Beloved Students:

In this last lesson for 2001, I greet you with joy and wonder as you contemplate starting yet another year afresh. May each of you employ the tools of joy and wonder as you move in an intentional way from one year into another. As many of you know, in the East, the New Year is perhaps seen as the most important holiday of the year. In fact, some cultures celebrate not only their own calendar New Year, but that of neighboring cultures, as well. The most important aspect is to make the passage in an intentional way.

Of course, one should always seek to demonstrate intentionality everyday, in every action, word and thought. But you may find, as do your brothers and sisters in other parts of the world, that the New Year time can bring an important point in refreshing your commitments. It is why so many people set goals (or "resolutions," as they are sometimes called), as they enter a New Year. While it is true that many find they are unable to live up to those "resolutions," it is still a good practice, because it brings into view one's own priorities. But since so few cultures actually teach intentionality in the socialization process for their young, many adults find they are unable to sustain even the best intentions made at the turning point of the New Year.

It is important to recognize that this is not the fault of the intention setting itself. Rather, it is the fault of unfocused and/or undisciplined minds. It often seems as if the ego, with its strategies so primed for its own wants needs and desires, uses every possible tool to distract you from attaining basic altruistic focus and inner peace. While this may be the common route, know that it is indeed possible to create the attributes and generous nature your True Self desires for you and deserves from you. It all starts with intention.

Many of you are still efforting to bring the six graces, or six perfections, into being in your own life from our talk some months ago called "Prajnaparamita." Know that this is a worthy endeavor, and that you are supported completely by those who love you, both on physical and spiritual planes. In seeking to apply these wisdom teachings, you learn how important is setting your intention to accomplish these states. As in every other area of attainment in your life, spiritual attainment will not take place without your learning to set an appropriate intention and follow it through. Of course, this means holding to the intention even when it would be easier to: 1) forget about it because it proved more work than you were counting on; 2) call yourself a failure because you could not pull it off as easily as you might have liked, or 3) just simply go back to sleep.

You can, of course, always find excuses and rationalizations to get out of the work of really evolving yourself. In truth, many people live their spiritual lives making excuses for not generating the truly awakened mind. Some may hear a spiritual teaching that would offer great freedom, but reject it because it is not "cosmic" enough. Some seek a Teacher to sort of play the role of a spiritual Santa Claus, hoping that the Teacher will simply give them enlightenment. Still others get glimpses of their True Self, and having gotten the glimpse, think the journey over. Indeed, your spiritual Teachers and helpers do seek to provide the energy necessary for you to have the moments where you see through the veil of the ego. But having seen, it then becomes your job to actualize that True Self. That does take work, my dear friends, and a lot of intentional living.

One of the most important intentions to hold for yourself is to learn to be happy, or at least cheerful, in your journey. Of course, everyone wants to be happy. Some, however, are not willing to exert the mental energy and discipline it takes to attain it. When you really understand how basic is the desire for happiness, you discover that knowledge opens doors of service for you that in turn, help you be happy. You discover that by holding sacred the goal of happiness for others, you are richly blessed. Sometimes it is as easy as simply smiling. You can smile even when you are not having a happy moment. After all, why should your momentary lack of happiness prevent someone else from discovering happiness in the way you extend yourself to them?

You also learn that you can withstand some very difficult circumstances and still be kind, loving and extend happiness. I once had a teacher who instructed us that generating a happy attitude was one of the most important spiritual accomplishments, for such is how you find contentment in your life. That does not mean that every situation you encounter will (or even should) make you happy. It just means that you will try your very best to bring happiness to those around you, no matter what may be surrounding you.

Often people ask me how they can discover more joy in their lives, as if joy is some sort of reward for having been good, or a gift I (or some other teacher) could give away. In truth, real joy comes from doing things you know need to be done. It comes from encouraging and uplifting others. It comes from living at peace with yourself and all other sentient beings. It comes from knowing the Source from which you came and delighting in your connection to all of Creation.

I would like to suggest that each of you actively seek to understand happiness in the coming year. You will discover that there are many levels of happiness, some quite shallow and transient, others deeply rooted in your Source and enduring. These deeper flows of happiness and joy radiate from you in such a way as to bless all who come within your influence. You will find that when you truly seek to extend happiness to all with whom you come in contact, you will also generate greater kindness and deeper compassion. You will be calmer inwardly, and you may experience people relating to you from a more sincere place, as well.

Please join me in listening to Are You Happy? a talk I did this month in Denver. May if facilitate you in leading an intentional life, generating more kindness and compassion, and entering into a New Year in a manner that serves both yourself and others.

As you begin 2002, I would like for you to consider the power of happiness. To aid you in that undertaking, I would like you to again use the intentions you held for world leaders, and those they influence, from our work last month. However, this month, I would like you to sit for 15 minutes at least once per day. Quiet your mind and just wait to see who pops in. Sitting in the quiet, you may suddenly think of someone dear to you, or someone may arise who presents problems or conflict for you; or, you may see the face of one of the world leaders, a homeless person, or some checker in the grocery store whose name you do not even know. Whatever the case, let yourself bring that person fully into consciousness, and say to her/him/them:

May you be happy;
May you know peace;
May you have ease and a sense of well being;
May love and kindness fill and heal you.

Should someone arise for whom it is difficult for you to say these words sincerely, just keep saying them, over and over, until you come to the place where the words feel sincere and you find yourself in a loving space as you say this blessing to them. You might find you are surprised at who shows up to receive this blessing of happiness from you. If you get someone for whom it takes a whole month of intention and self-discipline to accomplish the genuine state of this blessing - GOOD! Thank them for showing up in your meditation so they can help you find happiness in your relationship to them.

May you journey into the New Year lightly and with deep compassion for all. May you celebrate the things, experiences and people in your life that you consider "good." Know that you are, indeed, The Fortunate One, and seek to share your blessings with one another.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Walk in love - Intentionally,
Djwhal Khul