Find Happiness in Everyday Life

I saw a public speaker in January.  His name is Gen Jampa.  He is a Buddhist.  And it was probably the most beneficial, helpful, inspiring talks I have ever had the privileged to witness.  And it came at the most perfect time in my life!

It was held at the Dallas Art Museum, on a day I should have been playing in a women's pool tournament.  This became BY FAR more important than playing pool all day in smokey pool room.  It was life changing for sure. 

Why it was life changing probably wont come out clearly through this blog entry, but I hope it does.

"Desire, a Healthy Perspective."
From the written program:  "when it comes down to it, we do what we wish to do.  Consequently, our desires are a very powerful force.  So it is essential to investigate:  Do our present aspirations actually lead us to a healthy and fulfilling life?"

Here are my scribble notes from his talk:

Find happiness in everyday life.

Recognize unhealthy desires, to "stop" them.

Desire, wish, aspiration.  All the same thing.

Recognize healthy desires so I can do more of them!

Wishes arrive in the mind.

We have wishes all day long, but all revolve around:

1. That we aspire to be happy, 
2. We wish to be free from unhappiness.

Happiness and suffering are an emotion, which is INSIDE!  The cause is inside, not an external dependent.

Learn to be developmental, and that internal peace is the true source of happiness.

Peaceful mind = happiness within ourselves.

Inner peace is different than temporary sense pleasures.

Pleasure are different than happiness.  Pleasures turns into pain (too many thin mints, for example)

Temporary sense pleasures are not happy, not lasting happiness.

True happiness is peace.

Peaceful desire is not desiring things external that make us temporarily happy.

Attachment to an external object is not true happiness.

Pleasures are not true happiness.

Don't keep indulging in those behaviors to addictions and bad behaviors. 

Indulge without restraint; they are bad and not true happiness.

Potential for so much more than temporary happiness and pleasures.  Controlled desire leads to true happiness.

Develop a mature desire.

Improve inner peace.  (one example: mediation).

Improve ourselves internally.