If and When

This is a story told by Jyotish and Devi ji during the Khandala Retreat:

There was a man called John. He was unhappy that he was poor and asked God for wealth. God answered his prayers and in the next life he had wealth but poor health. So he asked God for health. And God who was getting a little impatient with John, gave him good health in the next life time. Now he was lonely and asked God for a companion. So in the next life he had a wife. But she died early. So now he prayed for a wife who lives long. God was getting a little annoyed and granted him this too. He gave him a wife who lived long. But she got old and weak.


Another man worked hard and made a million dollars. He over worked and was so stressed in the process of making that money. He said when I make two million, then I will be happy. But before he could make the second million he died.

So there is no end to our unhappiness. As long as we are dependent on circumstances to make us happy we will never be happy. But if we are always joyful, come what may, nothing can make us unhappy. We have to remove the word "If"  and "when" as a condition for  happiness,  from our lives.