You can not seek happiness. The search is, in itself, the opposite of happy. To search is to acknowledge that you do not have, and that becomes your reality. To cease your search is to accept that you already have, and so that becomes the reality of the happy heart.

We mistake happiness for elation. We equate joy almost exclusively with laughter. But joy and happiness are not elation. Here’s a little parable to illustrate what I mean.

A young man proudly purchased a new lantern one day. It's brazen base shone in the afternoon sunlight and its round glass sparkled as he carried it home, smiling a satisfied smile. He showed it to his neighbours as he walked and they congratulated him on owning such a fine lantern. How different his life would be now! He strode happily along swinging his new lantern at his side, his head held high He knew his lovely new lantern would light his small home at night and banish the mysterious shadows, bringing him comfort when the world was dark. No longer would he have to rush to eat his evening meal before tucking himself under his blankets as night fell. Now he would be able to visit friends late in the day and not worry about tripping on the path as he walked home in the dark. He smiled to himself the smile of a satisfied man.

By and by the autumn sun sank in the west and the cool of evening ushered people home. The young man was excited as he prepared his dinner, anticipating the warm glow of his lantern filling his humble home. But something was wrong. As the sun gave way to the night his smile faded. The same cool darkness that had filled his house on every other night flowed in like a tide until he could barely see the food on his plate. The corners of the room disappeared into shadow and even the sparkle of his new lantern disappeared. It sat there on his table bathed in black, no light, no warm glow, nothing. He reached out and touched the lantern and it's glass felt smooth and cold. It was still there but it wasn't casting light and shadows as he had seen in his neighbours home.

The young man curled himself up in his blanket, still hungry and still in the dark. How could he have been so foolish to buy a lantern that didn't work? He decided he would give that merchant a piece of his mind in the morning. His frustration and anger kept him awake for hours until a restless sleep finally came.

The young man awoke early, despite the lack of proper rest, and he gathered up the faulty lantern and all the determination he could muster and strode out of the door. At that same moment an old woman who was shuffling by bade him good morning. His grumpy face and stomping feet told her that it was definitely not a good morning for this young man. She stopped him and asked why he should be so troubled when the day had yet to begin. He showed her his shiny new lantern and told her all about his dissatisfaction. As he spoke a knowing and gentle smile pushed up her cheeks, and she slowly nodded at his troubled story. And then she spoke.

"Indeed, you have a fine lantern, but it is not the lantern that brings light into a dark room. If you wish to flood your darkened room with light you must fill the lantern with oil and light the wick. It is the flame inside the lantern that casts it's light and banishes the shadows."

It seems so obvious, and yet many of us do the very same thing that this young man does. We grasp on to the things that we believe will bring us joy - more friends, music and laughter, adventures and fun. And for a time they do keep our spirit buoyed. However, when darkness floods in, and it always will, it is not these things that will bring light to us but the oil in the lamp that will sustain a flame. In the brightness of the day it goes unnoticed, but in the cool shadow of night even the smallest flame brings joy.

The oil that feeds the lantern’s flame in your life is inner peace and acceptance of what is. When we stop struggling with life, when we cease the battle and allow the day and night to flow gently from one to the other we begin to appreciate the cool quite of night as well last the vibrant energy of the day.

Happiness is the ceasing of trouble, the end of struggle, the settling of turmoil and want. Happiness is peace.