My Idea of anger management

ANGER AND MANAGING IT

 People often get angry for various reasons. In a split of moment, they get angry and later regret for it.  Most people even try to manage their anger, but they are not successful. So, there are lot techniques suggested such as

a) move away from the place for some time

b) count some numbers till your anger subsides

c) use humor to convert the situation into a lighter note

d) think before you speak etc.

Each one has a different way to handle it. Some know it and others arent aware about it. Not everyone is able to realise their weakness, accept and work on it. So, a thought came to my mind today that the below mentioned idea maybe one of the ideas to manage anger.

So, If someone is getting anger, then the first thing , they should do is to leave that place, go and perform some good action, such as plant a tree, water a plant, offer food to some dog,cat,cow etc or it can be any good thing which helps any being. Once they do this and once they are normal, come back to the person with whom we got angry and give them a hug and thank them because we have done a good thing because of them. Now, with this, we will be benefitted two ways

1. Whenever we get angry, we are converting it to a good cause,which will help someone. Because during anger there is a lot a energy generated within us and if we practice to channelise it for some good cause, then it will really benefit. Reasoning for this is when get anger, and if we hit someone during that mood, definetly we cause a major loss. So, our energy levels will be more than what we are at normal.

2. When we return back to the person and given them hug and thank them, we are bettering our relationships and learn to be thankful.

In this manner, over a period of time, if we look back, the instances of anger (considering the good thing as planting a tree), we might have grown a great garden. This will definetly help us in improving ourselves and control our anger, the transition from regret to gratitude will make us realise ourselves and a better acceptable person. People will appreciate our efforts in overcoming our anger and help us, which in a due course of time will make our life to be  happy and harmonious. This way, we help ourselves and people around us, which in a way will reflect in the circumstances and our society.  

A happy and calm face with a smile  is always contagious. When we spread happiness and smile at people, we are making the surroundings more happier and calm with our happy face with smile. This itself will make people inspired by seeing us. When we look at our face during anger, definetly we only doesnt like ourselves, not only we, others who look at us also sense that mood and doesnt want to interact with us and try to keep away from us, whereas people who are happier and smiling are like magnets attracting, so they attract people and everyone wish to interact with those kind of magnificient personalities.

So, it is a choice for us whether we want to showcase a face with full of anger or a face with calm, happiness and smiling.

Mind and its play

Mind and its play are very interesting. Mind is the reason for all the happiness and all the misery in a person's life. The success or failure of a person depends on how better the person can control his mind. The person who has control over his mind is definite to reach his goal, because he is having a stable mind. Whereas when the mind is not in the control he falls prey to the gimmicks of the mind and loses his life game. The one who has control over his mind can control the whole world. Because the whole world is within and he is within the world.
Then a question arises, when we are saying that we have to control the mind, who has to control the mind. why everyone is not able to control their minds and why they are falling prey to the mind. Then how to keep the mind in control.

Some methods which striked so as to control the mind.
First thing, donot listen to the mind and act accordingly. For example, if the mind says let us watch movie. Then obviously to win over the mind, we should not watch movie, but read a good book or do some thing.

Second thing, use the power of mind to channelise it for some constructive act.For example, make the habit of doing some regular activity, to make the mind calm, and get disciplined. Say, going to church or going to mosque or going to temple or helping old aged ones/ helping children etc.

Third thing, use the positive power of stable minds. For example, always try to be in association of people with stable and strong minds, so that we can also over a period of time make our mind strong and stable. It can be role model of ours/can be teacher/can be father/mother/brother/sister etc. It is similar to an iron piece becoming a magnet after being associated with a magnet for certain period of time.

Fourth thing, use the references of stable minded people / consult stable minded people in case of doubt, but never listen to the mind directly. Everyone faces this in their life,they will need to take decisions in their life. Without checking for the correctness, if somebody is just listening to his mind, the mind always tries to deceives a person by guiding it in the wrong way for his own selfishness.The person may not be able to know the consequences of the action which he had done by listening to his mind, but he will not be able to bear the consequences, then again he tries to escape from them. The human mind always tries for escapism, avoidance, selfishness etc. So we need to be very careful and check with stable minded people or refer to some life stories/religious books etc which provides solutions for such situations.


Age is not the criteria for a mind to play its game.Everybody in their life will fall prey to their mind, if they dont realise its potential and couldnt control it. It all depends on how we use the power of mind, whether we are able to help ourselves and people around us. For example, if a person is doing robbery, his mind says that nothing is wrong, we can do this robbery as this person is well off / or he is having additional money/ or something else. The mind always tries to project the selfish dimension ignoring the actual fact. But we should be very careful to realise the truth and act accordingly.

One can keep himself happy and others around him happy if he knows the potential of the mind and doesnt fall prey to its tricks.

ఆష్ఠ వింసతి విష్ణు నామ స్తొత్రం

 ఆష్ఠ వింసతి విష్ణు నామ స్తొత్రం 

మత్స్యం కూర్మ వరహంచ, వామనాంచ జనార్ధనం , 
గొవిందం ఫుండరీకాక్షం మాధవం మధు సూధనం .

పద్మనాభం, సహస్రాక్షం, వనమాలం, హలాయుధం, 
గొవర్ధనం, ౠషికేసం, వైకుంటం, పురుషొతమం .

విశ్వరూపం, వాసుదేవం, రామం నారయణం హరిం,
దామొధరం, శ్రిధరాంచ వేదాంగం, గరుడ ద్వజం. 

