Pranam Horlbeck from Zurich has been meditating since his teenage years. In this interview, and in the above video, he shares his evolving attitude towards happiness.

What does happiness mean to you?
Happiness seems to me to be a state of not needing anything on the outside but only to feel closeness to the divine within ourselves. It took me a while to reach this realisation.

I was always looking for true happiness and as I tried all the things that society suggested, but did not get the result I was hoping for. For example, I remember I had a desire to buy a snooker table. My friends and I managed to import one from Ireland, and I felt now I will be happy. But as ill-luck would have it after quite a short time this happiness again left me, so I had to find another way.

Then I came across meditation. Initially the goal of my friends and I was to become millionaires by the age of 30, and retire to Ireland to meditate. But later I realised that you can also be happy and still be in the world.

What makes me happy ?
I am very fortunate to be able to do a lot of different disciplines. One thing I started doing was running a lot of long distances – even longer than the marathon and often for many days at a time. I finished a 700 Mile race, which was very special as it taught me so many things about my own inner potential.

I also love singing spiritual songs – especially in a group. I am currently in a group which is trying to sing all 22,000 of Sri Chinmoy’s songs. Three times a year, we learn around 250 songs and then sing them for our fellow meditation students – that’s around 750 songs a year, which means we should be finished singing them all in 2031! It is definitely a lot of discipline learning all those songs, but it gives me tremendous Joy and fulfilment.

But for me – going to New York, and sitting in meditation in our meditation-garden where my meditation teacher Sri Chinmoy used to meditate with us is probably the happiest moment.

I also love playing Golf – I could write a lot about being unhappy while playing Golf and learning many spiritual lessons about surrender and just being happy no matter what the result!

By making myself really, truly happy, automatically a love of humanity and a wish to be of service to humanity springs up from inside.

What gives you most hope for the future?
I definitely feel the World is progressing. Young people seem to be much more aware and conscious then we were when we were young. For example, I give a lot of meditation workshops, and the new people who come to our meditation classes or join our meditation path are so inspiring, humble, and inwardly deep.

Patanga Cordeiro lives in São Paulo, Brazil, and works as an assistant at a Court of Justice. He enjoys running, triathlons, singing, and in his spare time translates inspiring poems and prose.

I like to teach basic classes on meditation techniques, and a few days ago the class I was teaching spontaneously came to the subject of making choices. It had to do with something I read on one of Sri Chinmoy´s books. Many times we are facing two opposite courses of action, each with its possibilities of rewards and different levels of fulfilment. As I can recollect from what I read, he mentioned that sometimes the inner voice gives us a red light (stop), while the outer happenings give us a green light (go), or vice-versa. So I questioned the students:

“Sometimes, we get green light from the inner and the outer – in this case, it is easy, we just go! Sometimes we get red from both – also easy, we just stop. But, what happens if we get opposing messages?”

That made me and also them think a bit. One young man had the same thought as I and got right to the point: “We follow the inner!” Everybody was agreeing.

Teacher-like, I thought I might expand on his answer a little. So I came up with this: “It depends. It depends on what you want. If you want to become a multimillionaire, then maybe you won´t have time to fulfill your inner urges – there is so much you need to do on the outside. But if we want to find true happiness, peaceful happiness, the joy that is self-created and does not depend on outer circumstances, then of course we will have to listen to the inner voice.”

But then comes the tricky part, as many people attending class noticed. We also need to maintain an outer standard, we have to fulfill our responsibilities with job, family, studies, etc. So are we not leaving that behind? Is there not a way to achieve both? Modern spirituality says that the integral man is the true man – he does not shun his responsibilities, and he does not need to sacrifice his own self.

Then, as we talked about it, I remembered one of my experiences when I was still in school. I think it might be worthwhile to share here too.

My personal experience

In Brazil, to make a simplification, after high school you: either you can pay for university tuition, or you take a year off, go to a preparatory course and study real hard for a once-a-year exam, in order to enter the public universities (which are free of charge and also give better degrees). If you don´t make it, you can try again next year.

After high school I was working on six-hour shifts, and decided to try to go to university to get a degree and a better job in the future. So I found the cheapest possible university, (plus my job would pay half of the monthly fees) and started to study. However, after some nine months, I decided I wanted to try the test for the public and free university.

