"We are each our own devil, and we make this world our hell." That's a quote by Oscar Wilde. Meanwhile Buddha states "We create our own Heaven. We create our own Hell. We are the architects of our own fate." And finally, Peter Ustinov states "Since we are destined to live out our lives in the prison of our minds, our one duty is to furnish it well."
There are other quotes I could have used here, but these seemed to really catch my attention. None of these people seem to believe in the Christian version of hell. With Buddha, it's really not surprising since he wasn't Christian. As for the other two, I really don't know what religions they followed. It doesn't matter really. When I think about those quotes, I don't think about where we go after we die. I think about my current circumstances here on earth. Truly, what we think is what we make. If our thoughts are constantly negative, then that is what we get. It is hard to appreciate beauty, if we surround ourselves with ugliness. It is hard to be happy if we surround ourselves with strife. The more I think about it, the more I believe that we really do have a choice while we are here on earth. Sure some things will happen that are really horrific and outside of our control... earthquakes, fires, hurricanes, etc. But for the most part, we do not live those things every day. What we live every day can be our heaven or our hell. It really depends how we view it. While I know that no one is absolutely happy all of the time, I honestly believe we can be happier most of the time. It really depends on how we view what is around us. Furnish your prison well, that way what could be a hell instead turns more heavenly. Let your actions guide you to your promised land. Surrounding yourself with negativity will make it very hard for you to find Nirvana. Meanwhile, surrounding yourself with happy people and actively trying to make others happy as well, should help to ease your burdens. I know that each day I look for little things to find pleasure in. A moment with my daughters... a hike on a cool fall day. A hard work out at the dojo. All these things make me happy. And, while I am looking for these little gems of happiness, if I can also help to make someone else happy, then all the better. I don't know about you, but I will leave all thoughts of the biblical heaven and hell for after I die. In the meantime, I will try my best to live a good, honorable life. Find little islands of happiness in my day to day living, and try to share my small pleasures with others so that they too can experience happiness... even if it is only for a moment. This is our life people. Nothing is guaranteed. Try to be happy now. Do no harm to others and find happiness for yourself and others if you can. Isn't that what a loving God would want you to do? I think so. Live your faith, and live in happiness.
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