Yesterday, I had the honor of sitting in on a talk on happiness by Nyima Dakpa Rinpoche, founder of the Yeru Bön Center. He actually spoke on many topics, but the focus of the talk was happiness. I love listening to, and sitting in the energy of, Tibetan Lamas; it’s so soothing, and the information is always great.

Yungdrun Bön (the Path of the Nine Ways) is Tibet’s oldest spiritual tradition, founded by the Buddha Tonpa Shenrab. His Holiness the Dalai Lama has stated that, in order to understand Tibetan Buddhism, one must first understand Bön, which is therefore recognized as one the five principal spiritual schools of Tibet. Bön aims at cultivating compassion through happiness, to reveal the transcendent and natural Mind.

Happiness is always there, within us, but we let the day-to-day distractions get in the way of experiencing it. When we do manage to connect with it, happiness can heal all of the bad moments we’ve had up until that moment, if we let it. So happiness is really the point of meditation within the Bön tradition, because it is through meditation that we get all the distractions out of the way, and ultimate happiness is enlightenment.

Happiness is a choice, a focus, a matter of perspective. Even undesirable circumstances can generate happiness, if you can find meaning in them. Look for what a situation teaches you about yourself, and you can shift your perspective on that occurrence from misery to happiness. According to the Bön, one should always strive for happiness in all things.

Nyima Dakpa Rinpoche recommends meditating on happiness for at least 20 minutes, once in the morning and once before bed. If it helps you, start by remembering something that has brought you deep happiness in the past, so that you can connect with the feeling of it, but once you are practiced at this, don’t associate your happiness with anything outside of yourself. As you focus on the feeling, allow it to grow through you, touching every cell in your body, filling and clearing your chakras. Sit in that feeling, focusing on it, to exclusion of all else. Obviously, this will take some practice, because focus (and meditation) is a muscle that needs to be exercised, like most spiritual tools. Eventually, your life will become happier, because you are starting and ending your day with happiness, and it will permeate the rest of your life.

The Yeru Bön Center is in Highland Park at 1866 1/2 Ave. 56 (90042). They meet every Tuesday night at 7pm and occasional Sundays at 2pm for meditation, tea, practice and conversation. They welcome everyone to join them.

Thanks to Patricia Bankins at The Crystal Matrix Center for hosting this talk.