Secrets of Outstanding Persons

APPRECIATE THE MOMENT

Sir, in the midst of all the confusion in the world, how can we find happiness?

You are looking for happiness?

Yes sir, that is why my microphone has been roving from place to place for the past 6 months now, trying to get clues from the likes of you.

But you must have found it by now. I have been following your column myself and have found it particularly enriching. It has covered so much and given so many clues to achieving the elusive state of happiness. I doubt that there is much I can add.

Sir, I believe there is much you can add.

Why do you think so?

Sir, you know better than I do that the wisdom of God is boundless. The quest for true happiness surely is the quest for the Highest. So it is the Highest that may be informing the rest of us through channels like you.

I am glad you put it that way. I hope that God uses me as a channel even as I discuss with you today, and if there is something to be added to what others have contributed, I am glad to be the voice for saying it.

I am glad you now see it as such. So what is the secret of true happiness?

What shall I say? Maybe I should put it somewhat differently and ask what is the secret of God?

It is your question still.

I know. The secret of God, the secret of realising God in one’s being, in one’s presence, in one’s situation, is immediate, moment to moment recognition of ITS presence.

IT?

Yes, IT. For God is beyond gender.

I see. Sorry for the interruption. You were driving towards a point, about the moment to moment recognition.

Yes, the reality of God in our lives requires a moment to moment recognition, or better still, a moment to moment appreciation of the Divine presence. But the Divine presence, by definition, confers true happiness.

So?

So finding true happiness is a moment to moment realisation. That is why I guess it is a slippery state of consciousness. One moment you seem to have it, another moment it is all gone.

Please go ahead, sir. I am listening.

The point I am making is that happiness has to be won, on a moment-to-moment basis, just like the realisation of God in our lives, through perpetual appreciation.

Perpetual appreciation of happiness?

No, rather perpetual appreciation of the grace and gifts of the moment. That is what confers the tingling excitement of happiness. We should practice uninterrupted appreciation of life every moment, no matter the place, the event, the time, and the circumstances.

So your recommendation is that we appreciate every moment?

Yes, recognise the Divinity, the life, the opportunity, the gift, the grace and the holiness of every second given to you as from the heart of God.

So one should continuously be grateful for the gift of life in order to find true happiness?

Be continuously grateful for the moment and for all with you in that moment, for all of them are gifts from God.

You mean if I find myself in a bus now, for instance, I should be grateful for being there. You mean I should be grateful for the bus, for the people in the bus, for the comedies of the moment, for the comfort or discomfort?

Yes, my son. I mean all of that and more. I mean also that you deeply show appreciation for every soul or person that you meet. For everyone that you serve or that serves you are Divine gifts coming to you in very subtle ways. All are harbingers of true happiness. Happiness is everything and everything is happiness.

Those were almost the words of my 5-year old child.

Your child said so?

Yes, sir. I was dazed. I could have been concerned, if I had not been taught that Higher Wisdom often finds children fine vessels for passing on Its message to the waiting world.

Surely, it is amazing having such wisdom coming from a child. But it is true that children are worthy channels of the Divine Wisdom; if only we would pay them attention and listen more to them.

Sir, let us return to the advice you were giving. Are you saying that we should appreciate all that we meet?

Yes. It should always be a privilege to meet another soul. The meeting of souls is always an opportunity for more learning, and for more wisdom, and for more happiness. Appreciate the gift of having others in your life at every turn, no matter how fleeting. Be appreciative of your boss, be appreciative of your father, be appreciative of your sister, be appreciative of your opponent, be appreciative of your competitor, be appreciative of your friends, or your colleagues. These are all God’s gift to you.

How?

I am afraid I will not be drawn into a mental discussion. My suggestion to you and your readers is that you practice and learn by your own experience whether this approach wins you more happiness or not.

So the secret is in appreciation?

Yes, the secret is in appreciation. Once you are spiritually tuned to this vibration of appreciation, you have automatically done several things at once. You have declared and acknowledged the presence of the Divine One in that moment. You have also acknowledged that all things come to you from that Divine pool as gifts of grace. You have also set up a direct line of communication with the Gift Giver, who now knows that you recognize ITS presence, and thus is encouraged to give you more.

Could this explain the common wisdom that the appreciative ones increase?

Sure. Indeed, why not? For appreciation means increase. When something appreciates it is known to have increased. With appreciation increase is a given. Appreciate more and see how much increase of happiness and general goodness you bring to your life.

Sir, how can I thank you. From the bottom of my heart I really appreciate your time and wisdom. I feel exalted. I feel excited.