What do people pray for? They pray for health. They pray for a perfect mate. They pray for that perfect job; and many even pray that their favorite team wins. But you don’t hear people praying for happiness.

What is happiness and how do we get it?  Many think it is the possession of physical material, like money, fast cars, and expensive clothes that makes us happy. Others think our positions in society makes us happy. Some seek happiness in recreational drugs like marijuana, alcohol, and cocaine.  Others believe that they can gain happiness by understanding the metaphysical world. But as many have found it, these endeavors of finding happiness may not work.

But what does it mean to be happy. The term spirited is often mentioned in the Tip of the Writing Brush (Ofudesaki). It is the attitude of joy in whatever happens. How do we gain this attitude?  It is foretold in the Tip of the Writing Brush that we must eliminate greed, arrogance, and self love to become spirited. We must help others to become spirited ourselves. This appears contradictory to our wisdom; helping others to gain happiness?

It is with this understanding of being spirited, that we pray to God to help us eliminate evil (greed, arrogance, and self love). When we do this, we can become spirited. Every day will be like a “sunny day”.  Pray for happiness!