Circuitous path to happiness

Author: Muneyoshi Munakata
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: To gracefully let go, to smile with serenity—this is who you are. Joy and sorrow coexist in change, and this is our life. Tell yourself and others: "I do not despise you." Gaze at the drifting clouds for a moment, and you will find your own emotions quietly shifting—this is a sense of composure. Happiness and misfortune do not depend on the magnitude of the events you encounter, but on how you perceive and understand them. If you are deceived, what does it matter? Why must you know yourself so well? Let everything unfold as it will. A smile is maturity. We do not know how long we will live, so we can only celebrate this fleeting existence. All hardships, worries, disappointments, and sorrows occur to deepen our lives and to teach us something. The author of this book draws upon the perspectives of Buddhism and other religions, employs literary forms such as tanka, haiku, and folk songs, and cites specific examples to illustrate the state of "bliss" the author seeks to convey.