How to stay joyful

You know, you've heard of us, a very famous, now famous, not at that time. Now very famous Zen master called Lao Tzu. Lao Tzu in his 80s was on his deathbed. He lived a life. He faced many situations, unnecessarily accused of all kinds of things. Through his life society gave him a lot of trouble, but he was un faced, always joyful day in and day out, and went about his work doing what best he can do.

Towards the age of 80, he became reasonably famous. By then he had gathered a few disciples and a small place. So, this is the tradition in the Zen culture that when the master is dying disciples gather to ask for the last message. Because of course all these days whatever he spoke they wouldn't have heard. So, they gathered around him and said, "Master, your last message?

What is the secret of your joy?" They asked. And Lao Tzu said, "What? Ah, the secret of my joy? Nothing, no secret. It's just that every day when I wake up question arises in my mind today shall I be joyful or miserable? Till now it just happened, I chose joy. That's all." I'm saying it's just your choice. Whether you're joyful or miserable is just your choice.

If you do not exercise your choice we cannot call you a human being. We'll have to call you a human creature. Because this is the fundamental difference between a creature and a being. A creature means it is instinctive compulsive reaction to the situations around it. Or situations, atmosphere around will define the quality of a creature's life.

A being means you know how to be. If you know how to be the atmosphere around you, situations around you should not decide how you are. You know how to be means you decide how you are.