Download PDF - Stillness Speaks

REMOVING THE WALLIf happiness or unhappiness doesn't come from objects, it has to becoming from me.If true, why does it seem to come from objects?Because the attainment of desired objects or the avoidance of fearedobjects temporarily removes the wall of fear and desire separating us from theSelf, the source of happiness. When the dam bursts our lives are floodedwith happiness, from the ecstasy of love to the satisfaction in a cup of coffee.At the time of the removal of a fear or desire the mind associates thehappiness with the object, rather than with the removal of the subjectivelimitation. That human beings are universally attached to and frightened ofobjects, physical, emotional, and intellectual confirms this poorly-appreciatedtruth.Almost everyone at one time or another believes happiness comes fromgiving and\or receiving love. As long as the love object gives and\or receivesaccording to the subject's special needs, everything is fine, but as soon as theobject stops cooperating the love dries up, at which point the removal of theobject is thought to make us happy. Why does the love dry up? Because theidea that it was coming from the object acted like a switch in the mind whicherected a wall between the mind and the Self, effectively cutting off contactwith one’s own unlimited reservoir of love.That switch, the belief that the joy is in the object, can as well pulldown the wall. For example, loneliness often causes us fantasize about anideal someone who we wish would come into our lives and remove ourunhappiness. When reality presents an approximation of our fantasy, the damholding our own limitless inner ocean of love breaks and love wildlycascades into the mind, giving the experience of happiness. Because theprocess is unconscious and takes place instantaneously the love seems to becoming from the object, or an interaction with the object - but the object isonly a catalyst, a trigger, that activates the inner switch.Let’s argue that since everyone's innermost nature is happiness/lovethe joy is in the object, in this case people. It is, but since people invariablyimpose conditions on their love we can't count on another’s love to make ushappy. To avoid this trap I should understand that though love is one, I canonly count on it when I’ve realized it's my nature. To do that I mustsacrifice the fears and desires separating me from my ownhappiness/love. For example, people feel happy in deep sleep because3