Never Lose Hope

If you have given up hope of ever being happy, cheer up. Never lose hope. Your soul, being the reflection of the ever‑ joyous Spirit, is, in essence, happiness itself.

If you keep the eyes of your concentration closed, you cannot see the sun of happiness burning within your bosom, but no matter how tightly you close the eyes of your attention, it nevertheless remains a fact that the happiness rays are ever trying to pierce the closed doors of your mind. Open the portals of calmness and you will find a sudden burst of the bright sun of joy within your very Self.

The joyous rays of the soul can be perceived if you interiorize your attention. This can be done by using the architect of your mind to enjoy the beautiful scenery of thoughts in the invisible, tangible kingdom within you. Do not search for happiness only in beautiful clothes, clean houses, delicious dinners, soft cushions, and luxuries. These will imprison your happiness behind the bars of externality, of outwardness. Rather, in the airplane of your visualization, glide over the limitless empire of thoughts. There behold the mountain ranges of unbroken, lofty, spiritual aspirations for improving yourself and others.

Glide over the deep valleys of universal sympathy. Fly over the geysers of enthusiasm, over the Niagara Falls of perpetual wisdom, plunging down the hoary crags of your soul’s peace. Soar over the endless river of intuitive perception to the kingdom of His omnipresence.

There, in His mansion of bliss, drink from His fountain of whispering wisdom, and quench the thirst of your desire. Dine with Him on the fruits of divine love, in the banquet hall of eternity. If you have made up your mind to find joy within yourself, sooner or later you will find it. Seek it now, daily, by steady, deeper and deeper meditation within. Make a true effort to go within and you will find there your greatest happiness. -Paramhansa Yogananda, Metaphysical Meditations