ఆనంతం, క్రిష్ణ గొపాలం, జాపతొ నాస్తి పతకం.
గవం కొటి ప్రాధనశ్య, అస్వమేధ సతాస్య చ 

కన్య ధాన సహస్రనాం, ఫలం ప్రప్నొతి మనవ,
ఆమయాం వా పౌర్ణమాస్యం, ఎకదశ్యం తదివ చ. 

సంధ్య కాలే స్మరనిత్యం, ప్రాతకాలే తదైవ చ, 
మధ్యహ్నే చ జప నిత్యం సర్వపాపై ప్రాముచ్యతే.

వైకుంట ఏకాద‌శి విశిష్టత‌

వైకుంట ఏకాద‌శి విశిష్టత‌

ప్రతినెలలో పూర్ణిమకి ముందు వచ్చే ఏకాదశిని శుద్ధేకాదశి(శుద్ధ ఏకాదశి) అంటారు. సంవత్సరం మొత్తంలోఇటువంటి శుద్ధ ఏకాదశులు 12 వుంటాయి. వీటిలో ప్రతి ఏకాదశికి ప్రాముఖ్యత వున్నా, నాలుగు ఏకాదశులను విశేషదాయకంగా పరిగణిస్తాము. అవి:
ఆషాడ శుద్ధ ఏకాదశి.(తొలేకాదశి/శయనేకాదశి)
కార్తీక శుద్ధ ఏకాదశి
పుష్య శుద్ధ ఏకాదశి (వైకుంఠ ఏకాదశి/ముక్కోటి ఏకాదశి)
మాఘ శుద్ధ ఏకాదశి (భీష్మ ఏకాదశి)
వైకుంఠ ఏకాదశి/ ముక్కోటి ఏకాదశి

పుష్య శుద్ధ ఏకాదశిని వైకుంఠ ఏకాదశి లేక ముక్కోటి ఏకాదశి అంటారు. ఒక చిన్న స్థలం ఉంటే తూర్పు దిక్కుగా నిలుచుంటే దానికి నిట్టనిలువుగా తూర్పు పశ్చిమాలు, అడ్డంగా ఉత్తర దక్షిణాలూ వుంటాయి. ఈ ఉత్త్తర దక్షిణ విభాగాన్ని ప్రాచీనులు కేవలం ప్రదేశాలకి మాత్రమే పరిమితం చేయకుండా కాలంలోనూ, శరీరంలోను కూడా ఈ విభాగాన్ని చేశారు.
కాలంలో ఉత్తరం పగలు; దక్షిణం రాత్రి
కుడి చేయి 

ఉత్తరం; ఎడమ చేయి దక్షిణం

ఎక్కడైనా (ఉత్తర – దక్షిణాలలో) ఉత్తరమే పవిత్రమైనది, శ్రేష్టమైనది.
దేవతలకు ఆరు నెలలు పగలు, ఆరు నెలలు రాత్రి. రాత్రిని దక్షిణాయనం, పగటిని ఉత్తరాయణం అన్నారు. దక్షిణాయనం వెళుతుండగా చీకటి తొలగి సూర్యుడు – అంటే వైకుంఠుడు, ముక్తుడుకాగా దేవతలు కూడా చీకటి పోయి వెలుతురుకు వస్తారన్నమాట. అనగా, వారి పగలు ప్రారంభమైందన్నమాట. ఈ వైకుంఠ ద్వారమన్నది సూర్యుని ఉత్తరాయణ ప్రవేశ చిహ్నముగా చెప్పుకుంటాము. ముక్కోటి దేవతలు ఈనాడు ఉత్తరమందున్న శ్రీ మహా విష్ణువును దర్శించుకుంటారు. అందుచే ప్రాతఃకాలంలో భక్తులుకూడా ముక్కోటి దేవతలతో కూడివున్న వైకుంఠుణ్ణి ఉత్తర ద్వార దర్శనం చేసుకుని ముక్తి పొందాలని భావిస్తారు. అందుకే దీన్ని మోక్షేకాదశి అని కూడా అంటారు.
యోగ శాస్త్రానికి సంబంధించిన విషయం చెప్పుకుందాం. యోగాభ్యాసాన్ని చేసే సాధకులందరు శ్రీహరి యోగనిద్రకు ఉపక్రమించిన శయనేకాదశి (ఆషాడమాసంలోని శుద్ధ ఏకాదశి)నాడు యోగ సాధనని ప్రారంభించి యదార్ధంగాను, నిష్టతోనూ సక్రమంగా చేస్తే, ఈ ఏకాదశి, అంటే పుష్య శుద్ధ ఏకాదశి, వైకుంఠ దర్శనమవుతుందనీ, ఆ కారణంగా ఇది వారి పాలిట వైకుంఠ ఏకాదశి అవుతుందని పెద్దలు గుర్తించిన అంశం.
ఏకాద‌శిన విష్ణు ద‌ర్శణం శుభ‌ప్రదం
ముక్కోటి దేవతలు వైకుంఠమునకు చేరుకొనే శుభపర్వ దినం వైకుంఠ ఏకాదశి. దీనినే ‘ముక్కోటిఏకాదశి’ పేరుతో వైషవాలయాల్లో అత్యంత వైభవంగా నిర్వహిస్తారు. ముక్కోటి ఏకాదశి నాడు అన్ని వైష్ణవాలయాల్లో ఉత్తరంవైపు ఉండే వైకుంఠ ద్వారాన్ని తెరుస్తారు.
ఈ ద్వారం ద్వార స్వామిని దర్శించుకోవడం పుణ్యప్రదం. శ్రీమహావిష్ణువుతో బాటు ముక్కోటి దేవతలు ఈ రోజున భువికి దిగివస్తారని శాస్త్రవచనం. దక్షియణాయానంలో దివంగతులైన పుణ్యాత్ములు ఈ రోజున వైకుంఠ ద్వార౦ ద్వారా స్వర్గానికి చేరుకుంటారు. ఈ రోజు ఏకాదశి వ్రతం చేసి, విష్ణువుని పూజించి, ఉపవాసం, జాగరణ పాటించడ౦ వల్ల పుణ్యఫలితాలు లభిస్తాయి. ఏకాదశి ఉపవాస తిథి విష్ణు స్వరుపమైనది. ఈ వైకుంఠ ఏకాదశీనే ‘పుత్రదా ఏకాదశి’ అని అంటారు. ఏకాదశి రోజున ఉపవాసం ఉండాలి. దశమి రాత్రి కూడా భుజించకూడదు.
ద్వాదశినాడు ద్వాదశి ఘడియలు వెళ్ళాకముందే పారణం (భోజనం) చేయాలి. దేవతలకు ఆరునెలలు పగలు, ఆరునెలలు రాత్రి. దక్షిణాయానం రాత్రికాలం. ఈ చీకటి తొలగి దేవతలు వెలుగులోకి వస్తారు. అంటే వారికి పగలు ప్రారంభమైనట్టు.
అందుకే ఆ రోజు ఉపవాసం పుణ్యప్రదం. బ్రహ్మ స్వేదబిందువు నుండి రాక్షసుడు జన్మించాడని, బ్రహ్మ ఆజ్ఞతో ముక్కోటి ఏకాదశీ నుండి అన్నంలో నివసిస్తాడని పురాణ కథనం. అందుకే ఆ రోజున భోజనం మాని ఉపవాసం ఉండాలంటారు. ఏడాదిలో 24 ఏకాదశుల్లో ఉపవాశం ఉంటే వచ్చే మొత్తం ఫలితం ముక్కోటి ఏకాదశి రోజున లభిస్తుంది.

