By Petrea King

Happiness is elusive for many people and we often search for it in all the wrong places! We seek happiness in the instant gratification of our desires, in the accumulation of possessions, accolades or relationships, in our accomplishments or in the delights of our physical senses. The pursuit of happiness motivates many of our actions and efforts in life. We spend a great deal of time, effort and money in the acquisition of ‘things’ believing that once we have the right partner, house, car, bank balance, physical attributes, possessions, holidays or children we will be satisfied and fulfilled, that happiness will descend upon us and remain our constant companion. We all want to be happy and avoid suffering as much as possible. Yet many of us have found that it is suffering that breaks us open to compassion, wisdom and understanding. It is often our suffering that enables us to realise that happiness is not derived from the outer circumstances of our lives – that indeed, happiness is an inside job.

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By Michael Levy

One sunny morning, a happy-go-lucky man was walking in a park overflowing with beautiful flowers and trees. He was holding a large basket over one arm. Every so often, he would grab out at the sky and put something into his basket.

A small boy was watching the man with considerable fascination. After a while, his curiosity got the better of him. He approached the man and asked, “Pardon me mister, but what are you doing?”

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By Marlyse Carroll (alias Gabrielle)

This is a story about a spontaneous forgiveness ritual that I undertook during a journey in Northern India. At a time when I least expected it, Spirit gave me a practical tool to let go of three big G’s: gripes, grudges and guilt. Nothing airy fairy about that tool, though, it was damned hard work…

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By Renate Ogilvie

Happiness certainly doesn’t seem to be in any way connected with death.

Death, the unwelcome, uninvited guest – here again, when all we want to explore is how we can be happy. We’re clear about that.

Happiness matters. It’s a buzz issue – even the Financial Review is publishing articles about happiness. And the British investment banking firm Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein has taken time out from the stock exchange to work out for us that 25,000 pounds is sufficient to buy everything we need to be happy. Happiness is fashionable, but death is not.

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By Marlyse Carroll (alias Gabrielle)

Prophecies going back to the 8th Century AD announced that speedy new paths to enlightenment would be developed in the West ‘when iron birds fly and horses have wheels.’ This is a story relating to such a path.

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