At that point, there were many things that I used to do in my spare time that gave me real joy and fulfilment – music, translation of poems, teaching meditation (yes, I had just started then). So I did not want to give up on all that to spend every evening studying and watching classes. What I did is that I registered for a one-month preparatory course! It was super condensed. But even if for one month, it would take away all the time I used to do the things that made me real happy. So I only went to the main classes (for me that was mathematics) and some occasional others. To make up, I would try to study on the bus home, on afternoon breaks at work, etc. And whenever I felt I had something more important to do (when I felt some happiness was inspiring me), I would just forget about studying and do that. I would go out running, etc.

On the day of the exam, I went by bicycle there and, even as I chained it to a lamp-post, I felt much joy. As I walked towards the building, there was even more happiness. It was strong, wholesome and yet very subtle. It was like a little me was dancing inside my heart. I sat on the table like a baby playing with his colourful toys. The exam went smoothly, and I was one of the first to finish and leave the room. But this is not all.

It takes quite a few days to know if you passed the exam or not. (By the way, the odds for my exam were about 1 to 19 – one person gets in, the other 18 do not). I was not expecting to be approved, because I studied so little, but still I was a little hopeful, and anyway a little anxious to know if I did or did not.

A few days later I get a phone call from the preparatory course I took. (They get the results first, somehow.) The lady said “Congratulations! YOU GOT THE FIRST PLACE! We want to make an interview with you to show on the TV.” I was stunned. First place? But how? How could it be possible? There are so many good students (I was not), so many really bright people (I was not), that studied for many years (I did a half-month, let us say). And I am to have the best score?

As I was never a good student, that was total surprise. It definitely took me some three days to come with an explanation. It was that happiness that guided me. It was the inner voice. It was guiding me to be really myself, to do what I really must do. And, if the less important things had to be waylaid, then that inner voice somehow had found a way to make up for it. Having studied so little and achieving the highest score, there was no way I could convince myself that “I was smart” or anything. It was something else!

So this little miracle showed me how we can depend on happiness as our life-compass.

How I wish I would always listen to my inner voice!

Abhinabha Tangerman is a freelance journalist based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Apart from contributing quite a few articles to the Jewels of Happiness website, he writes for Dutch newspapers and magazines on a variety of subjects. Abhinabha likes to meditate, play guitar, write poetry and run marathons. He gives regular meditation classes and enjoys sharing what meditation has taught him about happiness with the public.

1. How would you define happiness?
To me the perfect definition of happiness is gratitude. When I’m really happy there’s often a spontaneous feeling of gratitude that accompanies it. In those moments I’m just amazed at how beautiful life is, despite the hardships that there may be. I think life is a great cosmic adventure and I’m just grateful to be a part of it.

2. Describe a moment in your life when you felt really happy.
As a matter of fact, I was feeling really happy this morning. I was on my bicycle, riding the streets of Amsterdam. It was a real ‘Indian Summer’ day, just on the brink of autumn – which is my favourite season. Everything looked so beautiful: the trees, the blue sky, the canals, the houses. I felt totally one with my environment and I was overwhelmed with a feeling of happiness and gratitude. I should also mention that I had a good meditation this morning. That usually helps a lot.

Other times when I have felt really happy are when I have finished a project that I worked really hard on. In the process I try not to be too attached to the results, but when the project is successful, I am really elated. Many of those happy moments have come when I was busy organizing the Peace Run, a torch relay for peace around the world founded by Sri Chinmoy.
I also feel very, very happy at the end of running races – which I do quite a lot – when I cross the finish line knowing I have given it my all. I think that’s why people love running long-distance races, just because that tremendous feeling of joy you get at the end.

3. Whenever you feel unhappy, is there a particular thing you do in order to feel happy again?
I have found my daily prayer and meditation to be the best remedy against unhappiness. Singing spiritual songs or chanting a mantra also works wonders for me. Going for a run also pushes my happiness-buttons in a big way.

4. Is there any person or historical figure that stands out as a role model for you in terms of achieving human happiness?
Thomas Jefferson comes to mind. He was a real ‘renaissance man’, highly developed in many fields: politics, architecture, art, science, philosophy, gardening, you name it. At heart he was a really spiritual person. Reading ‘Light and Liberty’, a collection of his writings edited by Eric Petersen, I was simply overwhelmed by his wisdom, nobility and grace. He truly knew the secrets of a happy and fulfilling life.

