Happiness

"We begin from the recognition that all beings cherish happiness and do not want suffering. It then becomes both morally wrong and pragmatically unwise to pursue only one's own happiness oblivious to the feelings and aspirations of all others who surround us as members of the same human family. The wiser course is to think of others when pursuing our own happiness." - Dalai Lama Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso (born Lhamo Döndru 1935)

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The image that comes to mind is the Walmart black Friday incident last month whereby a store employee was trampled to death by an onslaught of shoppers desperately seeking bargains. It would seem most people in the crowd only had one thing in their minds: their own happiness.

I wish everyone would let the wise words of the Dalai Lama guide us in our pursuit of happiness. What is the value of our own happiness when those around us become unhappy as a result of our own relentlessness?

I truly admire those who could set aside their own selfishness to help others be happy. Bravo!

This coming year, I will ask myself whether I have done enough for those around me and those whom I encounter less fortunate than me. I hope you will do the same.