Jokes - Laughter for a Happy Life

All the jokes are just for fun, so that one can laugh heartily and get relieved from their stress, it is not intended on anyone or to hurt anyone. Laughter Bhai is just a fictional character, and not the name of any real person, used to create the jokes.

Laugh Heartily and merrily to relive your stress to lead a happy life.

Laughter Bhai : I think that girl is deaf...
Friend : How do you know?
Laughter Bhai : I told I love her, but she said her chappals are new

Teacher: Which is the oldest animal in world?
Laughter Bhai: ZEBRA
Teacher: How?
Laughter Bhai: Bcoz it is Black & White

Laughter Bhai: Miss, Do you called to my mobile?
Teacher: Me? No, Why?
Laughter Bhai: Yesterday I saw in my mobile. "1 Miss Call".

Judge: Don't U have shame? It is third time you are coming to court.
Laughter Bhai : You are coming daily, don't you have shame?

Question: "Should women have children after 35?"
Laughter Bhai: "No! 35 children are more than enough!"

Sir: What is the difference between Orange and Apple?
Laughter Bhai : Color of orange is orange, but color of apple is not apple

Laughter Bhai attending an interview in Software Company
Manager: Do you know MS Office
Laughter Bhai: If you give me the address, I will go there sir

Laughter Bhai got a sms from his girlfriend
"I MISS YOU"
Laughter Bhai replied
"I Mr you"!!

Laughter Bhai: Doctor! My son swallowed a key
Doctor: When?
Laughter Bhai: 3 Months ago
Doctor: What were you doing till now?
Laughter Bhai: We were using duplicate key

Happy Living - Simple Tips For Drinking Water

Cure All Diseases By Drinking Water - Simple Rules

Water is an essential thing in a human life.  Humans can adjust or survive without clothes, can adjust or survive without house, but cannot adjust or survive without water in their day to day life.It is must for human body. It plays very important role for our body. It is very beneficial if we know and take it at right time. Most of the diseases are caused by water if we are not taking the water in a proper manner. There are certain simple rules if we follow then water works as a medicine for the body and we never fall ill.

Here we present five simple rules regarding drinking of water.

First rule:  Do not drink water just after taking food.

Reason:

After taking food a heat is generated in the stomach which is called stomach heat which is responsible for breakdown of food. This stomach heat remains for one and half hour. If one takes water immediately after taking meals, this heat gets subsided. So, if one drinks water after one and half hour after taking their meals, food will be digested well and it will be converted into juice.

                In the digestion process the food is first churned into paste during one and half hour after taking food. After that the paste is converted into juice and this juice formation is not possible without water. So, one should drink full water as much as they can after one and half hour.

Second rule:  Do not drink water in quaff. Rinse water in the mouth before taking it in.

Whenever you drink water do not take whole in one time i.e. drink water sip by sip. Take small amount of water in a sip as you can. Small the amount of water it will be more beneficial to you. Rinse water inside the mouth before taking in.

 Reason:

 When one drinks water in sips and rinse the water in mouth, then more saliva will go inside the stomach.  Our stomach needs more and more saliva because acid is formed in the stomach. If the acid is formed during the digestion process it is good for the digestion process. 

 But if the acid is formed before or after the meal that acid is harmful and must be diluted otherwise that acid will mix up with blood and create the problem of acidity. This acidity can cause heart attack, brain hemorrhage and can cause other serious problems. This little mistake can take the form of big loss.

So, whenever one drinks water, they should not take it in a quaff rather take it in smaller amounts by sipping and rinsing inside mouth before taking it inside.

Third rule: Do not drink water in straight utensils like glass rather take it in round shaped utensils.

Reason:

Utensils like glass which are linear in shape possess high surface tension. And water takes the property of the vessel or utensils in which we fill it. Comparatively the round shaped utensils have less surface area and so that have less surface tension.

