Page 16 - The Indian EYE 051024

SPECIAL FEATURE MAY 10, 2024 | The Indian Eye 16

THE SECRET TO HAPPINESS

Waking up on the wrong side of the

bed. It happens to the best of us.

I
woke up to the sound of my blar-
ing alarm. The time on my alarm
clock read 6:45 am. I was already
45 minutes late, and it all went downhill
from there. I spent the next hour sitting
in peak rush hour traffic. At work that
day I did not feel like socializing with
my friends or catching up on our first
day back together in over a year. As if
my stressful morning and busy first day
wasn’t enough, I finally made it back
home from work only to realize that I
had left my phone in my drawer at work!
At home I again avoided any con-
tact with my family. All I could think
about when I got home was finding a
way to make myself feel better, and for-
get that “today” ever happened. I went
to exercise, thinking that it would make
things better, but somehow, I felt even
more aches after. There was no hope
for a happy moment in my day.
Whenever we face bad days or diffi-
cult situations, we tend to turn to exter-
nal things — going for ‘retail therapy’,
grabbing your favorite comfort meal
or getting on the couch and watching a
movie. As I think back to this day, I try
to understand what I could have done
differently…. even after starting my day the principle: “In the joy of oth- the wall, I prayed to God that may As I closed my book and shut my
on the wrong side of the bed, 45 min- ers, lies our own.” Reading of his all of the prayers that have been eyes for the night, I was reminded of
utes late. life and character, it’s fairly clear said here before be answered.” a speech delivered at the United Na-
When I think of people in the that Pramukh Swami appeared to When the Swami asked why he tions Peace Summit in New York City
world who despite facing many difficul- know and live by the “secret.” had placed a second flower, Pra- on August 29, 2000 by Pramukh Swami
ties seemed content and capable of sur- As I read that night, I came mukh Swami revealed, “With the Maharaj. He said, “A single meeting, a
mounting any personal challenge, the across a story from the year 1999 second flower, I prayed that may simple dialogue can positively influence
names of the likes of Mahatma Gand- where Pramukh Swami Maharaj all the prayers that may be said the minds of millions. Just as the Arch-
hi, Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson visited the Wailing Wall in Israel. here henceforth be fulfilled.” bishop of Canterbury visited our Swa-
Mandela come to mind. When he saw many people kneel- In a place that would be con- minarayan Hindu Mandir in London,
The secret to ‘mental wellness’ ing, praying and inserting folded sidered foreign to other faiths — we personally visited Bethlehem, the
does not appear to be engaging in exter- notes containing their prayers into he respected and emulated the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem and met both
nal activities. A study published in the the crevices of the wall, Pramukh traditions of the Wall. At the same the chief Rabbis of Judaism. It creates
Journal of Happiness in 2019 conclud- Swami himself gently picked a time, he ensured he prayed for understanding, and generates genuine
ed that, “Those who wished others well yellow flower and silently placed those that were there previously respect. That is why we often say, ‘Re-
(loving-kindness) had lower anxiety, it in a crevice of the Wailing Wall. and will come in the future. Pra- ligion is that which fosters love for one
greater happiness, greater empathy, and Sometime later he picked anoth- mukh Swami Maharaj prayed for another.’”
higher feelings of caring and connected- er yellow flower and also silently the joy and well-being of others. Pramukh Swami Maharaj and oth-
ness than those in a control condition.” placed that in another crevice. He It is the small silent acts of the ers like him serve as ideal role models.
That night in bed there was one then asked all of the disciples with great that reveal their inner sin- There is no secret to what they do or
routine I did not change or avoid — him to join him in reciting a prayer cere wishes and genuine care for how they live — it’s a commitment to
my personal reading time. I picked up for peace in the world. all people regardless of their caste, the joy of others — which then brings
a book on stories from the life of HH Later that afternoon when a culture, faith or backgrounds. our own. So, as we all tread our own
Pramukh Swami Maharaj. Recognized Swami asked him what he had per- They joyfully lived their lives by paths to happiness, let us think about
and respected as one of the greatest sonally prayed for at the Wailing bringing joy to others. No external the ways that we can bring joy to others,
Hindu spiritual teachers, Pramukh Wall, Pramukh Swami answered, factors big or small distracted their starting with a simple smile.
Swami Maharaj lived by and promoted “With the first flower I placed in mindset. Nilesh Mehta

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