11. Happiness Within Sorrow
Insight: Happiness and sorrow are experienced not through circumstances, but through perspective.
Once, Guruji HDH Swamishri had travelled to Surat for vicharan. A poor devotee came for darshan. Guruji gently asked, “What do you do, Maharaj?” The devotee replied, “I am a D.C. engineer.”
Guruji asked, “Dear, I have heard of civil, mechanical and computer engineers, but what kind of an engineer is this?” With joy on his face, the devotee said, “Diamond Cutting Engineer. Dayalu, I polish diamonds.” “Dear, do you have any difficulties in life?” Guruji asked.
With delight, the devotee replied, “Dayalu, before I met You six months ago, I was very unsettled. Seeing others’ happiness made me feel even more sorrow about my own suffering. But since the day You taught me to think positively in every situation, I have become truly blessed. A miracle has happened in my life.
“Earlier, even seeing someone with a bicycle made me unhappy because I did not even have a bicycle. But now, when I walk to work in the morning and see wealthy diamond merchants walking on the footpath for exercise, I think, ‘Just like those merchants, I too have cars at home, but I walk to stay healthy. Those merchants eat oilless food on doctor’s advice; I eat the same by the will of my God. I have no sorrow at all. By thinking positively in everything, I am immersed in an ocean of joy.”
In this way, the ability to transform sorrow into happiness requires a right perspective.
Resolve: Even in painful circumstances, I will think positively and live joyfully.
When perspective changes, poverty can lose its sting and gratitude can find its voice
11. Happiness Within Sorrow
Insight: Happiness and sorrow are experienced not through circumstances, but through perspective.
Once, Guruji HDH Swamishri had travelled to Surat for vicharan. A poor devotee came for darshan. Guruji gently asked, “What do you do, Maharaj?” The devotee replied, “I am a D.C. engineer.”
Guruji asked, “Dear, I have heard of civil, mechanical and computer engineers, but what kind of an engineer is this?” With joy on his face, the devotee said, “Diamond Cutting Engineer. Dayalu, I polish diamonds.” “Dear, do you have any difficulties in life?” Guruji asked.
With delight, the devotee replied, “Dayalu, before I met You six months ago, I was very unsettled. Seeing others’ happiness made me feel even more sorrow about my own suffering. But since the day You taught me to think positively in every situation, I have become truly blessed. A miracle has happened in my life.
“Earlier, even seeing someone with a bicycle made me unhappy because I did not even have a bicycle. But now, when I walk to work in the morning and see wealthy diamond merchants walking on the footpath for exercise, I think, ‘Just like those merchants, I too have cars at home, but I walk to stay healthy. Those merchants eat oilless food on doctor’s advice; I eat the same by the will of my God. I have no sorrow at all. By thinking positively in everything, I am immersed in an ocean of joy.”
In this way, the ability to transform sorrow into happiness requires a right perspective.
Resolve: Even in painful circumstances, I will think positively and live joyfully.
When perspective changes, poverty can lose its sting and gratitude can find its voice
