As human beings we all have the potential to be happy. It is like our bodies were created to be happy. But what has gone wrong?  As we go through life or lives if one believes in reincarnation,  this potential goes up and down.  We live happy lives, we live sad lives, and most of us live a combination of both happy and sad lives.  Many of us do not know why some suffer, and why some have happy lives?  Is it random, like a flip of a coin, or is there a cause?

What causes this up and down in potential to be happy?  Some say that it is our thoughts  that effect our future. These thoughts are energies that are released internally and externally creating  future joy or sufferings.  Evil thoughts are greed, arrogance, and self love that have negative energies. Good thoughts are the opposite and have positive energies.  These energy sources originating in our minds are released in the future, resulting in joy or suffering.

It is this seemingly easy task of eliminating the evil thoughts that we must complete.  But as many find out, this task is not easy.  First it would be easier to believe in the law of cause and effect. Good thoughts result in joy, and evil thoughts result in suffering.  But for many, this would be difficult concept to believe in because of the prolong time lapse between cause and effect.  We are a society of instant gratification.

Even if believe in the concept of  cause and effect, eliminating greed and arrogance is very difficult because of the temptations that we are bombarded with daily.  We need to remind ourselves of the sufferings that may result from the misuse of our minds.

For those that have a difficulty of understanding what I have just written, just eliminate greed and arrogance from your lives. See if you notice any difference in your happiness.

Heaven’s Truth Church/Tenrikyo Church