Wisdom Vault — onlinknow.co.za

I followed happiness to make her mine, Past towering oak and swinging ivy vine. ^ She fled, I chased, o'er slanting hill and da O'er fields and meadows, in the purpling vale Pursuing rapidly o'er dashing stream, I scaled the dizzy cliffs where eagles scream I traversed swiftly every land and sea, But always happiness eluded me.

Exhausted, fainting, I pursued no more But sank to rest upon a barren shore. One came and asked for food, and one for al|^4 I placed the bread and gold in bony palms^ One came for sympathy, and one for rest ; (^ I shared with every needy one my best ; **; When, lo ! sweet Happiness, with form dtvin Stood by me, whispering softly, « I am thine.' "

These beautiful lines of Burleigh's express the secret of all-abounding happiness. Sacrifice the personal and transient, and you rise at once into the impersonal and permanent. Give up that narrow cramped self that seeks to render all things subservient to its own petty interests, and you will enter into the company of the angels, into the very heart and essence of universal Love.

Forget yourself entirely in the sorrows of others and in ministering to others, and divine happi- ness will emancipate you from all sorrow and suffering. Taking the first step with a good *s\* 7ze Path of Prosperity ht, the second with a good word, and the with a good deed, I entered Paradise." n^J you also may enter into Paradise by pursu- g the same course.

It is not beyond, it is here, realized only by the unselfish. It is known i a its fulness only to the pure in heart. If you have not realized this unbounded happi- ss you may begin to actualize it by ever hold- before you the lofty ideal of unselfish love, aspiring towards it.

Aspiration or prayer is e turned upward. It is the soul turning to- wards its Divine source, where alone permanent atisfaction can be found. By aspiration the de- tructive forces of desire are transmuted into divine and all-preserving energy.

To aspire is fo make an effort to shake off the trammels of desire ; it is the prodigal made wise by loneli- ess and suffering, returning to his Father's Mansion. As you rise above the sordid self; as you , one after another, the chains that bind , will you realize the joy of giving, as dis- inguished from the misery of grasping — giving your substance ; giving of your intellect ; giv- ing of the love and light that are growing within you.

You will then understand that it is indeed " more blessed to give than to receive." But the /^Ovgiving must be of the heart without any taint of k -Self, without desire for reward. The gift of pure £\a?C^ love is al have giv^r, you not thanked or after you Mi VAv i££& bliss, bunded beca , or your narn^p paper, know then that your gift ^wa^ prompti&dj/ by vanity and not by love, aya^r©^ were meretfj^||* giving in order to get ; w^ri^c^gr^ally giving^ but grasping. 3^2a) Lose yourself in the welf&£§y^6thers ; forget yourself in all that you do j^tl&s is the secret of abounding happiness.

Ever be on the watch guard against selfishness, and learn faithfully t divine lessons of inward sacrifice ; so shall y climb the highest heights of happiness, and s remain in the never-clouded sunshine of jatttr^ versal joy, clothed in the shining garment of immortality. ^g! is '«, &*! 5 ^ - Jl '4 ^ wL Are you searching for thfctetppiness that does not fade away ? tre you looking for the joythat lives, and leaves no grievous rou panting for the waterbrooks of Love, and Life, and 'eace ?

Then let all dark desires depart, and selfish seeking cease. ar^bt^ ling'ring in the paths of pain, grief-haunted, stricken r ^ sore ?v \ie -you wan^iu^ig in the ways that wound your weary feet the ^ymore? ^^ ire you sighing for the Resting-Place where tears and sorrows cease ? \ Then sacrifice your selfish heart, and find the Heart of Peace. t THE REALIZATION OF PROSPERITY)] It is granted only to the heart. 4hat abou^s y- with integrity, trust, generosity ano^aye to ize true prosperity.