The idea of “joy” seems a bit mysterious. We may not know what it is exactly, but we sense there’s more to it than what we normally think of as “happiness.” It seems to refer to something whose roots and meaning lie beyond the passing pleasures of daily life.
Perhaps we might think of joy as a deeper, more abiding sense of well being that is far beyond any kind of quickly fading pleasure we can give ourselves. It is a state of Being that is less dependent on any outer condition.
This kind of definition is certainly what we find if we look at the wisdom about true joy that has been passed down by the great sages. Here is some of what they have to tell us:
A happy life is joy in the truth. — Saint Augustine of Hippo (354 – 430)
The highest enjoyment is that of being contented with ourselves. It is in order to deserve this contentment that we are placed here on earth and endowed with liberty. — Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712 – 1778)
As the mind is made intelligent, the capacity of the soul for pure enjoyment is proportionately increased. — Lew Wallace (1827 – 1905)
I sometimes wonder whether all pleasures are not substitutes for joy. — C. S. Lewis (1898 – 1963)
Do not look for rest in any pleasure, because you were not created for pleasure, you were created for Joy. And if you do not know the difference between pleasure and spiritual joy you have not yet begun to live. — Thomas Merton (1915 – 1968)
And here is one more from OneJourney founder Guy Finley:
Inner joy can’t be separated from a deep sense of gratitude inseparable from a mind at peace with itself; it knows, without thought, that everything is in its right place – being revealed at the right time. — Guy Finley (1949)
It all makes sense, and sounds wonderful, but how do we enter this higher state ourselves? Is joy something we can know in our own hearts?
As Guy tells us, even though we’ve all been disappointed by life, the possibility of experiencing joy is always waiting for us. We just need to develop the ability to sense it hiding just beyond the dark curtain our own minds create.
To get there we need to understand what blocks us from joy; what real joy is about, and what we can do to open ourselves to it. Fortunately, a very special event is coming up for those who want to learn how to experience genuine joy.
Free Talks Reveal How You Can Learn to Open Your Heart to Joy
Guy Finley presents a series of ongoing talks every week that are always connected to the topic of experiencing authentic joy. These talks provide a new perspective on our lives; on why we keep pursuing the wrong thing; and how we can begin to find true fulfillment.
Some of the topics Guy dives into include:
- Start Working with The Great Laws of an Awakened Life
- Be Perfectly Guided Through Any Painful Moment
- The Invisible Code of Conduct for All Conscious Beings
- The Wisdom and the Will to Walk Away from Fear and Sorrow
- The Key to Turning Any “Oh, No” Moment Into an “Aha” Moment
You will come away from Guy’s talks with new understanding and practical knowledge to best direct your energies to find the true joy that only self-realization can bring.
These talks are livestreamed for free every Wednesday evening at 6:00 PM Pacific Time (9:00 PM Eastern), and every Sunday morning at 9:30 AM Pacific (12:30 PM Eastern). Each session lasts about an hour and a half and includes an open Q&A period. You can pre-register for all of Guy’s livestreams at www.guyfinley.org/freeclass and you will be sent a reminder email with the link right before each talk.
And don’t worry if you are unable to attend in real time. When you sign up you will get access to the replay of almost every class, along with instant access to a huge archive of past talks.
Best wishes,
Dr. Ellen Dickstein
The OneJourney Project
