(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Finland, 2011)
Happiness is natural. It is said that,
‘Anandamayo ’bhyasat‘, – every living being by nature is looking for happiness, and every living being is meant to be happy! So the art though is to know that the greatest happiness is to see happiness in others. If by our actions we can create happiness in others – that is greater than if by our actions we are concerned with our own happiness. And the greatest happiness is found, when we are trying to please Krishna! When we are trying to make Krishna happy, and then with all others, when we give them Krishna….then we give them happiness!
So there in giving happiness is found and not in taking. So we have to get out of this mentality:
“What’s in it for me? What am I getting out of this? I’ve been a member of Iskcon for so many years – so what am I getting? I am disappointed…no really. I had expected more! First of all, I thought that devotees would be more elevated. But now I know the truth! I just thought that really there would be much more support… I thought that I would get much more support. If I would have known that I would have gotten only so little support than I wouldn’t have started this…so little!”
So the mentality is:
“What am I getting? I’m not getting enough. I’m not getting what I need. I’m not getting”.
But actually, we have to think:
“What am I giving? I should give?”
And if we start to think about this ‘giving’ then automatically the happiness follows…automatically!