Once a messenger walking past a tree heard a voice say: "Will you accept seven jars full of gold?" The messenger looked around, but could see no one. The offer was too good to refuse, so he cried aloud: "Yes, I shall accept the seven jars." At once the voice replied: "Go home, I have carried the jars to your house."

(See also: Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Love and Happiness: Insatiable Appetite For The Seventh Jar

"May all beings be happy" is a beautiful blessing that SN Goenka, a great teacher of the Buddhist Vipassana meditation, expresses throughout his teachings. This prayer was originally sung by the ancient spiritual masters of India and is still sung around the world even today.

In the moments of singing or saying these words in a spiritual context, they seem so full of meaning for us, and our hearts truly wish for happiness for all beings. But then, as we engage in the everyday world of work, it's not so easy to maintain the spirit of this blessing for all people. It's all too easy to become agitated and impatient, and to have negative rather than positive thoughts towards others.

See also: Spirituality At Work, Work As A Spiritual Practice, Spiritual Based Leadership

Read more here: » Work As A Spiritual Practice: Bless Outside For Happiness Inside  

It is an illusion that we are one. In fact, we are two people in one Ñ the person we assume ourselves to be and what we really are. Only if we observe ourselves can we see that we are the observer and a part of us is observed. The ability to observe must be observed. Or else the observer pollutes the observation and creates an imaginary self. This imaginary self lives like a real self. But if one observes and catches the imagination spinning its illusory reality and learns to disidentify with it, then the authentic self emerges.

Read more here: » Higher Self: Banish the Lower Self, Liberate the Higher Self

Buddhist Quotes: No Happiness Through Anger

Even in the case of individuals, there is no possibility to feel happiness through anger. If in a difficult situation one becomes disturbed internally, overwhelmed by mental discomfort, then external things will not help at all. However, if despite external difficulties or problems, internally one’s attitude is of love, warmth, and kindheartedness, then problems can be faced and accepted.

.

(See also: Buddhism Archives, Buddhist Quotes, Inspirational Quotes, Love Quotes, Friendship Quotes, Life Quotes)

Read more here: » Buddhist Quotes: No Happiness Through Anger

Prayer is common to all religions. Love for God is universal, the mode or method of prayer could be different since everyone is free to pray to the divine power in their own way. Prayer should be acceptable to all, simple and easy to adopt in daily life. Generally, people follow the path of prayer practised in the family. The Gayatri Mantra and any other prayer should be recited with sincerity and for the love of God. Only then its true benefit can be derived.

(See also: Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Gayatri Mantra: Gayatri - Mother Of All Mantras

Philosophers have long held that happiness is the ultimate goal of existence. Aristotle called it the "summum bonum" - the "chief good" - in that while we desire other goods such as money or power because we believe that they will make us happy, we want happiness for its own sake. So do material goods really lead you to happiness?

According to brain scientists, there is actually a specific area in the brain that sets expectations of material gain, and as material goals are achieved, it resets expectation levels. This means that you could be unhappy despite being wealthy, if your expectations were higher, and happy in penury if you exceeded expectations.

(See also: Essence of Affirmations , Affirmations, Practising Affirmations, Life Transforming Affirmations, Essence of Affirmations, Faith and Belief, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Essence of Affirmations: Sky Is The Limit

Morality is the gateway to religion. He who leads a moral or virtuous life attains freedom, perfection or Moksha.

Practice of ethics will help you to live in harmony with your neighbours, friends, your own family members, fellow-beings and other people. It will confer on you lasting happiness and Moksha.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Hindu Ethics: Benefits Of The Practice Of Ethics

The Ashtavakra Gita , also known as Ashtavakra Samhita , is a treatise that offers simple recipes for almost instant liberation. Swami Shantananda of Vasistha Guha calls it “a quantum leap into the absolute”.

A unique treatise on the non-dualistic advaita philosophy , the Ashtavakra Gita “guarantees to transport a seeker instantaneously from time to eternity, from the relative to the absolute and from bondage to liberation”, writes Swami Shantananda.

(See also: Ashtavakra Gita , God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Ashtavakra Gita: Ashtavakra's Guide To Instant Nirvana  

Do not think your mind is in control of you. YOU are in control of your mind! YOU use your mind. YOU can stop thinking those old thoughts!

