Spiritual living promotes happiness and joy, products experienced during the actual process of doing good. We may think that happiness comes after we attain something such as a material possession or status or wealth. No. When we attain something, we soon want something more. On and on.

We notice that the happiness acquired from attaining a possession doesn't fulfill us permanently. New wants creep in to the mind soon. Lasting happiness is experienced from consistently acting with kindness in all our actions, not with acquiring relationships or objects. By living with the attitude of kindness and care we are integrating every goal that living a spiritual life is pointing us toward.

We need to maintain a healthy body and mind to feel happy. Moment to moment our state of physical health affects our thoughts and conversely, our state of mind affects the physical sensations we feel in our body.

We contribute to our overall health by holding positive attitudes, taking time to methodically resolve stressful situations as they present, spending regular periods in reflection and meditation, and by maintaining our body through wholesome diet, exercise, bathing, and resting. When we feel good mentally and physically happiness naturally flows through our lives.

Meditation leads to lasting happiness

Meditation harmonizes the portion of our time we spend in activity.

It provides an opportunity, through lying in deep relaxation or by sitting still, to really allow loving thoughts and feelings to swell up from our inner depths, (usually hidden by our fast-paced world), into our conscious mind. Kind feelings, caring feelings are allowed their time and space. And after meditation these caring thoughts, having been brought to consciousness, more easily integrate into our daily living.

Love transcends time and place and dimension. One can feel love for another whether or not the beloved is near, far, or even gone from physical form.

Real love is concerned for the good, the highest benefit and happiness of another apart from our own gain from the relationship. We say there are many forms of love. Actually there is but one form. All true, real love contains care for another's highest good without thought of reciprocal care.

As soon as we expect love in return we have begun a business, an account. So much in equals so much out. Selfishness could be said to be the withholding of love if we felt we were not getting enough return for our investment. So we are either really loving or we are doing business for another's energy.

Body and Mind are our tools to experiment with in finding out what in life gives us the permanent joy that we seek. Happiness comes from the balance of active and quiet time; the taking of the insights brought out from meditation into the active roles that we play in life. Joy, peace, happiness, love; finding God for ourselves from within ourselves.

Article and photo credit Susan Kramer

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For offsite reading

Meditation for Teens and Adults
More than 70 offerings, from guided meditation techniques to on-the-go stress relief and relationship meditations interspersed with verse, and a section of special occasion prayers. 114 pages.

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Meditation for all Kids
Sitting, walking, dance and group circle meditations, along with positive affirmations, verses and benefits of meditation for kids of all ages and abilities in a 100 page book with illustrations.