 There are two intestines in our body; small and large intestine. These intestines have a membrane inside. All the waste material of our body is collected in this membrane. The water we drink is responsible to extract out the waste in the membrane.

 So, if we drink water of high surface tension our intestines will shrink and as a result water will not be able to wash out the waste inside the membrane.  As a result of which many diseases like piles, fistula and many other serious diseases can result.

Comparatively if we drink water in round shape utensils i.e. of low surface tension as a result our intestines will expand and will be opened and water we have taken will be able to easily remove the waste in the intestines.

Fourth rule: Do not drink cold water. Always drink mild water (not hot not cold).

Reason:

When we drink cold water it cools the organs inside the body. So, stomach needs more energy to heat these organs and blood is needed to heat up the cool organs. As a result heart will divert all more blood towards the stomach. So every time you drink cold water in a day the blood circulation will be diverted towards.  So there is a lack of blood in heat, brain and other parts of body and this can cause very serious problems. And second thing is that cold water has high surface tension while mild water has low surface tension.

Fifth rule: Never drink water while standing. Always drink water when you are in sitting state.

After following the above said rules the whole bio chemistry of your body will change. Try this for at least 6 months and see the difference. You will feel fresh, light and healthy. You can reduce extra fat by only following these simple rules and no physical exercise is needed to do so. All of the diseases will be cured.

These are very simple and every one can follow them easily. Follow these rules and feel the difference to have a healthy life and have a healthy living. A sound body will ensure that a sound mind exists and if a sound mind exists, one can have  a  happy living.

Happiness according to various religions

Every world religion has a different way for its believers to achieve happiness. And yet, many elements of each path are similar. How do Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Buddhism compare and contrast?

According to Islam

---------------------

It is the nature of every person to seek happiness.  Some people strive to seek material happiness in this world away from religion, thinking that this is the true happiness.  But this kind of happiness will be succeeded by pain and sorrow at the Day of Judgment, and its people will know that their striving led them only to misery and not happiness.

While others know that the true way to happiness is to obey God and follow His religion.  For them the pleasures and riches of the world are of little consequence.  When this happiness penetrates and fills the heart of the believer he does in fact live in this world as if he were in Paradise.  Those are the people who find true happiness in this world.

What kind of happiness could be greater than that of someone who humbles himself to God, worships Him, strives for His pleasure, and strives to enter Paradise and have salvation from Hellfire?

The believer lives with such a sweetness in his heart that if the masters of the earth knew of it, they would fight him to death to take it from him.  God has said:

{ Whoever does right, whether male or female, and is a believer, We will make him live a good life, and We will award them their reward for the best of what they used to do. } (Quran, 16:97)

Happiness is in the good life mentioned in this verse, that even the rich disbelievers cannot find, despite the money they have.  That is why we are not surprise when we know that many among them committed suicide.

To reach true happiness, we need to know what is the purpose of our life, how to reach success in the hereafter, and to fulfill the requirements of reaching this success by following the commands of God and His true religion.

The concept of happiness in Islam is expressed in the Qur’ân and Sunnah in a number of different ways. First, we find the Qur’ân discussing the “good life”.This “good life” is happiness itself. It is realized through faith and good deeds. This does not mean that we will not face difficulties in our good life. Our worldly lives, even when they are bolstered by faith and good works, are never free from distress and vexations. This world is the abode of toil, as Allah says: “Certainly We have created man to be in toil.” [Sûrah al-Balad: 90]

The concept of happiness is also expressed in the Qur’ân as a negation of wretchedness and misguidance. It is also expressed through by contrasting it with the description, of a narrow, straightened life.

Allah says: “But he who turns away from remembrance of Me, his will be a narrow life, and I shall bring him blind to the assembly on the Day of Resurrection.” [Sûrah TâHâ: 124]

Wretchedness is the opposite of happiness. It is a state of being bereft of Allah’s remembrance. The way to distance oneself from wretchedness is to follow the path of guidance. This is what brings about happiness. The Qur’ân also uses the concept of “the openness of the heart” to express happiness. Allah says: “Those whom Allah wills to guide, He opens their breast to Islam; those whom He wills to leave straying, He makes their breast close and constricted, as if they had to climb up to the skies: thus does Allah (heap) the penalty on those who refuse to believe.” [Sûrah al-An`âm: 125] Another expression is the “contentment of the heart”. Allah says: “Those who believe, and whose hearts find contentment in the remembrance of Allah: for without doubt in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find contentment.” [Sûrah al-Ra`d: 28] The contentment and openness of the heart are aspects of happiness which are achieved through keeping up the remembrance of Allah and through following the guidance of Islam. Total and perfect happiness is achieved through true devotion in worship to Allah, salvation from Hell, and admission to Paradise in the Hereafter. Allah says: “On the day when it shall come, no soul shall speak except with His permission, then (some) of them shall be unhappy and (others) happy. Those who are wretched shall be in the Fire: There will be for them therein (nothing but) the heaving of sighs and sobs. Abiding therein so long as the heavens and the earth endure, except as your Lord please; surely your Lord is the mighty doer of what He intends. And as to those who are made happy, they shall be in the garden, abiding in it as long as the heavens and the earth endure, except as your Lord please; a gift which shall never be cut off.” [Sûrah Hûd: 105-108]Believers can be tested with tribulations and illness, though when they are granted patience to endure and they seek their reward with their Lord, it is best for them. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “How amazing are the believer’s affairs; all his affairs are good for him. If good befalls him, he is grateful and that is good for him, and if he is afflicted by calamity he is patient and that is also good for him. This is only for the believer.” [Sahîh Muslim]Ibn Mas`ûd said: “Allah has placed ease and happiness in certainty of faith and contentment. He has placed worry and misery in discontent and doubt.” The contentment that Ibn Mas`ûd is referring to here is to be reconciled to Allah’s decree and with the portion that Allah has allotted to His servant. This is the way to attain peace of mind and happiness. By contrast, being discontented and resentful about one’s circumstances, unsatisfied with one’s portion that Allah has allotted, and having doubts about one’s faith, this is the way to anxiety, misery, and distress.

