Those of you who are happy....

[revolver]

I am so happy since I gave up all beliefs, that is in Jesus, or whoever, I have spiritually matured and no longer need all these god-men. They were once helpful in my life, but as i have already said, I have matured, I have given up childish things.

Happiness is the function of your consciousness when it is awake, unhappiness is the function of your consciousness when it is asleep. Unconsciousness is your mirror burdened with much dust and luggage and the past. Osho

[Molearner]

Originally Posted by revolver

I am so happy since I gave up all beliefs, that is in Jesus, or whoever, I have spiritually matured and no longer need all these god-men. They were once helpful in my life, but as i have already said, I have matured, I have given up childish things.

Happiness is the function of your consciousness when it is awake, unhappiness is the function of your consciousness when it is asleep. Unconsciousness is your mirror burdened with much dust and luggage and the past. Osho

revolver,

I liked your posting. What seems obvious to me(though not specifically mentioned by you) is the idea of surrender as in the sense of giving something up. First and foremost would be the ego to the extent that is possible. To expand this for understanding we might say attachments of which there is a plethora. At the top I would suggest negative emotions(hate, anger, revenge, self-pity etc.). Surrender in its initial stages can be expedited by personages.....i.e. psychiatrists, counselors, Jesus. Basically they encourage one to unload burdens by openness etc.

At a given stage of maturity as you mentioned it is possible to surrender your dependency on these personages because you have learned that the source of your own unhappiness is basically either your attachment to ego or just simply attachments in general. I would be cautious as terming any of these that helped(Jesus, gurus, etc.) as childish things. In reality our attachments etc. were the childish things. That mirror that Osho spoke of with the dust, luggage, and the past is another way of describing the things that I spoke of(attachments, ego).

[revolver]

Originally Posted by Molearner

revolver,

I liked your posting. What seems obvious to me(though not specifically mentioned by you) is the idea of surrender as in the sense of giving something up. First and foremost would be the ego to the extent that is possible. To expand this for understanding we might say attachments of which there is a plethora. At the top I would suggest negative emotions(hate, anger, revenge, self-pity etc.). Surrender in its initial stages can be expedited by personages.....i.e. psychiatrists, counselors, Jesus. Basically they encourage one to unload burdens by openness etc.

At a given stage of maturity as you mentioned it is possible to surrender your dependency on these personages because you have learned that the source of your own unhappiness is basically either your attachment to ego or just simply attachments in general. I would be cautious as terming any of these that helped(Jesus, gurus, etc.) as childish things. In reality our attachments etc. were the childish things. That mirror that Osho spoke of with the dust, luggage, and the past is another way of describing the things that I spoke of(attachments, ego).

Yes I like that, nicely said.

[Morpheus]

Religion exists because Life is more than this temporary material world.

Joy?
Joy comes from the realization of our pitiful human situation, and knowing how the atonement Christ made on our behalf keeps us in perfect union with God, who is Holy.
"If we say we have no sin, we decieve ourselves and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God Who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
John's Epistle.

If you don't understand your dire need, you can never appreciate what The Almighty has done, nor experience the Joy which comes from it.

Happiness comes and goes but the happiest are those who focus on the greater reality and truth, apart from the "illusion", and Matrix.

The oblivious can also be happy due to their particular material circumstance, but that is short and temporary.

[Blue Tiger]

Religion seems to me mostly a control system. The underlying basis and tenets of a religion may be fine and morally upstanding, but no one religion is "right" anymore than the next religion is "wrong."

Personally, I've made peace with a sense that Buddha, Christ, Mohammed, and all the "Ascended Masters" are great role models for us. I appreciate their teachings and their insight. I follow none of them, though. I accept them all as parts of the greater universal system. I speak to them all; I pray to none of them. I worship none of them, though I love and admire then all.

Am I happy? Sometimes, but happiness is a function of my mental state and emotional reactions to events, not the result of who I believe in, follow, or worship.

Most of the time I am at peace with my place in the greater universe. Happiness does not require an revered figurehead. Happiness requires embracing love and kindness, and deciding to be the best person you can be.

[revolver]

Originally Posted by Blue Tiger

Religion seems to me mostly a control system. The underlying basis and tenets of a religion may be fine and morally upstanding, but no one religion is "right" anymore than the next religion is "wrong."

Personally, I've made peace with a sense that Buddha, Christ, Mohammed, and all the "Ascended Masters" are great role models for us. I appreciate their teachings and their insight. I follow none of them, though. I accept them all as parts of the greater universal system. I speak to them all; I pray to none of them. I worship none of them, though I love and admire then all.

Am I happy? Sometimes, but happiness is a function of my mental state and emotional reactions to events, not the result of who I believe in, follow, or worship.

Most of the time I am at peace with my place in the greater universe. Happiness does not require an revered figurehead. Happiness requires embracing love and kindness, and deciding to be the best person you can be.

I agree except for Mohammed.