The only thing you have any control on is your CURRENT Thought! The Universe is a vast reservoir of energy! You can get anything you want provided you 'know' and 'use' the right techniques.

To help you in your mission, here is a special compilation of very practical and powerful affirmations you can use in your everyday situations on a daily basis!

(See also: Life Transforming Affirmations , Affirmations, Practising Affirmations, Life Transforming Affirmations, Essence of Affirmations, Faith and Belief, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Life Transforming Affirmations: Practical and powerful affirmations

Motor Your Mind Towards Godhead

Compare your wealth to the automobile that you drive everyday. When you are at the wheel, you have two options: You can either drive without direction or, you can drive steadily to the temple and derive long-lasting happiness. The decision is yours. So are the effects. You are the master of your destiny. You may choose to amass wealth and use it for inferior means of consumption or decide to use your resources to serve humanity and therefore, Lord Krishna.

Read more here: » Godhead: Motor Your Mind Towards Godhead

Water (see Ocean)

1. If the dreamer is drinking water, this is a symbol for enjoying life. If the dreamer is at presently in bad circumstances, dreaming of drinking water implies that good times are ahead.

2. Clear, calm water portends happiness, while river rapids or crashing surf implies rough times on the horizon.

3. A waterfall, particularly if there is also a rainbow in the dream, indicates success, happiness, and wealth coming into the dreamer's life.

Astrological parallel: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces.

Tarot parallel: The suit of cups.

Source: Astrocenter, http://astrocenter.astrology.msn.com/msn/DreamDictionary.aspx

(See also: Dream Archives, Meaning of Dreams, Dream Interpretation, Dream Dictionary, Dream Dictionary - Water, Ocean, , Meaning of Dreams about Water, Ocean, , Dream Interpretation Water, Ocean, )

For more dictionary entries, see » Happiness Dictionary

Swami Rama Tirtha rekindled the poetic vision of the Upanishads. His exposition of Vedanta through lectures and talks imparted a transcendental perspective to the ancient texts. He advocated greater brotherhood and bonding through a realisation of the true meaning of the spiritual law.

The essence of this is captured in a beautiful composition called The Faith: "What care I for caste or creed? / It is the deed; it is the deed/ what for class or clan? / It is the man, it is the man /...What for crown or crest? / It is the heart within the breast".

(See also: Swami Rama Tirtha , Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Swami Rama Tirtha: Swami Rama Tirtha's View of Vedanta  

One thing that I would like to remind you of at this point is, in this world, on this planet, most of the harm, most of the pain, most of the suffering has been caused to people, to humankind, only with good intentions, not with bad intentions. The maximum slaughter and killing has happened on this planet only with good intentions.

If you look at the world, the fight is not between the good and the bad. It is always the good people who are fighting. If you are a good Indian, you fight a good Pakistani; if you are a good Hindu, you fight a good Muslim. The better you are, the more you fight. It is not the bad people who are fighting each other. It is always good people with good intentions....

(See also: Essence of Affirmations , Affirmations, Practising Affirmations, Life Transforming Affirmations, Essence of Affirmations, Faith and Belief, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Essence of Affirmations: Become a joyous human being

There is an ancient lore associated with the festival of Raksha Bandhan that is celebrated during the bright fortnight in the Hindu month of Shravan. The Bhavishya Purana refers to a battle between the deities and demons.

The king of the deities, Indra, was feeling depressed. Indra's wife Sachi then took a thread, charged it with sacred verses for protection and tied it on Indra's hand. Through the strength of this thread Indra conquered his enemies.

(See also: Raksha Bandhan , Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Raksha Bandhan: Of Human Bonding And Celebration - about Raksha Bandhan  

We live in tumultuous times. Our miseries seem never-ending. Calamities, both natural and human-made, visit us with uncanny regularity. Faced with these misfortunes, some of us feel betrayed by God. Does He not see the pain we are going through? Why does He allow so much evil to flourish on this Earth? Many people turn to the scriptures for answers.

The Zoroastrian religion has a positive and proactive outlook towards human suffering. One of the foremost exponents of Zoroastrian philosophy was the sage Dastur Adurbad Mahrespand. He was the prime minister and pontiff in the court of the Sassanian King Shahpur II, who reigned in Persia during the fourth century AD.

