a little something to let the light in

Vic Shayne
author
13 Pillars of Enlightenment: How to realize your true nature and end suffering

I was watching a youtube video in which a young man drives up to a Starbucks window and, while he’s waiting for his order, he breaks into song. Out of nowhere an entire choir shows up to sing in harmony with him. The man behind the counter is so taken with emotion that he drops to his knees. What happened? This is a poignant example of how music can go right to the heart and brighten someone’s day. it can knock you out of your stupor of the daily grind.

We need to be pulled out of the mundane and into the heart. It doesn’t happen nearly enough. Life is a struggle for everyone, and this tends to close us off from others and to stop seeing the good in the world and in others.

So much has been said about enlightened teachers being in a state of bliss. It seems like this is a concept taken out of context. No one is “in” bliss; rather, bliss is within everyone.

Consider what it would be like if you could just grasp the goodness at any moment. There is no undoing the bad in this world or the suffering that is caused every minute, day after day. However, the good is right here as well. If you are astute enough, you can uncover it simply by observing it. You don’t even have to search for it. Just look. When you do this, you too will be staring into the face of bliss, feeling what has been here all along.

where to find the bliss
Although it’s a nice surprise, you don’t have to wait until a complete stranger comes up to you with a chorus to sing a song just for you. You can hug a friend, share a laugh with your children or parents, visit with a puppy, help an elderly person, watch an inspiring documentary, or be moved by the grandeur of a tree.

Gratitude is a lovely thing, but it begins with seeing the good in life. It seems that sometimes we have to be shocked out of our conditioned minds to find that which is beyond thought. This is because we have a tendency to forget what we are as loving beings who just want peace and happiness. If you want to be in an eternal state of bliss, all you have to do is recognize that goodness is here whenever you want to put your attention on it.

We all have the potential to fall into a rut and start seeing only the problems in this world. If we do this chronically we call it depression. The best anti-depressive is engagement with that which is wondrous, which is love at its core. And, you can share the goodness with others if you are so moved, because it is always right here. In the midst of your newfound bliss you will find the eternal “now.”