As a contemporary happy person Neil Young comes to mind – mostly because I just finished reading his autobiography. What a great guy! Not only a great musician, but also a real idealist, humanitarian, inventor, writer and a genuinely loving and compassionate person. There is an overriding sense of gratitude in his writing, which makes me think he is a genuinely happy person.

5. How would you go about making the world a happier place?
I think the best way to make the world happy is to make yourself happy first. Happiness is contagious, in a good way. If you are happy, you’re like a flower spreading happiness-fragrance. My spiritual teacher Sri Chinmoy wrote, “Happiness shared is maximized.” It also helps to be kind and compassionate to others. Who knows, you may inspire somebody to be a better person. I think a better world comes from better people.

6. Was there a particular habit or regimen you introduced into your life that has made you happier? Please share it with us!
Absolutely! For me happiness-medicine number one is my spiritual practice. I pray and meditate and also I sing spiritual songs every day. I can honestly say these things have changed my life in a big way. Through my prayer and meditation I’ve been able to discover a source inside me where there is spontaneous and enduring happiness. It seems nowadays more and more people are trying this approach, seeking their source of peace and happiness by going within. Oh, and my daily run is also a great contributor to my happiness. Did I mention that already?

7. What inspires you most about the future?
I think the future is bright. I really do. It’s pretty obvious that a few things need to change in the world for everyone to enjoy an atmosphere of peace and happiness, but I think we’re taking the right steps by giving spirituality a chance. We have to change ourselves first – I believe that’s really the first step. In that light it’s very hopeful that more and more people are trying to discover their own inner source of happiness, which I like to call the soul. I’ve been giving meditation classes for over a decade and I can see the interest is growing. So I’m an optimist. I think the world needs hope and optimism.

8. Which personal qualities do you think are most important in obtaining happiness?
I think Sri Chinmoy summed it up very aptly when he wrote: “Perfect happiness is enthusiasm minus expectation.” You need to have enthusiasm, to be positive and dynamic, but at the same time you need a kind of never-give-up attitude. So even when things don’t go the way you wanted, you don’t give up doing the right thing. When you expect a certain result, you prevent life from springing its delightful surprises on you.

9. If you had one wish for the world, what would it be?
I would wish for all human beings to have real peace inside them, and to feel that we are all part of a oneness-world-family. If you are at peace with yourself, you’re not inclined to find fault with others or with yourself. I think many, if not all world-problems can be solved that way.

10. What was your most important life decision in terms of your own personal happiness?
My decision to lead a spiritual life. When I was twenty years old I became a member of the Sri Chinmoy Centre. I started to follow a spiritual philosophy of daily meditation, physical exercise and a vegetarian diet. After a while I noticed all my problems, frustrations and feelings of unhappiness just faded away. I give most credit to meditation for this. I think it’s the real secret to a happy life.

Salil Wilson from Australia is the Executive Director of the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run, the world’s largest torch relay for peace. He travels every year to many countries as part of the international team of runners that have carried the Peace Torch to over 140 different countries.

How would you define happiness?
A deep sense of contentment, satisfaction and well being.

What was your first experience of happiness?
My first experience of being happy, and aware of it, was as a young child sitting outside in the sun on the warm concrete of our driveway and feeling happy. Simple but true.

Whenever you feel unhappy, is there a particular thing you do in order to feel happy again?
I try to get back in touch with my heart by either meditating, doing exercise like running, immersing myself in nature, concentrating on my breath or just being with happy friends.

How would you go about making the world a happier place?
Firstly, by being the happiest person I can be. If I’m not happy, then I can’t really hope to inspire others to be happy.

Are there particular habits or regimens you have that make you happier?
A regular practice of meditation, prayer, exercise and service. Having a regular discipline in your life helps in so many ways.

What inspires you most about the future?
The potential for wonderful things to happen. On the Peace Run, you meet so many different people from all countries and cultures, and you realise that we all want the same essential things. It gives you a very optimistic outlook for the future.

Which personal qualities do you think are most important in obtaining happiness?
A sincere and abiding love of happiness. If you truly value happiness, you’ll do whatever is necessary to achieve it.

