Pursuing Happiness

Along State Hwy. 6 - Near Green River Utah

The Greater Jihad

The Universal Tenet of Happiness

I just finished listening to an incredible conversation hosted by Krista Tippett of American Public Media's "Being" on stage at Emory University.  The panelists included His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama - the exiled head of state and spiritual leader of Tibet, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks - Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the British Commonwealth, The Most Reverend Dr. Katharine Jefferts Schori - the 26th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, and Dr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr - Professor of Islamic Studies at George Washington University and one of the world's leading experts on Islamic science and spirituality.  The night’s topic; “pursuing happiness with the Dalai Lama.”

I found it especially applicable to the evolving purpose of this blog... a purpose I am still struggling to properly quantify.  I left contemplating two related considerations that I currently find especially pertinent and personal as I fuel my pursuit of happiness.

One of the most commonly used words in Arabic for “happiness” literally means “expanded or enlarged.”  In her closing comments, Ms. Tippett said, “In the 21st century, all religious people must feel themselves enlarged rather than threatened by the presence of religious others.”  This begs two questions; “Do I feel enlarged?” and “Do I enlarge others?”  In pondering these questions and reminiscing personal situations, I came to the not-so-astonishing conclusion that one can not be accomplished without the other and that happiness requires both.

Because my Mormon upbringing tends to view life and faith in rather black and white terms, I haven't felt particularly enlarged as I insist on the shades of gray more common among pluralists.  Understandably, I often feel threatened by rigid sectarianism.  Intended or not, I find much of their common jargon, phraseology, and dogma to be depreciating, condescending and exclusionary.  Unfortunately, in these moments of instinctive partisanship, I too find it difficult to enlarge those outside my defined understanding.  I become defensive and I miss opportunities for open dialog by choosing to be equally uncompromising.

I can firmly say I still do embrace many intrinsically Mormon philosophies yet I seem to seek out sources outside the more traditional Mormon paradigm in my efforts to advance my thinking on such topics.  With rare exception, I tend to view Mormon opinion with far more skepticism.  Tonight's conversation touched on why.

“...thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian; because thou wast a stranger in his land.”  

~Deut. 23:7

Having left Egypt, Moses counseled his followers.  To be truly free of Egypt, they must also leave behind their hatred for their enemy.  I thought my enemy was having my ideas and beliefs considered a betrayal; meritless and damaging in the eyes of those with whom I had once communed.  But as Moses points out, my enemy is much closer and much more personal than that.  My enemy is any hurt and disappointment I allow such considerations to cause.  It is the resentment caused by judgement, real or otherwise, to which I give credence.

I long for the serenity and consistency exemplified by the Buddha.  It is that enlightenment or exalted state which we should all strive and it can only be achieved through the introspective battle of self-betterment... addressing those inner shortcomings preventing us from reaching true and sustainable happiness.

“One of my Muslim friend explained to me one interpretation of Jihad, not only sort of attack on other, but real meaning is combative attack your own wrongdoing or negativities.  So in that sentence, the whole Buddhist practice is practice of Jihad.”

~ the Dalai Lama