ZEN AND THE ART OF HAPINESS

Zen and the Art of Happiness, Prentiss discusses how anyone can will themselves to become happier by doing a few key things that will encourage this positive attitude. He explains that the body is one huge receptor that is made up of millions of tiny receptors in each cell of your body. The brain and the body are intertwined to make up one receptor that can fall toward positive or negative emotions. However, the more you “engage in any type of emotion or behavior, the greater your desire for it will become” (52).

Prentiss points out a few strategies in order to ensure that your bodybrain receptor is projecting positive emotions rather than negative

Have a positive attitude to begin with: This piece of advice anyone can take and apply to their life. If you were to start off everything you undertake with a defeatist mentality, then you’ve already lost half the battle.
Surround yourself with worthy companions: Prentiss explains this as surrounding “yourself with people who believe that what you seek and what you believe in not only possible but also very probable” (57). Having people around you that believe in you induces a feeling of self empowernment and brings forth determination and perseverence.

Chapter 6 covered what Prentiss called the world’s Universe and permanent universal laws that have not been altered or changed since the beginning of time. He believes that once you’ve integrated a philosophy that is “in accordance with Universal law, your life will bring you such joy that you’ll laugh in amazement” (65). Universal law (according to my interpretation of the reading) covers the aspects in life that have stood true through the test of time. One example Prentiss mentioned was a reworded version of Newton’s third law of motion: “Every action produces a reaction, and the reaction is always in exact accord with the action” (68). He states that once you’ve understood the truth and choose to live by this philosophy, the path to happiness will become clear.

Also in this chapter, Prentiss presents the fact that every event in life is meant to happen for a reason, and “bad event simply do not happen” (71). He believes that we shouldn’t waste time cursing the bad events that happen to us because the Universe will only allow “ the best possible events” and “imperfet events are not tolerated” (77). He explains his philosophy through an overarching anecdote of the time he fell into a ravine and hit his head when trying to dislodge a rock. Instead of lamenting his bad luck, he took the event in stride, and even began to understand this very philosophy that had stumped him beforehand. His message is clear that accidents are meant to happen, and we should remain positive through any ordeal.

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While reading, I felt that Prentiss had some great advice in order to lead a fulfilling life. Especially in chapter 5, I feel that having a positive attitude while moving along the path of life can only lead to a more fulfilling, happier one. When joined by people who love and care about you, their confidence in me would only help me be more determined and feel validated of my own beliefs. However, the message in Chapter 6 that basically states that nothing bad ever happens because the universe will not allow imperfection forces me to be skeptical. There are plenty of horrible actions that have taken place in time that seem to have no positive reason behind them; take serial killers and rapists. Human actions seem to not be covered in Prentiss’ interpretation of universal law, only the random events that happen to you during your life. I believe that people are the most dangerous threat to other people, and that sometimes there isn’t any way you can take feel that this is the most perfect event that can happen. Although Prentiss’ message is meant to make you feel that happiness is around every corner in life, I feel that taking everything in life as if it’s meant to be can be counterproductive.

ZEN AND THE ART OF HAPINESS

Wednesday, 22 January 2014

THE FOUR CHAKRAS OF ZEN BLOGGING: THE FOUR CHAKRAS OF ZEN BLOGGING: THE FOUR CHAKRAS...

ZEN AND THE ART OF HAPINESS: ZEN AND THE ART OF HAPPINESS

ZEN AND THE ART OF HAPINESS

ZEN AND THE ART OF HAPINESS: ZEN AND THE ART OF HAPPINESS

ZEN AND THE ART OF HAPPINESS