“Be calm, be strong, be grateful, and become a lamp full of light, that the darkness of sorrows be annihilated, and that the sun of everlasting joy arise from the dawning-place of heart and soul, shining brightly.” (`Abdu'l-Baha; “Tablets of Abdu'l-Baha”, v.2, p. 405)
The difference between the happiness which is real and the one which is mere illusion is that once we reach to the former and earn it, we treasure it dearly, do not want it to vanish, eagerly trying and pursuing to have more; in the case of the later, however, once we possess it we feel satisfied and at times without even enjoying it fully, our focus gets distracted and our mind begins wondering about the meaning of our life, silently confused and distressed too perhaps, searching for happiness! The eagerness and sentiment caused by and resulted from the real one is a holistic joy as it enriches both the soul and the mind, adorns both the spiritual and material abodes of ones being, while the later and passing one only meets the material, the mortal and fleeting needs and pursuits and thus itself mortal with no lasting trace and effect, drifts away like a shadow. The world of matter, therefore, sheds on us sorrow and despair along with its pleasures and happiness; where "the spiritual world bestows only joy."
“O Thou Benevolent God, forgive my sins, grant Thy Bestowals, overlook my faults, provide for me a shelter, immerse me in the Fountain of Thy Patience and heal me of all sickness and disease. Purify and sanctify me. Give me a portion from the outpouring of holiness, so that sorrow and sadness may vanish, joy and happiness descend, despondency and hopelessness be changed into cheerfulness and trustfulness, and courage take the place of fear. Verily Thou art the Forgiver, the Compassionate, and Thou art the Generous, the Beloved!” (Prayer by `Abdu’l-Baha, “Baha’u’llah and the New Era”, p. 99)
You are welcome to visit the recent posts on my two other blogs—English and bilingual—below:
Learning Felicity
Timeless Treasures: Words with Meanings
