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Pema Chödrön, Don’t Bite the Hook Part 4 of 6: Situational Happiness

November 11, 2009 by  

marriageChödrön has been approached many times with deep questions of how to achieve happiness.  Should I marry this person?  Should I pursue this job opportunity?  Why?  Because she is a revered teacher.  However, as a teacher she always explains that these questions stem from a nervous energy of tying one’s happiness upon external circumstances.  We are forced to believe that if we have this job we will be happy.  If we marry this person, all our woes will be subsumed.

I like the saying by Oscar Wilde, “There are two tragedies in life.  One is not to get your heart’s desire.  The other is to get it.”  Brilliant insight.  In short, we want something so badly and remorse that we don’t have it.  Once we get it, we are bored with it and want something else.  When we tie our happiness upon defined events, circumstances, or people, we are not really seeing happiness but a transient shell that will flit away at a blink.  Using the techniques discussed in this blog series, we can escape false happiness and enter true bliss.

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Comments

13 Responses to “Pema Chödrön, Don’t Bite the Hook Part 4 of 6: Situational Happiness”

  1. nord on November 11th, 2009 7:05 am

    So true. You’re putting the best, most essential stuff before us. Thank you!

  2. dr. lam on November 11th, 2009 7:54 am

    thanks nord. that means a lot to me! glad you are getting something out of this series. i have more pema coming up in the future.

  3. Heather on November 11th, 2009 8:50 pm

    Great blog!! Great point about having the proper view of happiness. :)
    Nord, I think I like Dr. Lam’s gravatar better than yours. ;) But yours is interesting!…lol

  4. nord on November 11th, 2009 9:09 pm

    Heather! How do you know that’s not my face?! :/

  5. dr. lam on November 11th, 2009 9:11 pm

    nord, i know that is not your face because your face is GORGEOUS!!!!

  6. nord on November 11th, 2009 9:26 pm

    And I know that you know I prefer your face to ANY robot.

  7. nord on November 11th, 2009 9:26 pm

    Off to Gravatar now. :)

  8. dr. lam on November 11th, 2009 9:37 pm

    apparently, my gravatar is not live yet. i put it up this morning.

  9. nord on November 11th, 2009 10:27 pm

    I’ve gone back to form. :)

    Back to the blog-I think I may engrave that Wilde quote on something, love that.

  10. dr. lam on November 11th, 2009 10:35 pm

    cool!

  11. Heather on November 11th, 2009 11:12 pm

    Haha, Nord! :) I’ve always imagined you being a striking natural beauty! ;)

  12. nord on November 11th, 2009 11:37 pm

    Thanks Heather, same here regarding you, for sure. I like the way you think, too. In a nutshell, you’re cool.

    It’s all perspective, as per blog, yes?

  13. Heather on November 12th, 2009 12:14 am

    Aww Nord, you’re so sweet! :) Love your thoughts and comments too! This blog forum would not be the same without you!! :)
    And the other blog buddies!!

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