"The purpose of life is the expansion of happiness."

- - Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

Several years ago we were blessed to have Don Miguel Ruiz, the author of "The Four Agreements," come to our center and present a seminar.

While dining with him prior to his presentation, I asked what I thought was a profound question: "What is our purpose in life?"

As he took a slow and deliberate drink of water I prepared myself for a long, deeply profound answer. His threeword response sort of took my breath away.

"To be happy," was all he said.

My first thought- which I wisely kept to myself- was, "Golly, Don Miguel, that sounds awfully self-serving. With the world being in the condition it is today and all, that's it? Our purpose in life is just . . . 'to be happy'?"

Well, knowing I was in the presence of a master, I just nodded and smiled and decided to wait and see what would be revealed as I let this idea percolate for awhile. I observed him throughout the evening, and indeed, I saw a man who seemed to be very happy in a quiet sort of way, regardless of whether he was sitting by himself, with one person or several hundred people.

The one thing that was overwhelmingly obvious was the genuine love that flowed through him at all times: it was palpable. I have seen him several times since then, and he has always been consistently happy and loving.

Being happy and loving seem to go together quite well, don't they? That night with Don Miguel caused me to simplify my spiritual practices greatly.

Have you ever thought of happiness as a spiritual practice that honors your purpose here? Just about every picture I've ever seen of his holiness the Dalai Lama shows him laughing or with a big smile on his face.

Think about it.

When you are busy being genuinely happy, it's pretty hard to be meanspirited, cruel, judgmental, violent, hateful, resentful, petty or selfish. That's because in that moment of happiness, a great generosity of spirit, or love, surges and expands upon itself through us, lifting us above the energy of fear, which is a lower vibration.

Even if we don't recognize that moment as a spiritual experience, it is. And the best part of it is that it affects others in the most positive ways too.

Truly, the purpose of life is the expansion of happiness, and you and I are the vessels through which it can happen.

So the larger question is: Where do we find happiness?

Unfortunately, the common belief with most people is that happiness is something that happens "to" them when conditions are just right, rather than something that happens "through them" when they choose to make space for it.

While outer conditions may stimulate the feeling of happiness, it can never come from anywhere other than within us. Authentic happiness isn't something we can go out and get, buy, borrow or steal.

Nor can any form of artificial sensory stimulus generate true happiness; it's only something we can be, and it's a choice we make with every breath we take. We just need to make space in our minds and hearts for happiness to be revealed. So, breathe into this moment and choose to be happy. Given the alternative, it's a wise thing to do.

Generally when you're unhappy you will discover it's because you want something you don't have, you have something you don't want, or you are simply too attached to something you do have.

Choose a different perspective today- choose to be happy with what is and stop putting off being happy until things change. Start by focusing on what is right and good about your life in this holy instant, and breathe into it.

Choose to be happy. The world will be a better place because of it.

Dennis Merritt Jones is the spiritual director for OneSpirit Center for Conscious Living in Simi Valley. His website is www.OneSpirit.org.