Now surely the friends of Allah, they shall have no fear nor shall they grieve. Those who believe and guarded (against evil): They shall have good news in this world's life and in the hereafter; there is no changing the words of Allah; that is the mighty achievement. Noble Qur'an (10:62-64)

Happiness is a feeling that resides in the heart. It is characterized by peace of mind, tranquility, a sense of well-being, and a relaxed disposition. It comes as a result of proper behavior, both inward and outward, and is inspired by strong faith.

It is the nature of every person to seek happiness. One of the most elusive objectives of every human being is "Happiness." The Noble Qur'an reveals the secret of attaining perfect happiness in this life and forever. We learn from the Noble Qur'an that happiness is an exclusive quality of the soul. Thus, a body that attains all the material successes it longs for - money, power, fame, etc. - often belongs to an unhappy person. Happiness depends totally on the degree of growth and development attained by the soul, the real person. The Noble Qur'an provides a detailed map towards perfect happiness for both body and soul, both in this world and in the eternal Hereafter.

In the numerous verses throughout this proven Testament, Allah (SWT) personally guarantees the believers happiness, now and forever. Some people strive to seek material happiness in this world away from religion, thinking that this is the true happiness. But this kind of happiness will be succeeded by pain and sorrow at the Day of Judgment, and its people will know that their striving led them only to misery and not happiness.

While others know that the true way to happiness is to obey Allah (SWT) and follow His religion. For them the pleasures and riches of the world are of little consequence. When this happiness penetrates and fills the heart of the believer he does in fact live in this world as if he were in Paradise. Those are the people who find true happiness in this world.

Conclusion::: 

Meaning of Happiness in Islam: Happiness is a feeling that resides in the heart. Happiness is characterized by peace of mind, tranquility, a sense of well-being, and a relaxed disposition. Happiness comes as a result of proper behavior, both inward and outward, and is inspired by strong faith. Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: "True enrichment does not come through possessing a lot of wealth, but true enrichment is the enrichment of the soul."

Contentment is the Secret to Happiness in Life

According to Christianity

--------------------------

English word "happy" is simply defined as, "Fortunate or lucky…. cheerful…contented…characterized by or indicative of pleasure…." (Random House College Dictionary). The biblical presentation of "happy" is more substantive. For instance, the Bible does not present happiness as an experience that just happens because of luck or some shallow euphoric state of mind. One, according to the Bible, can be happy while being corrected by God, suffering for the sake of righteousness, and being reproached for the name of Christ (Job 5: 17; I Pet. 3: 14; 4: 14). There are five Hebrew and two Greek words translated happy in the scriptures. One Hebrew word means "to be at rest, safe" (see Matt. 11: 28-30).

Our study consists of three primary sections, those whom the Bible pronounces as happy or blessed; some common synonyms of "happy," and some examples of biblical happiness.

Those whom the Bible pronounces as happy.

A. Let us notice the particular instances in which the Bible applies the word "happy" to different individuals.

  1.The Bible says that those who fear the Lord are happy.

   a. In the King James, the writer of Psalms 128 and Solomon use the word blessed and happy to describe the man who fears the Lord (Ps. 128: 1, 2; Prov. 28: 13, 14). "Fear of the Lord" entails the matter of reverence and respect for God.

  2. Happy are those who keep God's laws.

    a. Agur wrote, "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he" (Prov. 29: 18). This is essentially what Jesus said in John 13: 17: "If ye know these things, happy (blessed, dm) are ye if ye do them."

    b. It is especially needful that points be made about God's laws in this age of lawlessness and disrespect for authority. In fact, one cannot be in a covenant relationship with God (the real source of happiness) within being in a correct posture relative to God's commandments (I Jn. 2: 3-6; 5: 3).

  3. Happy are those who have children.

    a. The Bible says, "Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth" (Ps. 127: 3, 4). The language concludes by saying, "Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them; they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate" (vs. 5).

    b. Children can be the source of grief, but there is also much joy associated with children (Prov. 3: 1-4).

  4. Happy are those who do not condemn self.

    a. Paul wrote, "Hast thou faith? Have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in the thing which he alloweth" (Rom. 14: 22). The "faith" under consideration in Romans 14 is subjective faith, not God's revelation (cp. Jude 3).

    b. Paul is addressing matters not taught on in God's word; matters that are doctrinally and morally indifferent (see chapter, vs. 14, click on "Romans 14, an Overview" to read more). In the circumstances of Romans 14, one needed to respect one's conscience and not violate it (vs. 23).

  5. Those who trust in the Lord.

    a. "He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trutheth in the Lord, happy is he, " wrote the wise man (Prov. 16: 20). To trust in the Lord means that we look to him for guidance and instruction. It also means that we do what God has told us without questioning and doubting. Some say, "I cannot see how baptism is for the forgiveness of sins." The word teaches that water baptism is for the remission of sins and if we trust in the Lord, we will accept such teaching (Acts 2: 38, 22: 16).

