There is a Chassidic saying, “Joy breaks all boundaries”.
The Talmud relates, once a great sage in the marketplace
encountered Elijah the prophet and asked him, “Is there anyone who has assured
his place in the world to come?” Elijah answered to the negative. In the
interim, two brothers entered the marketplace and Elijah pointed to them
saying, “They merit the world to come.” The Rabbi walked over to them and
asked, “May I ask, what do you do?” They answered, “We are joyful people, and
we make those who are sad happy. If we hear about an argument, we make peace
using humor between those quarreling.”
What does it mean to be truly joyous and happy? Where can we
purchase this?
First, let us make a clear distinction between pleasure and
genuine joy.
Pleasure is temporary. Pleasure is fleeting and superficial
and usually comes with a steep personal price at the end. The real long lasting
deep happiness and joy, is an experience and a state of being where shallow and
artificial experiences are of little value.
It almost doesn't matter the outer trappings, when true joy is reached.
Occasionally, a ramp that can connect one with inner joy, or
can draw out and enhance true happiness is when we are enjoying ourselves on
the exterior superficially. One of the methods the prophets used was song. Song
and more precisely melody, has the power to open up a person to the unlimited
vibrations of one’s soul. However, this
experience must be one that is connected to something being developed inside,
deeper than just doing it to “feel” good.
The world, i.e. materialism and consumerism for the most
part can only offer the temporary sort of pleasure and happiness. More stuff
does NOT equal more happiness. By its very nature, the property of physical
existence is fleeting. It has a time when it (or its style) came into
existence, and it has a time when it ceases to exist. Life attached to and
defined by materialism will “always” be bouncing from one “thing” to the next.
Hydroplaning on the surface, with small or sometimes large drops and empty
holes in between. Spirituality, religion
and deep values are the enemies of consumerism. That is why the materialistic
world fights so vigorously against religion.
Where’s the real joy?
The inner deep feeling of being full?
King David in his book of Psalms tells us, “Strength and joy
are, in the place of G-d ...The joy of
G-d, is your strength...Strength and joy, are in His place.” Solid and real inner strength, genuine
long-lasting, deep-reaching joy is in G-d and with G-d. This means,
strengthening our faith and awareness in spirituality, the G-dliness and
therefore absolute goodliness in our lives and in the world. Living a G-dly
lifestyle, and making it the way we think, feel and act.
King David had it all. He was a wealthy individual with lots
of power at his discretion. Yet, he also had loads of challenges. Family, close
confidants and neighbors continuously confronted, defied and challenged him in every
single respect
A man who had it all teaches us, “Don’t put your trust in
princes in the son of man.” “Blessed is the person who puts his faith in G-d
and G-d is his stronghold.” Everything G-d does, since He is perfect is always
for the good.
Inner strength, one that lasts under all circumstances and
is never extinguished, true joy, comes
to a person who lives a life connected and influenced by the spark of G-d
within, the soul. Only by living a soul-driven life can a person be truly and
deeply, joyous and happy.
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