What was your most important life decision in terms of your own personal happiness?
To live my life according to my inner dictates.

Happiness – or at least the ill-starred search for it – seems to very nicely explain the entire painful span of human history, and certainly the primary impulse in almost every individual life. My own early years came under the spell of Hemingway’s persuasive novels, his full immersion in bullfights, big game hunts, trawling the high seas for marlin, war journalism and perilous undertakings, and I began my own peregrinations with a kind of seaside romance with adventure and travel. Hemingway’s later suicide was perhaps a powerful and damning obituary to all this – but undeterred I forged on.

In Mexico, I finally attended a bullfight and watched the ritual slaughter of nine magnificent animals – but left feeling amazed at what seemed the depravity of my kind and the sense that the era of the Christians and the lions, its savagery, was still very close. The pathos and courage of the bulls scalded my heart, while all around me the crowd roared their approval and chanted “Ole! Ole!” just as they did in Hemingway’s novels – and so here we parted company.

Travel too failed to erase that fretfulness of the searching heart. I wandered from place to place, a rite of passage for those of us born in remote places, toting always the ineradicable personal baggage of purposelessness and discontent, the Greek poet Cavafy’s pronouncement ringing in my mind: “No ship exists to take you from yourself!”

Later, taking refuge from a London winter inside the Wimbledon Public Library, I stumbled upon Albert Camus, existentialism and the myth of Sisyphus – the Greek anti-hero condemned by the gods to endlessly push a boulder up a mountain, only to see it roll back down each time he reached the top. “His scorn of the gods, his hatred of death, and his passion for life won him that unspeakable penalty in which the whole being is exerted toward accomplishing nothing. This is the price that must be paid for the passions of this earth,” writes Camus.

It seemed an exact metaphor of my own life. Camus’ essay was all about happiness – how to find it in a world wherein we struggle, suffer and die, without finding any real meaning in our existence or without someone to explain this condition to us. But “one does not discover the absurd without attempting to write a manual of happiness…. Happiness and the absurd are two sons of the same earth,” he writes.

“He knows himself to be the master of his days. At that subtle moment when man glances backward over his life, Sisyphus returning toward his rock, in that silent pivoting he contemplates that series of unrelated actions which becomes his fate, created by him, combined under his memory’s eye and soon sealed by his death…. Each atom of that stone, each mineral flake of that night-filled mountain, in itself forms a world. The struggle itself toward the heights is enough to fill a man’s heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy.”

I was content with this, finally at ease with purposelessness and the utter insignificance of my life, and feeling now unburdened by possessing this knowledge. But philosophy is often at odds with the deeper purpose of our soul, and the sense of other imminent discoveries stirred inside me. We seem to attract like a magnet the people, books, clues, experiences we next need – or are they gifted to us? – and now I was introduced to Eastern spirituality.

In New Zealand, a summer long ago, sitting on a remote beach in the Queen Charlotte Sounds and soothed by a wide blue canopy of sky and an endless prospect of water, I tried my first attempt at meditation. Simply sitting, simply “being,” seemed strange yet also familiar, a different kind of void from Camus’ emptiness. I was peering into a great silence and wondering what lay waiting, and there came the sense of remembering something again, as though from the long strand of other lives.

Now, years later, for me happiness is simply an achievement of consciousness – not a certain person or a certain place, not in what I possess or in what I do, not in penury or plenty, not in anything external at all. The prolonged practice of meditation has brought an increasing desirelessness, freedom from expectation, inner sufficiency and life simplicity. It disentangles us from the cultural imperatives of success, wealth, acquiring, ambition – the great pervasive lies about happiness – and helps us to recognize and travel our own very special life path, alone when necessary and always with courage.

In late 1980 I had the ultimate good fortune to meet a living spiritual master. The Indian teacher Sri Chinmoy took me upward and onward to new levels, cleared away many of the blocks and misunderstandings in my practice, gave me glimpses of a delight and freedom that I came to understand were experiences of my own soul. And he kindled within me a love of God – no mean feat given my agnostic family tradition – and charted out a path, the steps I have now chosen to take.

For those seeking happiness – “Everyman” – and starting out on their own journeys of discovery, The Jewels of Happiness by Sri Chinmoy will provide a wonderful map and an inspirational, tireless companion to point the way home.