  6. Those who require wisdom.

    a. Wisdom and knowledge are closely akin. Wisdom, strictly distinguished, is knowledge in application. Many are unhappy because they lack wisdom. Their judgments and choices in life are wrong and lead to misery and failure. Hear the wise man: "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding" (Prov. 3: 13, see also 14-18).

    b. Wisdom is without equal (vs. 15). The way man acquires wisdom is by learning and doing God's teachings (Prov. 1: 1-6; Matt. 7: 24-29).

Words that mean the same as happiness.

A.The scriptures contain many synonyms of "happy" or blessed. These references also contain the associated details and circumstances to the acquirement and enjoyment of these conditions.

    a. For instance, there is "pleasure" (2 Cor. 12: 10). This pleasure is the result of a real relationship with God, even amid persecutions and such like (ibid.). "Delight," "contentment," and "loving life" are all synonymous with happiness (Ps. 40: 8; Heb. 13: 5; I Pet. 3: 10). In addition, we read of being "glad" and "rejoicing" (Ps. 126: 3; I Pet. 1: 8).

    b. In all these circumstances, there is the relationship with God and the submission to God's teaching.

Examples of biblical happiness.

A. Keep in mind what we have learned of biblical happiness, how it entails a state of blessedness and the understanding that all true blessings come from God (Jas. 1: 17). With these matters in mind, please consider the following passage that depicts the state of happiness:

    a. Ps. 34: 12-22 (emphasize different statements).

    b. In Acts 2, we read of people who learned they were lost and cried out, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (Acts 2: 37.) We read how these people were told to "repent and be baptized…for the remission of sins…" (vs. 38). Peter pointed out to these people that they had a responsibility in saving their own souls (vs. 40). As a result, we then read "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized…" (vs. 41). After they became Christians, they remained steadfast (vs. 42). We are told that they had "gladness and singleness of heart" (vs. 46).

Conclusion:::

Meaning according to Christianity: True happiness is not shallow and based on external stimuli. True happiness is not material, is not inherited, and cannot be acquired through some recipe of human origin. Beloved, true happiness is based on a scriptural relationship with God. Happiness is a state of blessedness that derives from this relationship. Knowing our origin, purpose, and destiny is requisite to happiness (Gen. 1; Eccl. 12: 13; Matt. 25: 46). As seen, biblical happiness can be experienced even amid difficulties and misfortunes. Jesus speaks of men hating, separated from, and reproaching the Christian. Yet, Jesus said "Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven…" (Lk. 6: 22, 23). Herein lies true happiness that we all should seek.

According to Buddhism

-------------------------

Composed by the great Tibetan Bodhisattva Langri Tangpa as ‘Eight Verses of Training the Mind’, this short text reveals profound yet totally practical methods to enable a powerful opening of the heart, the source of all true happiness.

According to Langri Tangpa, every human being has the potential to become a Buddha, someone who has completely purified his mind of all faults and limitations and has brought all good qualities to perfection. Our mind is like a cloudy sky, in essence clear and pure but overcast by the clouds of delusions.

Just as the thickest clouds eventually disperse, so too even the heaviest delusions can be removed from our mind. Delusions such as hatred, greed and ignorance are not an intrinsic part of the mind. If we apply the appropriate methods they can be completely eliminated, and we shall experience the supreme happiness of full enlightenment.

The Root Text: Eight Verses of Training the Mind 

With the intention to attain
The ultimate, supreme goal That surpasses even the wish- granting jewel, May I constantly cherish all living beings. 

What is the ‘ultimate, supreme goal’ of human life? For some people it is material possessions, such as a large house with all the latest luxuries, a fast car, or a well-paid job. For others, it is reputation, good looks, power, excitement or adventure. As an end in themselves worldly attainments are hollow; they are not the real essence of human life.

Of all worldly possessions the most precious is said to be the legendary wish-granting jewel, which existed when human beings had abundant merit. Such jewels, however, could only fulfill wishes for contaminated happiness—they could never bestow the pure happiness that comes from a pure mind. 

Furthermore, a wish-granting jewel only had the power to grant wishes in one life—it could not protect its owner in his or her future lives. Thus, ultimately even a wish-granting jewel is deceptive. The only thing that can never deceive us is the attainment of full enlightenment. So, whenever we are with other people we should be continuously mindful that their happiness and wishes are at least as important as our own. 

Of course, we cannot cherish all living beings right away, but by training our mind in this attitude, beginning with our family and friends, we can gradually extend the scope of our love until it embraces all living beings. When in this way we sincerely cherish all living beings, we are no longer an ordinary person but have become a great being, like a Bodhisattva.

Whenever I associate with others,
May I view myself as the lowest of all;
And with a perfect intention, May I cherish others as supreme.

In the first verse, Langri Tangpa explains how to cherish all living beings, and in this verse he now shows us how to enhance this mind of love. The best way to do this is to familiarise ourselves with cherishing all living beings by putting our determination to cherish them into practice day and night.

If we wish to attain enlightenment, or to develop the superior Bodhichitta that comes from exchanging self with others, we must definitely adopt the view that others are more precious than ourself.

This view is based on wisdom and leads us to our final goal, whereas the view that regards ourself as more precious than others is based on self-grasping ignorance and leads us along the paths of samsara.Here Langri Tangpa is encouraging us to develop the mind of humility and to see ourself as lower and less precious than others.

One of the advantages of humility is that it enables us to learn from everyone. A proud person cannot learn from other people because he feels he already knows better than them.

On the other hand, a humble person who respects everyone and recognises that they may even be emanations of Buddha has the openness of mind to learn from everyone and every situation. Just as water cannot collect on mountain peaks, so good qualities and blessings cannot gather on the rocky peaks of pride. 

If, instead, we maintain a humble, respectful attitude towards everyone, good qualities and inspiration will flow into our mind all the time, like streams flowing into a valley.