(See also: Zoroastrianism , God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Zoroastrianism: The Zoroastrian Way Of Seeking Solace  

A little girl was to undergo an operation. The surgeon said to her: "Before we can make you well, we must put you to sleep for a little while." The little girl looked up and smiled: "Oh, if you are going to put me to sleep, I must say my prayers first".

She knelt down beside the table and prayed: "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray thee, Lord, my soul to keep, If I should die before I wake, I pray thee, Lord, my soul to take. " The surgeon said afterwards that he prayed that night for the first time in 30 years. Prayer doesn't change things. It changes people, and they change things. So, don't pray for lighter burdens; pray for stronger backs.

(See also: Science and Religion , Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Science and Religion: No Conflict Between Faith & Reason  

Today's Valentines, for all their 'happiness', betray fear in their eyes. They know little of brotherly love, still less of love for God. What passes in the name of religiosity today is mere bigotry. They, poor souls, might scarcely know who they are, where they are and what they are doing. Life is a pacy film without substance, and love, a mere kit-kat break.

(See also: Valentines Day , Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Valentines Day: Love's Fable Lost in Springtime Sale

To engender manifestation of any desire, you have to focus all your energies on it. The rays of the shining sun when focused through the magnifying glass can cause the paper to burn up, not otherwise. This focus is crucial especially if the goal is the Divine One. While other desires may get fulfilled, the Divine One still tends to stay elusive. Ever silent and ever-present, the Lord seeks to see if we are willing to be pleased and satisfied with His little gifts or if we are willing to find our true happiness only in the realisation of His Cosmic consciousness.

(See also: Life Transforming Affirmations , Affirmations, Practising Affirmations, Life Transforming Affirmations, Essence of Affirmations, Faith and Belief, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Life Transforming Affirmations: Finding The Master

Dhyana-yoga of Bhagavad-Gita

In this chapter the Lord explains that the process of the eightfold yoga system (astanga-yoga) is a means to control the mind and the senses. This practice culminates in samadhi, full consciousness of the Supreme. However, this is very difficult for people in general to perform, especially in the Age of Kali. Although astanga-yoga is recommended in this chapter, the Lord emphasises that the process of bhakti-yoga, is better.

Read more here: » Dhyana Yoga: Dhyana-yoga of Bhagavad-Gita

It's not surprising to see both Hindus and Muslims praying at the dargah of the thirteenth century sufi, Shaikh Nizamuddin Aulia (1244-1325), in New Delhi. A refugee who had sought shelter here along with his parents, when Bukhara was subjected to repeated Mongol invasions, Nizamuddin never went back to the Central Asian Republic. Living here amongst the common people, he stressed that a mystic should transcend all barriers of religion, race and language in dealing with human beings.

(See also: Shaikh Nizamuddin Aulia , Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Shaikh Nizamuddin Aulia: Healing the Human Heart of Pain  

Impact of Gates At Various Locations

Eastern Side: The third and fourth gate promote prosperity.

Southern Side: The twelfth gate enhances growth.

Western Side: The twentieth and twenty-first gates stimulate financial growth.

Northern Side: The twenty-seventh, twenty-eighth and twenty-ninth gates promote happiness, financial growth and overall gain respectively.

Of all the positions of the gates the positions that are favourable are in the

EASTERN SIDE

3. Prosperity

4. Govt Favour

SOUTH SIDE

11. Meanness

12. Prosperity, Human Growth

WEST SIDE

20. Financial and Human Growth

21. Financial and Human Growth

NORTH SIDE

27. Happiness

28. Financial and human Growth

29. All types of Gains

All the other placements of the gates prove to be unfavourable.

See also: Vastu Shastra

(See also: Vastu Shastra , Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Dictionary, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

For more dictionary entries, see » Happiness Dictionary

Pilgrims are flocking to the shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti at Ajmer on the occasion of the annual Urs. Popularly known as Khwaja Gharib Nawaz, the dargah symbolises a touching synthesis of the hopes and prayers of various faiths and communities.

Both Hindus and Muslims remember Moinuddin Chishti as Khwaja Gharib Nawaz, revering him for his simple teachings and eclectic philosophy. The Khwaja believed that no spiritual exercise, penitence, prayer, or vigil had greater value than bringing succour to distressed hearts and helping the needy. He directed all his efforts towards alleviation of human misery.

(See also: Chishti Shrine , Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Chishti Shrine: Pilgrimage of Faith - Chishti's Shrine