The first thing to be understood about happiness is
that it cannot be practiced. It has only to be
allowed, because it is not something that you create.
Whatsoever you create is going to remain something
smaller than ou, tinier than you. What you create
cnnot be bigger than you.

The painting cannot be bigger than the painter himself
and the poetry cannot be bigger than the poet. Your
song is bound to something smaller than you.

If you practice happiness you will be always there at
the back, with all you stupidities, with all your
egotrips, with all your ignorance, with all your chaos
of the mind. With the chaotic mind you canot create a
cosmos, you cannot create grace. Grace always
descends from the beyond; it has to be received as a
gift in tremendous trust, in total surrender. In a
state of let-go true happiness happens.

But we have been told to achieve, to be ambitious.
Our mind has been cultivated to be that of an
achiever. Our education, culture, religion , they all
depend on this basic idea that man has to be
smbitious, only the ambitious man will be able to
attain fulfillment. It has never happened, it will
never happen, but so deep is the ignorance that we go
on believing in this nonsense.

No ambitious person has even been happy; in fact, the
ambitious person is the unhappiest in the world. But
we go on training to be ambitious: ” Be the first, be
at the top, and you will be happy!” And have you ever
seen anybody at the top and happy at the same time?
Was Alexander the Great happy when he became a world
conqueror? He ws one of the unhappiest men who has
ever lived on the earth.

Diogenes was a beggar; he had nothing, not even a
begging bowl. At least Buddhe had a begging bowl with
him and three robes. Diogenes was naked – and wih no
begging bowl. He was going to the river one day with
his begging bowl. He was thristy, it was hot, and he
wanted to drink water. And then on the way, just when
he was on the bank, a dog passed by him, running,
panting, jumped into the river, had a good bath and
drank to his heart’s content. The idea arose in
Diogene’s mind: “This dog is freer than me – he does
not have to carry a begging bow. And if he can
manage, why can’t I manage without a begging bowl?
This is my only possession, and I have to keep an eye
on it because it can be stolen. Even in the night
once or twice I have to feel whether it is still there
or gone.” He threw the begging bowl into the river,
bowed to the dog, thanked him for the great message
that he had brought for him from existence.

This man, who had nothing, created jealousy in
Alexander’s mind. How miserable he must have been! He
confessed to Diogenes, “If ever again God give me
birth, I will ask him ‘This time please don’t make me
Alexander – make me Diogenes.”

Diogenes laughed uproariously and he called the
dog-because they had become friends by now, they had
started living together – he called the dog and he
said ” Look listen, what nonsense he is talking about!
Next life he wants to be Diogenes! What next life? Why
postpone? Who knows about the next life? Even the next
day is uncertain, the next moment is not certain- what
to say about the next life! If you really want to be a
Diogenes, you can be one right this moment, here now.
Throw your clothes into the river and forget about
conquering the world! That is sheer stupidity and you
know it.

“And you have confessed that you are miserable, you
have confessed tht Diogenes is in a far better, more
blissful state. So why not be a Diogenes right now?
Lie down on the bank of the river where I am taking
subath! This bank is big enough for both of us.”
Alexander could not accept the invitation, of course.
He said”Thank you for your invitation. Right now I
cannot do it, but next life..”
Dioegenes asked him “Where are you going? And what
will you do even if you have conquered the world?”
Alexander said ” Then I will rest.”
Diogenes said ” This seems absolutely absurd – becase
I am resting right now!”

If Alexander is not happy, if Adol Hitler is not
happy, if Rockefellers and Carnegies are not happy -
the people who have all he money of the world, if they
are not happy – just watch people who have succeeded
in the world and you will drop the idea of success.
Nothing fails like success. Although you have been
told that nothing succeeds like success, I say to you
nothing fails like success.

Happiness has nothing to do wih success. Happiness
has nothing to do with ambition, happiness has nothing
to do with money, power, prestige. It is a totally
differnt dimension. Happiness has something to do
with your consciousness, not with your character .
Let me remind you – character is not you, it is
something you have cultivated. You can becomes a
saint, and still you will not be happy if your
sainthood is nothing but a practiced sainthood. And
thats how people become saint. Catholics, Jains,
Hindus – how do they become saints? They practice
inch by inch, in detail, when to get up, what to eat,
what not to eat, when to go to bed….