pathways to Love, Peace and Happiness. It can be found at the
following link as well as elsewhere if you search for it on google
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