Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu

“MAY ALL BEINGS EVERYWHERE BE HAPPY AND FREE, AND MAY THE THOUGHTS, WORDS AND ACTIONS OF MY OWN LIFE CONTRIBUTE IN SOME WAY TO THAT HAPPINESS AND TO THAT FREEDOM FOR ALL.”

Happiness and freedom are incredible and, we’d hope, intrinsic gifts/rights provided to us all. This mantra reminds us that If we are lucky enough to have happiness and freedom – or perhaps – if we are lucky enough to recognize we have happiness and freedom – they are not to be taken lightly, for granted or enjoyed at the expense of the happiness or freedom of others. They are not to be miserly hidden away in our “happiness and freedom” vault, rather it is incumbent upon us to share, spread and work for this same happiness and freedom for others through our thoughts, intentions, words and actions. The Dalai Lama, when asked why we’re here on earth, replied, “To be happy and to make others happy.” To that, some may say “If it were only that simple.” And to that we’d have to ask, “Isn’t it?”