Ii. Blissful Affirmation

• A vow of bliss or Ananda Sankalpa Ananda means bliss. Sankalpa means vow. Ananda sankalpa is a vow of bliss. You can decide to be blissful. It is a choice you make. In fact it is not even a choice that you make. If you allow yourself to flow in a choiceless manner along with whatever Existence intends for you, you will be in bliss eternally. This attitude of being choiceless can be cultivated. Part of this meditation has its origin with the Sufi mystic Abdullah . Sufis are the most ecstatic 1 sect ever. Their prayer is gratitude, nothing else. Abdullah was famous for his ever-smiling face. It is said that even on his deathbed, he was laughing. Finally some of his disciples couldn't help but ask Abdullah how he was always blissful. They asked him, 'Master, what is so funny about dying?' Then Abdullah gave them the secret that his own master had taught him. He said, 'Remember that your happiness is always in your hands. Your happiness is 100 percent your own choice. Every day, life gives you a chance to be happy or miserable. What you choose is up to you!'

There can't be a simpler meditation technique than this. Yet it is the most effective one.

Every morning, as soon as you get up, even before you open your eyes, sit up in bed.

Call out your name loud. If you don't wish to disturb people around you by calling out loud, then just speak silently to yourself.

Ask yourself (using your name…in the first person), What do I choose to experience today? Do I choose happiness or sadness?

Naturally, first thing in the morning, you are not going to choose misery! So your mind will say, I choose happiness.

Then reply, Ok (your name), be happy, that's all!

Abdullah - Abdullah Ansari of Herat, a Sufi Master.

Then, with your eyes closed, for a few minutes, strongly and consciously, come to the understanding that nothing can make you suffer without your silent permission. You suffer because you agree to be affected by external circumstances. You have the power within you to be happy all the time. Now open your eyes and live your affirmation!

You will see during the day that just by the strength of your affirmation, you have changed the whole course of your mind. You will see how until then you were blaming others for your misery, while actually you were choosing to become disturbed at every turn of events. You will develop an attitude of being happy, not because of external circumstances, not despite them but irrespective of them. You are happy because you are happy, that's all.