Examining my mental continuum throughout all my actions,
As soon as a delusion develops 
Whereby I or others would act inappropriately, May I firmly face it and avert it. 

Whereas the first two verses explain the practice of equalising self and others—cherishing ourself and all living beings equally—this verse shows us how to exchange self with others. This means that we give up our self-cherishing and come to cherish only others. 

Because the main obstacles to gaining this realisation are our delusions, Langri Tangpa explains how we can overcome our delusions, and in particular our self-cherishing. Normally we divide the external world into that which we consider to be good or valuable, bad or worthless, or neither. Most of the time these discriminations are incorrect or have little meaning.

For example, our habitual way of categorising people into friends, enemies, and strangers depending on how they make us feel is both incorrect and an obstacle to developing impartial  love for all beings. 

Rather than holding so tightly to our discriminations of the external world, it would be far more beneficial if we learnt to discriminate between valuable and worthless states of mind. To overcome a particular delusion we need to be able to identify it correctly and distinguish it from other states of mind. 

It is relatively easy to identify delusions such as anger or jealousy and to see how they are and how they are harming us. Delusions such as attachment, pride, self-grasping, and self-cherishing, however, are more difficult to recognise and can easily be confused with other states of mind. 

For instance, we have many desires but not all of these are motivated by desirous attachment. We can have the wish to sleep, to eat, to meet our friends, or to meditate, without being influenced by attachment.

A desire that is attachment necessarily disturbs our mind, but since it may affect us in subtle, indirect ways we may find it difficult to recognise when it arises in our mind. In summary, through practising the Lojong instructions, Langri Tangpa and countless other practitioners of the past have attained profound realisations, including the complete realisation of exchanging self with others. 

At the beginning the practitioners of these instructions were self-centred people just like us, but through perseverance they managed to eliminate their self-cherishing completely. 

If we practise these instructions wholeheartedly and patiently there is no reason why we too should not attain similar realisations. We should not expect to destroy our self-cherishing immediately, but through practice it will become weaker and weaker until it ceases altogether. The complete eradication of self-cherishing is an uncommon Mahayana realisation that can only be accomplished through the practice of exchanging self with others. 

Whenever I see unfortunate beings
Oppressed by evil and violent suffering, 
May I cherish them as I had found
A rare and precious treasure. 

Pure compassion is a mind that finds the suffering of others unbearable, but it does not make us depressed. In fact, it gives us tremendous energy to work for others and to complete the spiritual path for their sake. It shatters our complacency and makes it impossible to rest content with the superficial happiness of satisfying our worldly desires, yet in its place we shall come to know a deep inner peace that cannot be disturbed by changing conditions.

It is impossible for strong delusions to arise in a mind filled with compassion. If we do not develop delusions, external circumstances alone have no power to disturb us; so when our mind is governed by compassion it is always at peace. 

This is the experience of all those who have developed their compassion beyond the limited compassion normally felt for a close karmic circle into a selfless compassion  for all living beings. Developing compassion and wisdom, and helping those in need whenever possible, is the true meaning of life.

By increasing our compassion we come closer to enlightenment and to the fulfillment of our deepest wishes. The indication that we have mastered the meditations on cherishing others and  compassion is that whenever we meet another person, even someone who is harming us, we genuinely feel as if we had found a rare and precious treasure.

Even if someone I have helped
And of whom I had great hopes
Nevertheless harms me without any reason
May I see him as my holy Spiritual Guide. 

The purpose of this verse is to teach us how to develop and improve our experience of wishing love. It is important to understand the relationship between actions and their effects. Our normal reaction when faced with a problem is to try and find someone to blame, but if we look at the situation with wisdom we shall realise that we created the cause of that problem through our negative actions. 

The main cause of all our problems is necessarily a negative bodily, verbal, or mental action that we ourself created in the past; other people’s actions are only secondary conditions that enable our negative karma to ripen.

If they do not provide the conditions for our negative karma to ripen, someone or something else definitely will; for once the main cause has been established, unless we purify it through purification practice, nothing can stop the effect from occurring sooner or later. Instead of blaming others for our problems we should use our misfortunes to deepen our understanding of karma.

By training our mind to recognise the spiritual lessons in all our experiences, we can come to view everyone and everything as our Spiritual Teacher, and we can turn any and every situation to our advantage.

When others out of jealousy
Harm me or insult me,
May I take defeat upon myself And offer them the victory

This sixth verse reveals that having gained some experience of love  and compassion for all living beings we now need to put this good heart into practice in our daily life. For instance, when someone out of anger or jealousy harms or insults us, with our mind abiding in love and compassion we should happily accept the harm and not retaliate. This is the meaning of accepting defeat and offering the victory to others. This practice directly protects us from discouragement and unhappiness.

Langri Tangpa’s intention in this verse is to encourage us to practise patience. We may think that if we patiently practise accepting defeat all the time, our suffering and problems will multiply and completely overwhelm us; but in fact the practice of patience always lessens our suffering because we do not add mental pain to the difficulties we are having. 

Suffering, worry, depression and pain are feelings—types of mind—so, they exist inside and not outside our mind. If while experiencing adverse conditions, our mind remains calm and happy through the practice of patience, we do not have a problem. 

We may have a challenging situation, and may even be sick or injured, but we are free from pain. By controlling our mind in this way we experience a cessation of our pain, worry and depression, and find true inner peace. Furthermore, by keeping a peaceful mind in difficult situations we are far more likely to find solutions and respond constructively. 

Buddhist practice is very gentle. It does not require physical deprivation and hardship but is mainly concerned with the internal task of controlling and transforming the mind. In summary, if we wish to help others effectively, we need to be able to accept our problems without getting angry or discouraged. Helping others is not always easy—it often involves considerable hardship and inconvenience, and going against the wishes of our self-cherishing mind. 

