True Happiness arises
only with Right Effort
based on realistic optimism.– Stonepeace
A hungry father decided to abandon his children to starvation.
Before he left, he tied a bag of sand on a high beam,
telling them that it contains food that should not be touched till he returns.
For five days, the children were comforted that though hungry, there was food.
On the sixth day, they were so hungry that they opened the bag.
Realising there was only sand inside, they died of hopelessness instantly.
Their optimism had kept them alive earlier.
The loss of hope gave them no more sustenance to stay alive.
Was their optimism their worthy food then?
Somewhat… but their optimism was blind.
It would had been wiser to be realistic, to be non-complacent,
to quickly check the food and source for real food!
Some related verses from Shantideva’s ‘A Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life’ in the chapter on Diligence:
Thus, one who has patience should cultivate zeal [energy; enthusiasm],
because Awakening is established with zeal,
and there is no merit without zeal,
just as there is no movement without wind.What is zeal?
It is enthusiasm for virtue [and truth].
What is said to be its antithesis?
It is spiritual sloth, clinging to the reprehensible, apathy, and self-contempt.Spiritual sloth arises from indolence,
indulging in pleasures, sleep,
and craving for lounging around
due to one’s apathy toward the miseries of the cycle of existence.