Happiness is actually already here.
All of us are looking only to be happy.
And some of us have already realized this.
And others haven't.
But everything that we do,
Everything that we want,
Everything that we seek is just to be happy.
And sometimes we get lost in trying to find happiness in the world out there,
In success,
In relationships.
Sometimes in bodily health,
Sometimes in followers,
In money,
In possessions.
But in fact,
Happiness is the most intimate experience that we have.
It is so close to us that we overlook it so often.
And the purpose of this meditation is to come back to our innate happiness,
Our effortless happiness.
So I would invite you to breathe in.
And whenever you are ready to be still and meditate,
Exhale and close your eyes.
And simply notice what is already here.
The fact of breathing,
Sounds coming and going,
Sensations in the body.
Thoughts in the mind.
And the awareness with which all of these elements of our experience are known.
And the awareness with which all of these elements are known.
When we meditate,
We take time to stop focusing outward so much and begin focusing inwards.
Not on all of the elements around us,
But on the one who is observing.
If suddenly all the elements in our experience align with what the mind believes is happiness.
For example,
We get a birthday present or we have a very new exciting job or relationship.
Then the body feels full of joy and the mind is present.
It is simply enjoying the present experience.
But this experience eventually fades,
Eventually things move and we once again have to try and realign them to experience this joy and this presence of mind.
But that is therefore not true happiness.
True happiness is lasting happiness.
Happiness that does not depend on external circumstances.
As such true happiness is not simply a joy in the body or a present and still mind.
It is that which is constant in our experience.
That which observes even this joy,
Even this presence.
That which remains aware of all experience.
Some call it your true self and that true self,
It does not change,
It does not label things as good or bad.
It simply is here and now.
And it is innately peaceful.
It is inherently accepting of all that is.
And it is this acceptance that we seek in every moment.
If we accept everything as it is,
The body remains open and at peace and the mind remains present.
As such what you seek is your very own being.
The first,
It cannot even be called the first element of experience because it is pervading every other experience.
What takes us away from this simplicity,
This pure being,
Is the mind.
And the way to remain present is to observe it as part of our experience.
Is to not get drawn into the stories that it tells us.
To accept it,
Not to fight it.
And to accept it as part of our experience.
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Just by being present,
Your body relaxes,
Your mind quietens down,
Your experience becomes lighter.
That in itself is proof that beingness,
Being present is what you seek.
In fact your mind and your body are constantly trying to bring you back to this present.
This is where your health is.
This is where your peace of mind is.
This is where your inspiration is.
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The more you rest here,
The more you will receive creative ideas on what to do in your life.
And when your behaviour is aligned with this stillness,
This presence,
It lasts in time.
You enjoy what you do.
But what you do cannot bring you happiness.
Happiness comes first.
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And the more you rest in this beingness,
The more you recognize that everything in experience,
Including sounds,
Thoughts,
Bodily sensations,
The body itself,
Everything appears within.
Appears within you.
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As such nothing can take you away from you.
Nothing can take you away from this innate happiness,
Innate peace.
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And so you learn to remain at peace independent of circumstances.
And that is true happiness.
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And when you feel ready,
You can open your eyes and come back.