Unless we are able to accept this, our commitment to benefit others will be half-hearted and unstable. However, once we develop the ability to accept our own problems patiently we shall have the strength of mind to practise taking on the suffering of others and giving them happiness.Gradually we shall develop the inner realisation of accepting defeat and offering the victory.

In short, may I directly and indirectly
Offer help and happiness to all my mothers,
And secretly take upon myself All their harm and suffering.

In this verse Bodhisattva Langri Tangpa explains the practices of taking by means of compassion  and giving by means of love as a conclusion to the preceding verses. ‘In short’ in the verse therefore means ‘in conclusion’. When we first meditate on taking and giving we cannot actually take on the suffering of others nor give them our happiness, but by imagining that we are doing so now we are training our mind to be able to do so in the future.

The word ‘directly’ refers to actually taking on the suffering of others through our imagination. When we start our practice of taking and giving, we do not need to think too much about how it is possible to relieve others' suffering through the power of mind alone. 

Instead we should simply practise taking and giving with a good motivation, understanding it to be a supreme method for increasing our merit and concentration. This practice also purifies our non-virtues and delusions, especially our self-cherishing, and makes our love and compassion very strong.

Through gradual training, our meditation on taking and giving will become so powerful that we shall develop the ability to take on the suffering of others and give them hapiness. We can reflect that since beginningless time we have had countless lives and countless bodies, but that we have wasted them in all meaningless activities. Now we have the opportunity to derive the greatest meaning from our present body by using it to engage in the path of compassion and wisdom.

Furthermore, through all these method practices,
Together with a mind undefiled by stains of conceptions of the eight extremes
And that sees all phenomena as illusory,
May I be released from the bondage of mistaken appearance and conception. 

The first line indicates that the ultimate Bodhichitta is not an isolated realization but depends upon all the method realisations explained in the first seven verses. For a realization of ultimate truth to be ultimate Bodhichitta, we need the realisations of cherishing others, great compassion, and so forth. Moreover, for our study and meditation on emptiness to have a deep impact on our mind, it must be motivated at least by renunciation, the wish to attain liberation from samsara by abandoning our delusions. 

If we are motivated only by philosophical curiosity the best we can hope to achieve is a superficial, intellectual understanding of emptiness; we shall never achieve a deep and liberating experience. All our problems arise because we do not realise the ultimate truth. The reason we remain in samsara is that we continue to engage in contaminated actions because of our delusions, which stem from self-grasping ignorance. Ignorance is the source of all our negativity and problems, and the only way to eradicate it is to realize emptiness.

Emptiness is not esay to understand, but it is important that we make the effort. Ultimately our efforts will be reawarded by the permanent cessation of all suffering and the everlasting bliss of full enlightenment. 

Since 'Eight Verses of Training the Mind' come from the wisdom of a fully enlightenend being, it is reliable and of tremendous value. By putting these instructions into practice we shall experience ultimate happiness, purify all our negative karma and obstacles, and eliminate the ignorant minds of self-cherishing and self-grasping, the principal cause of suffering. 

According to Judaism

Who is rich? He who is happy with his lot. - Pirkei Avos 4:1

We create the world in which we live to a great extent.  While many events are beyond our control… we still have the ability to control our attitudes toward a given situation to a large degree.  Hence the emotional consequences of events is largely up to us… Happiness can be learned… Our thoughts control our emotions, and we have the ability to control our thoughts to a great degree… We ourselves choose to think those thoughts which promote our happiness or those with which we make ourselves miserable.

“A truly happy person does not allow his happiness to be dependent on any external factor over which he may not have control.” (Chochmah Umussar, vol.2, pp.331-2)

Base your happiness on your own attitudes, and you can be its master. If you tell yourself that you can only be happy if others do or say what you wish, your happiness is under the control of those people. You can never have a guarantee how others will behave. Even when they do behave as you wish, you are likely to feel uneasy about how they might behave in the future.

What you tell yourself about a given situation is the way that situation will affect you.  Your attitude towards any event or situation is not based on its objective reality but on your own subjective evaluation of that event or situation.

Many people feel that the way they automatically view events and situations is the way those events really are.  But the truth is that events, occurrences, and situations on the completely objective level just are.

It is the viewer who evaluates them as either positive, negative, or neutral.  Once you have a strong awareness and internalization of this concept, you will have the ability to change your negative attitudes to more positive ones.

Rabbi Yeruchem Levovitz of the Mir made an observation that should be read very carefully.  The point he raises is so important for a mastery of happiness that it should be reviewed a number of times:  When a person is born, he finds the world in a certain organized fashion.  As he grows up, he tries to adjust himself to the assumptions that are accepted in the world.  He views each event that occurs with the same perspective as the other people of his generation.  Theses perspectives originated in the past and have been handed down from parents to children.  These assumptions are taken for granted to such an extent that most people react to the accepted perspective of the world as if they were laws of the universe that cannot be changed.  They are accepted as reality and are not challenged.  Only a small minority of people obtain the necessary wisdom to look at the world with complete objectivity.  They take a critical look at each and every thing and try to understand everything as it really is instead of accepting the general prevalent outlook.  Those who try to investigate the origin of every perspective will perceive everything in a much different light than is commonly accepted.  (Daas Chochmah Umussar, vol. 1, pp. 75-6)

In Summary we can conclude that whatever may be the religion existing in this world, everyone teaches the same in summary, but the method of expression may be different. Every one on this world wants to be happy either knowingly or unknowingly and strive to have that happiness.