December 15-A, 2022

From the beginning 
we lived in relationship with transcendence,
because we were dependent upon transcendence
to guide and direct us,
protect and sustain us,
comfort and console us...

And then, we invented money,
and lost the way to transcendence.

Before money,
no one ever thought the goal of life
was to be happy.

Before money,
the goal of life
was to be alive.

It was horrendous.
Some group of guys with weapons
was always ransacking our towns and villages,
destroying our lives,
laying waste to the land.

There was no security,
no safety,
no peace...

Happy? Don't be ridiculous!

Then money came along,
and with it came standing armies,
navies, air forces,
peace and security,
and the good times rolled.

Once peace could be taken for granted,
we had to find a reason for being alive,
and transcendence had long since departed,
so happiness became the reason
for doing everything.

And happiness hinged on 
buying, spending, amassing and consuming.
On hording, having, owning, possessing.
You can't be happy until you have it all,
which means having to have more all the time.

People who are happy have learned four things:
No expectations.
No opinions.
No agendas.
No cravings.

They do the right thing,
at the right time,
in the right place,
in the right way,
and let that be that.

They live in the moment,
seeing what is called for
and responding out of their 
true nature 
and the character traits 
that are theirs from birth.

They are true to themselves,
and do what they love to do
as often as possible.

In these ways, they are in touch 
with transcendence 
at the level of their heart,
and live from there
in squaring up with their life
and doing what needs to be done.

Without any regard for their happiness,
their happiness takes care of itself,
and they live with balance and harmony,
spirit, energy and vitality.

We all would do well
to follow their example.

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