Meditation 984
Spiritual Happiness
by: Gordon Wayne
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Spiritual Happiness (prologue)
happiness...
spiritual happiness grows
as science is patiently revealing
not from money or materials
but from virtuous living
for research is slowly unveiling
our deepest, most abiding joy
grows from love and compassion
from gratitude, optimism and purpose
from living our noblest virtues and values
happiness, true spiritual joy grows...
Spiritual Happiness (love)
happiness grows...
from the love of family and friends
the laughter and tears we share
endless conversations traversed
our thoughts and feelings laid bare
over hot drinks or icy beverages
swapping stories of life, birth and death
spiritual happiness grows from love...
Spiritual Happiness (compassion)
happiness grows...
from helping others
not for profit, not for gain
but for the pleasure of helping
helping comfort a crying baby
helping a toddler tie their shoes
helping a child read, write and add
helping a teen discover acceptance
helping elderly neighbours rake leaves
getting groceries for grieving families
cleaning closets for disaster’s victims
spiritual joy grows from compassion...
Spiritual Happiness (forgiveness)
happiness grows...
from forgiveness
releasing the bitterness
that somebody done us wrong
for we cannot be truly happy
clinging to the volatile feelings
borne of injustice or indiscretion
spiritual happiness cannot grow
when we cling to vengeance and rage
thirsting for another’s pain and ruin
hungering for their misery and demise
spiritual happiness grows from forgiveness...
Spiritual Happiness (gratitude)
happiness grows from gratitude...
from appreciating the birds and bees
their morning songs and sweet nectar
from cherishing lavender scented air
luxuriating in sunshine and springs rains;happiness grows from gratitude...
for sanitation crews removing trash
and plumbers cleaning clogged pipes,
for waiters serving up icy beverages
and chefs delivering savoury cuisine;happiness grows from gratitude...
for the love of family and friends
their warm embraces, laughter and tears
and lively conversations over tea and scones,
for spiritual happiness grows from gratitude...
Spiritual Happiness (savouring life)
happiness grows...
from savouring life
when we stop to smell the roses
make time to savour the world’s cuisine
and sit back and enjoy the sounds of music
the tunes of Beethoven, Bachman and Barbra
when we pause to delight in spring’s revival
revelling in the rebirth of blossoms and babies
and dancing in spring’s refreshing showers
when we bask in the caress of a summer breeze
surrender to a waterfalls’ mesmerizing beauty
or become beguiled by lights dancing across skies
when we become enchanted by autumn’s foliage
charmed by the crisp beauty of snowy peaks
before slipping between the caress of silky sheets
for spiritual joy grows from savouring life...
Spiritual Happiness (optimism)
happiness grows...
from optimism, hope
believing life was wonderful
yesterday was good, today better
and tomorrow will be best of all
for we will be a little wiser
a little healthier, a little stronger
and our love will grow ever deeper
our families will grow ever closer
and our communities will thrive
our jobs will get better and better
becoming ever more rewarding
our boss will appreciate our work
and customers will return for more
for spiritual joy comes from optimism...
Spiritual Happiness (purpose)
happiness grows...
from purpose
our reason for living
helping expecting mothers
teaching children to read and write
or reading saucy romances to ill eldershappiness grows...
from our mission in life
the creative objective guiding us
whether building beautiful homes
curing the world of deadly diseases
or negotiating peace between neighbourshappiness grows...
from our life’s objective
perhaps sculpting gorgeous hair
adopting orphans, understanding teens
or leaving this planet a better place for all
whatever the purpose, spiritual happiness grows...
Spiritual Happiness (spirituality)
happiness grows...
from spirituality
our beliefs and practices
celebrating something greater
something greater than ourselveshappiness grows...
from celebrating our virtues
the mortal capacity for love
for compassion and forgivenesshappiness grows...
from honouring our strengths
the human propensity for community
for cooperation and for compromisehappiness grows...
from venerating our passions
our enthusiasm for creating culture
art, music, fashion, cuisine and architecture
for spiritual joy grows from spirituality...
Spiritual Happiness (epilogue)
happiness...
spiritual happiness
our deepest, most abiding joy
grows not from money or materials
the infatuation of a new love
the novelty of a new toy
but the practice of virtuous living
from living our noblest virtues and valueshappiness...
spiritual happiness
our deepest, most abiding joy
the joy borne of our mortal spirit
is the truest measure of our spirituality