The Lotus Still Blooms by Joan Gattuso

Author:Joan Gattuso [Gattuso, Joan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Group USA, Inc.
Published: 2010-02-28T23:00:00+00:00

JOY

When I think of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, I think of the most joyous person imaginable. To hear him laugh, to see his face light up with delight fills an auditorium with joy. He has not allowed the adversities and tragedies of his life and people to rob him of his immeasurable quality of unabashed joy and compassion that is in his blood.

Joy bubbles out of him like a sparkling fountain. Does he have the corner on how one can have a happy life? No, but for his seventy years he has from childhood practiced the Four Immeasurables. So, too, must we practice removing that which would keep joy a faint hope. We must see all the good, the blessing, the beneficial that is contained within an experience. Find what brings you joy and cultivate it more into your life.

Our two little Yorkshire terriers and our adopted-from-Hawaii kitty bring us great joy every day. They are just being themselves, but my husband, David, and I observe them through eyes of joy. So we attend to them lovingly. We are forever noticing their cute antics and poses and relish in what joy they have added to our lives.

The Dalai Lama speaks frequently about all people, all sentient beings, desiring happiness. He regularly emphasizes the importance of being happy and having a happy life, happiness and joy being one. How important has joy been in your life? What would it mean to you to have more joy and happiness? What would you have to give up to have more joy in your life? Do not quickly dismiss this important question. What stories would you have to cease from telling; what behaviors, beliefs and attitudes would have to be released?

I coached a friend whose life record seemed permanently stuck on the “they did me wrong” song. After years of hearing ancient and new versions of the same old story, out of utter frustration I said, “I’ve heard enough. Your life is never going to change until you change and divorce yourself from this unhealthy life-robbing situation.” What I have always known and continue to know about this young man is that he will have his life-changing breakthrough. For now he still has more work to do to learn how to love himself enough to no longer tolerate in the future the abuses of the past.

Abe Lincoln said, “. . . most people are about as happy as they’ve made up their minds to be.” Choose joy and you are choosing happiness for yourself and others. This is a truly blessed Immeasurable.

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